Have a personal or library account? Click to login
Jensen-Type Inequalities for Divided Differences via Generalized Convex Functions Cover

Jensen-Type Inequalities for Divided Differences via Generalized Convex Functions

Open Access
|Feb 2026

Full Article

1.
Introduction

The divided difference of order m for a function f : [a, b] → ℝ at the distinct points x0, . . . , xm ∈ [a, b] is defined recursively, as shown in [2], as follows: fxi=fxi,i=0,,m f\left[ {{x_i}} \right] = f\left( {{x_i}} \right),\;\;\;\left( {i = 0, \ldots ,m} \right) and fx0,,xm=fx1,,xmfx0,,xm1xmx0. f\left[ {{x_0},\ldots ,{x_m}} \right] = {{f\left[ {{x_1}, \ldots ,{x_m}} \right] - f\left[ {{x_0}, \ldots ,{x_{m - 1}}} \right]} \over {{x_m} - {x_0}}}.

The concept of m-convex functions was originally introduced by Popoviciu in [7], providing a foundational framework for the study of generalized convexity. We now present the definition of m-convex function following approach outlined in [6, 16 pp.] and [8, 238 pp.].

Definition 1

A function f : [a, b] → ℝ is said to be m-convex, m ≥ 0 on [a, b] iff for all choices of (m + 1) distinct points in [a, b], fx0,,xm0. f\left[ {{x_0},\ldots ,{x_m}} \right] \ge 0.

The integral representation for the m−th divided difference over the m-dimensional simplex is well-known and is given as follows (refer to [2]): (1.1) fx0,,xm=Δmfmj=0mujxjdu0dum1, f\left[ {{x_0},\ldots ,{x_m}} \right] = \int_{{\Delta _m}} {{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {\sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}{x_j}} } \right)d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} , where the simplex Δm is defined as Δm=u0,,um1:uj0,j=0m1uj1,um=1j=0m1uj, {\Delta _m} = \left\{ {\left( {{u_0},\ldots ,{u_{m - 1}}} \right):{u_j} \ge 0,\sum\limits_{j = 0}^{m - 1} {{u_j} \le 1} } \right\},\;\;\;{u_m} = 1 - \sum\limits_{j = 0}^{m - 1} {{u_j}} , assuming the function f has continuous m-th derivative on the interval [a, b]. The formula (1.1) remains valid if some of the nodes x0, . . . , xm are repeated.

From the relation (1.1), it follows that for every function f with a continuous m-th derivative on the interval ⟨a, b⟩, fismconvexfm0. f\;{\rm{is}}\;m - {\rm{convex}} \Leftrightarrow {f^{\left( m \right)}} \geqslant 0. The following result, derived using the Schur polynomial and the Vandermonde determinant (extended with a logarithmic function), holds true.

Proposition 1

For monomial function h(x) = xm+k, where k ≥ 1 is an integer, the following holds hx0,,xm=j1=0mj2=0j1jk=0jk1xj1xj2xjk. h\left[ {{x_0},\ldots ,{x_m}} \right] = \sum\limits_{{j_1} = 0}^m {\sum\limits_{{j_2} = 0}^{{j_1}} \ldots \sum\limits_{{j_k} = 0}^{{j_{k - 1}}} {{x_{{j_1}}}{x_{{j_2}}} \ldots {x_{{j_k}}}} } .

Example 1

In the following sections, we will utilize the integral representation of the divided difference and derive the corresponding integrals. These integrals will be evaluated here using Proposition 1 and basic calculus techniques. Δmhmj=0mujxjdu0dum1=Δmdu0dum1=1m!,forhx=xmm!,Δmj=0mujxjdu0dum1=j=0mxjm+1!,forhx=xm+1m+1!. \matrix{ {\int_{{\Delta _m}} {{h^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {\sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}{x_j}} } \right)d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} } \hfill \cr {\;\;\; = \left\{ {\matrix{ {\int_{{\Delta _m}} {d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} = {1 \over {m!}},\;\;\;\;{\rm{for}}\;\;\;\;h\left( x \right) = {{{x^m}} \over {m!}},} \hfill \cr {\int_{{\Delta _m}} {\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}{x_j}d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} } = {{\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{x_j}} } \over {\left( {m + 1} \right)!}},\;\;\;\;{\rm{for}}\;\;\;\;h\left( x \right) = {{{x^{m + 1}}} \over {\left( {m + 1} \right)!}}.} \hfill \cr } } \right.} \hfill \cr }

The following Farwig and Zwick’s result in [3] offers an important generalization of Jensen’s inequality specifically tailored for divided differences. This generalization extends the classical form of Jensen’s inequality, adapting it to the context of higher-order differences.

