ProofComplete

Lp Spaces - Key Proof

ProofProof of Holder's Inequality

We prove Holder's inequality: if f∈Lpf \in L^p and g∈Lqg \in L^q where 1p+1q=1\frac{1}{p} + \frac{1}{q} = 1 (with 1<p,q<∞1 < p, q < \infty), then: ∫X∣fg∣ dμ≤∥f∥p∥g∥q\int_X |fg| \, d\mu \leq \|f\|_p \|g\|_q

Proof: We may assume ∥f∥p=∥g∥q=1\|f\|_p = \|g\|_q = 1 (otherwise normalize).

Step 1: We first establish Young's inequality: for a,b≥0a, b \geq 0, ab≤app+bqqab \leq \frac{a^p}{p} + \frac{b^q}{q}

This follows from the convexity of exe^x. Let a=esa = e^s and b=etb = e^t. Then: es+t≤epsp+eqtqe^{s+t} \leq \frac{e^{ps}}{p} + \frac{e^{qt}}{q}

Setting ap=epsa^p = e^{ps} and bq=eqtb^q = e^{qt} gives the result. Equality holds when ap=bqa^p = b^q.

Step 2: Apply Young's inequality pointwise with a=∣f(x)∣a = |f(x)| and b=∣g(x)∣b = |g(x)|: ∣f(x)∣∣g(x)∣≤∣f(x)∣pp+∣g(x)∣qq|f(x)||g(x)| \leq \frac{|f(x)|^p}{p} + \frac{|g(x)|^q}{q}

Step 3: Integrate both sides: ∫X∣f∣∣g∣ dμ≤1p∫X∣f∣p dμ+1q∫X∣g∣q dμ\int_X |f||g| \, d\mu \leq \frac{1}{p} \int_X |f|^p \, d\mu + \frac{1}{q} \int_X |g|^q \, d\mu

Step 4: Since ∥f∥p=∥g∥q=1\|f\|_p = \|g\|_q = 1, the right side equals: 1p+1q=1\frac{1}{p} + \frac{1}{q} = 1

Thus: ∫X∣f∣∣g∣ dμ≤1=∥f∥p∥g∥q\int_X |f||g| \, d\mu \leq 1 = \|f\|_p \|g\|_q

Step 5: For general ff and gg, apply the above to f/∥f∥pf/\|f\|_p and g/∥g∥qg/\|g\|_q.

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Remark

Special cases and extensions:

  1. p=q=2p = q = 2: Holder becomes the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality: ∫∣fg∣≤(∫∣f∣2)1/2(∫∣g∣2)1/2\int |fg| \leq \left(\int |f|^2\right)^{1/2} \left(\int |g|^2\right)^{1/2}

  2. p=1,q=∞p = 1, q = \infty: Holder gives: ∫∣fg∣≤∥f∥1∥g∥∞\int |fg| \leq \|f\|_1 \|g\|_\infty

which is obvious from ∣f(x)∣∣g(x)∣≤∣f(x)∣∥g∥∞|f(x)||g(x)| \leq |f(x)| \|g\|_\infty.

  1. Equality condition: Equality in Holder's inequality holds if and only if there exist constants α,β\alpha, \beta (not both zero) such that α∣f∣p=β∣g∣q\alpha |f|^p = \beta |g|^q a.e.

  2. Generalized Holder: For 1p1+⋯+1pn=1\frac{1}{p_1} + \cdots + \frac{1}{p_n} = 1: ∫∣f1⋯fn∣≤∥f1∥p1⋯∥fn∥pn\int |f_1 \cdots f_n| \leq \|f_1\|_{p_1} \cdots \|f_n\|_{p_n}

Holder's inequality is one of the most frequently used tools in analysis, appearing in proofs throughout functional analysis, PDEs, and harmonic analysis.