Theorem 1

Let f be (m + 2)-convex ona, b⟩. Then Gx=fx0,,xm G\left( {\rm{x}} \right) = f\left[ {{x_0},\ldots ,{x_m}} \right] is a convex function of the vector x = (x0, . . . , xm). Consequently, fi=0laix0i,,i=0laixmii=0laifx0i,,xmiiisanupperindex f\left[ {\sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}x_0^i} , \ldots ,\sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}x_m^i} } \right] \le \sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}f\left[ {x_0^i,\ldots ,x_m^i} \right]} \;\;\;\left( {i\;is\;an\;upper\;index} \right) holds for all ai ≥ 0, i ∈ {1, . . . , l}, such that i=0lai=1 \sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}} = 1 .

In [4], the authors developed a refinement of Jensen’s inequality for 4-convex functions. In the next section, we will apply their result to the case of positive weights. For convenience, their result for positive weights is outlined below:

Theorem 2

Let fC2[ρ1, ρ2] be a 4-convex function and sj ∈ [ρ1, ρ2], uj ≥ 0 for j = 1, 2, . . . , m with Um:=j=1muj0 {U_m}: = \sum\nolimits_{j = 1}^m {{u_j}} \ne 0 and 1Umj=1mujsjρ1,ρ2 {1 \over {{U_m}}}\sum\nolimits_{j = 1}^m {{u_j}{s_j}} \in \left[ {{\rho _1},{\rho _2}} \right] . Then we have (1.2) 1Umj=1mujfsjf1Umj=1mujsjfρ2fρ16ρ2ρ11Umj=1mujsj31Umj=1mujsj3+ρ2fρ1ρ1fρ22ρ2ρ11Umj=1mujsj21Umj=1mujsj2. \matrix{ {{1 \over {{U_m}}}\sum\limits_{j = 1}^m {{u_j}f\left( {{s_j}} \right)} - f\left( {{1 \over {{U_m}}}\sum\limits_{j = 1}^m {{u_j}{s_j}} } \right)} \hfill \cr {\;\;\;\;\;\; \le {{f''\left( {{\rho _2}} \right) - f''\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \over {6\left( {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}} \right)}}\left( {{1 \over {{U_m}}}\sum\limits_{j = 1}^m {{u_j}s_j^3} - {{\left( {{1 \over {{U_m}}}\sum\limits_{j = 1}^m {{u_j}{s_j}} } \right)}^3}} \right)} \hfill \cr {\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\; + \;{{{\rho _2}f''\left( {{\rho _1}} \right) - {\rho _1}f''\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \over {2\left( {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}} \right)}}\left( {{1 \over {{U_m}}}\sum\limits_{j = 1}^m {{u_j}s_j^2} - {{\left( {{1 \over {{U_m}}}\sum\limits_{j = 1}^m {{u_j}{s_j}} } \right)}^2}} \right).} \hfill \cr } If f is 4-concave function, then the reverse inequality holds in (1.2).

In the final section, we provide some generalizations for (h, g; αn)-convex functions, and therefore, we introduce this concept of generalized convexity.

Definition 2

Let h be a non-negative function on J ⊂ ℝ, ⟨0, 1⟩ ⊂ J, h ≠ 0 and let g be a positive function on I ⊂ ℝ and α, n ∈ ⟨0, 1]. A function f : I → ℝ is said to be (h, g; αn)-convex if it is non-negative and satisfy the following inequality (1.3) fλx+n1λyhλαfxgx+nh1λαfygy f\left( {\lambda x + n\left( {1 - \lambda } \right)y} \right) \le h\left( {{\lambda ^\alpha }} \right)f\left( x \right)g\left( x \right) + nh\left( {1 - {\lambda ^\alpha }} \right)f\left( y \right)g\left( y \right) for all λ ∈ ⟨0, 1⟩ and x, yI. If (1.3) holds in the reverse sense, then f is said to be (h, g; αn)-concave function.

This definition extends the concept of an h-convex function, as outlined in the following definition (see [9]).

Definition 3

Let h: J → ℝ be a non-negative function, h ≠ 0. We say that f : I → ℝ is h-convex function if f is non-negative and for all x, yI, λ ∈ ⟨0, 1⟩ we have (1.4) fλx+1λyhλfx+h1λfy. f\left( {\lambda x + \left( {1 - \lambda } \right)y} \right) \le h\left( \lambda \right)f\left( x \right) + h\left( {1 - \lambda } \right)f\left( y \right). If inequality (1.4) is reversed, then f is said to be h-concave.

2.
Extensions of Jensen’s inequality using (m + 4)-convex functions and divided differences

In this paper, we establish an evaluation of Jensen’s inequality for divided differences by utilizing (m + 4)-convex functions. In this way, we provide generalizations of the existing results for divided differences. In Theorem 3, we extend the result from Farwig and Zwick’s Theorem 1, and in Theorem 4, we generalize Theorem 2.62 from [6].

Theorem 3

Let f(m)C2[ρ1, ρ2] be a (m + 4)-convex function, si=s0i,,smiρ1,ρ2m+1 {{\bf{s}}^i} = \left( {s_0^i,\ldots ,s_m^i} \right) \in {\left[ {{\rho _1},{\rho _2}} \right]^{m + 1}} and let ai ≥ 0, i ∈ {0, . . . , l} be such that i=0lai=1 \sum\nolimits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}} = 1 , s¯j=i=0laisji {\bar s_j} = \sum\nolimits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}s_j^i} , j ∈ {0, . . ., m}, s¯j1j2=i=0laisj1isj2i {\bar s_{{j_1}{j_2}}} = \sum\nolimits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}s_{{j_1}}^is_{{j_2}}^i} , and s¯j1j2j3=i=0laisj1isj2isj3i {\bar s_{{j_1}{j_2}{j_3}}} = \sum\nolimits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}s_{{j_1}}^is_{{j_2}}^is_{{j_3}}^i} . Then we have i=0laifs0i,,smifs¯0,,s¯mfm+2ρ2fm+2ρ1ρ2ρ1j1=0mj2=0j1j3=0j2s¯j1j2j3s¯j1s¯j2s¯j3+ρ2fm+2ρ1ρ1fm+2ρ2ρ2ρ1j1=0mj2=0j1s¯j1j2s¯j1s¯j2. \matrix{ {\sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}f\left[ {s_0^i,\ldots ,s_m^i} \right] - f\left[ {{{\bar s}_0},\ldots ,{{\bar s}_m}} \right]} } \hfill \cr {\;\;\;\; \le {{{f^{\left( {m + 2} \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right) - {f^{\left( {m + 2} \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}\left( {\sum\limits_{{j_1} = 0}^m {\sum\limits_{{j_2} = 0}^{{j_1}} {\sum\limits_{{j_3} = 0}^{{j_2}} {\left( {{{\bar s}_{{j_1}{j_2}{j_3}}} - {{\bar s}_{{j_1}}}{{\bar s}_{{j_2}}}{{\bar s}_{{j_3}}}} \right)} } } } \right)} \hfill \cr {\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\; + {{{\rho _2}{f^{\left( {m + 2} \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right) - {\rho _1}{f^{\left( {m + 2} \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}\left( {\sum\limits_{{j_1} = 0}^m {\sum\limits_{{j_2} = 0}^{{j_1}} {\left( {{{\bar s}_{{j_1}{j_2}}} - {{\bar s}_{{j_1}}}{{\bar s}_{{j_2}}}} \right)} } } \right).} \hfill \cr }

Proof

We will begin by utilizing the integral representation of the divided difference, followed by applying inequality (1.2) for the (m + 4)-convex function f(m), and then perform the integration over the simplex. So we have i=0laifs0i,,smifs¯0,,s¯m=i=0laiΔmfmj=0mujsjidu0dum1Δmfmj=0muji=0laisjidu0dum1=Δmi=0laifmj=0mujsjifmi=0laij=0mujsjidu0dum1Δmfm+2ρ2fm+2ρ16ρ2ρ1i=0laij=0mujsji3i=0laij=0mujsji3+ρ2fm+2ρ1ρ1fm+2ρ22ρ2ρ1i=0laij=0mujsji2i=0laij=0mujsji2du0dum1. \matrix{ {\sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}f\left[ {s_0^i,\ldots ,s_m^i} \right] - f\left[ {{{\bar s}_0},\ldots ,{{\bar s}_m}} \right]} = \sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}\int_{{\Delta _m}} {{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {\sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} } \right)d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} } } \hfill \cr {\;\;\; - \int_{{\Delta _m}} {{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {\sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}} \sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}s_j^i} } \right)d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} } \hfill \cr { = \int_{{\Delta _m}} {\left[ {\sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {\sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} } \right)} - {f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {\sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}} \sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} } \right)} \right]d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} } \hfill \cr { \le \int_{\Delta m} {\left[ {{{{f^{\left( {m + 2} \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right) - {f^{\left( {m + 2} \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \over {6\left( {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}} \right)}}\left( {\sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}} {{\left( {\sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} } \right)}^3} - {{\left( {\sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}} \sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} } \right)}^3}} \right)} \right.} } \hfill \cr {\;\;\;\left. { + \;{{{\rho _2}{f^{\left( {m + 2} \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right) - {\rho _1}{f^{\left( {m + 2} \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \over {2\left( {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}} \right)}}\left( {\sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}} {{\left( {\sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} } \right)}^2} - {{\left( {\sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}} \sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} } \right)}^2}} \right)} \right]d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}.} \hfill \cr } By setting hx=xm+2m+2! h\left( x \right) = {{{x^{m + 2}}} \over {\left( {m + 2} \right)!}} in Proposition 1, we compute Δmi=0laij=0mujsji2du0dum1andΔmi=0laij=0mujsji2du0dum1. \int_{{\Delta _m}} {\sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}{{\left( {\sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} } \right)}^2}d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} } \;{\rm{and}}\;\int_{{\Delta _m}} {{{\left( {\sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}} \sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} } \right)}^2}d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} . Similarly, by setting hx=xm+3m+3! h\left( x \right) = {{{x^{m + 3}}} \over {\left( {m + 3} \right)!}} in Proposition 1 we calculate integrals Δmi=0laij=0mujsji2du0dum1andΔmi=0laij=0mujsji3du0dum1. \int_{{\Delta _m}} {\sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}{{\left( {\sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} } \right)}^2}d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} } \;{\rm{and}}\;\int_{{\Delta _m}} {{{\left( {\sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}} \sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} } \right)}^3}d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} . So we have i=0laifs0i,,smifs¯0,,s¯mfm+2ρ2fm+2ρ1ρ2ρ1i=0laij1=0mj2=0j1j3=0j2sj1isj2isj3ij1=0mj2=0j1j3=0j2s¯j1s¯j2s¯j3+ρ2fm+2ρ1ρ1fm+2ρ2ρ2ρ1i=0laij1=0mj2=0j1sj1isj2ij1=0mj2=0j1s¯j1s¯j2=fm+2ρ2fm+2ρ1ρ2ρ1j1=0mj2=0j1j3=0j2s¯j1j2j3s¯j1s¯j2s¯j3+ρ2fm+2ρ1ρ1fm+2ρ2ρ2ρ1j1=0mj2=0j1s¯j1j2s¯j1s¯j2. \matrix{ {\sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}f\left[ {s_0^i,\ldots ,s_m^i} \right] - f\left[ {{{\bar s}_0},\ldots ,{{\bar s}_m}} \right]} } \hfill \cr {\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\; \le {{{f^{\left( {m + 2} \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right) - {f^{\left( {m + 2} \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \over {\left( {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}} \right)}}\left( {\sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}} \sum\limits_{{j_1} = 0}^m {\sum\limits_{{j_2} = 0}^{{j_1}} {\sum\limits_{{j_3} = 0}^{{j_2}} {s_{{j_1}}^is_{{j_2}}^is_{{j_3}}^i} } } - \sum\limits_{{j_1} = 0}^m {\sum\limits_{{j_2} = 0}^{{j_1}} {\sum\limits_{{j_3} = 0}^{{j_2}} {{{\bar s}_{{j_1}}}{{\bar s}_{{j_2}}}{{\bar s}_{{j_3}}}} } } } \right)} \hfill \cr { + {{{\rho _2}{f^{\left( {m + 2} \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right) - {\rho _1}{f^{\left( {m + 2} \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \over {\left( {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}} \right)}}\left( {\sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}} \sum\limits_{{j_1} = 0}^m {\sum\limits_{{j_2} = 0}^{{j_1}} {s_{{j_1}}^is_{{j_2}}^i} } - \sum\limits_{{j_1} = 0}^m {\sum\limits_{{j_2} = 0}^{{j_1}} {{{\bar s}_{{j_1}}}{{\bar s}_{{j_2}}}} } } \right)} \hfill \cr { = {{{f^{\left( {m + 2} \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right) - {f^{\left( {m + 2} \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}\left( {\sum\limits_{{j_1} = 0}^m {\sum\limits_{{j_2} = 0}^{{j_1}} {\sum\limits_{{j_3} = 0}^{{j_2}} {\left( {{{\bar s}_{{j_1}{j_2}{j_3}}} - {{\bar s}_{{j_1}}}{{\bar s}_{{j_2}}}{{\bar s}_{{j_3}}}} \right)} } } } \right)} \hfill \cr {\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\; + {{{\rho _2}{f^{\left( {m + 2} \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right) - {\rho _1}{f^{\left( {m + 2} \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}\left( {\sum\limits_{{j_1} = 0}^m {\sum\limits_{{j_2} = 0}^{{j_1}} {\left( {{{\bar s}_{{j_1}{j_2}}} - {{\bar s}_{{j_1}}}{{\bar s}_{{j_2}}}} \right)} } } \right).} \hfill \cr }

The following theorem presents a generalization of the result from Theorem 2.62 in [6]:

Theorem 4

Let f(m)C2[ρ1, ρ2] be a (m + 4)-convex function and sk ∈ [ρ1, ρ2]. Then we have j=0mfmsjm+1!fs0,,smfm+2ρ2fm+2ρ16ρ2ρ1j=0msj3m+1!6j1=0mj2=0j1j3=0j2sj1sj2sj3+ρ2fm+2ρ1ρ1fm+2ρ22ρ2ρ1j=0msj2m+1!2j1=0mj2=0j1sj1sj2. \matrix{ {{{\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{s_j}} \right)} } \over {\left( {m + 1} \right)!}} - f\left[ {{s_0},\ldots ,{s_m}} \right]} \hfill \cr {\;\;\;\;\; \le {{{f^{\left( {m + 2} \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right) - {f^{\left( {m + 2} \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \over {6\left( {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}} \right)}}\left( {{{\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {s_j^3} } \over {\left( {m + 1} \right)!}} - 6\sum\limits_{{j_1} = 0}^m {\sum\limits_{{j_2} = 0}^{{j_1}} {\sum\limits_{{j_3} = 0}^{{j_2}} {{s_{{j_1}}}{s_{{j_2}}}{s_{{j_3}}}} } } } \right)} \hfill \cr {\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\; + \;{{{\rho _2}{f^{\left( {m + 2} \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right) - {\rho _1}{f^{\left( {m + 2} \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \over {2\left( {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}} \right)}}\left( {{{\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {s_j^2} } \over {\left( {m + 1} \right)!}} - 2\sum\limits_{{j_1} = 0}^m {\sum\limits_{{j_2} = 0}^{{j_1}} {{s_{{j_1}}}{s_{{j_2}}}} } } \right).} \hfill \cr }

Proof

Similarly as in Theorem 3, we have: Δmj=0mujfmsjdu0dum1Δmfmj=0mujsjdu0dum1fm+2ρ2fm+2ρ16ρ2ρ1Δmj=0mujsj3du0dum1Δmj=0mujsj3du0dum1+ρ2fm+2ρ1ρ1fm+2ρ22ρ2ρ1Δmj=0mujsj2du0dum1Δmj=0mujsj2du0dum1. \matrix{ {\int_{{\Delta _m}} {\sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{s_j}} \right)d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} } - \int_{{\Delta _m}} {{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {\sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}{s_j}} } \right)d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} } \hfill \cr {\;\;\;\;\;\;\; \le {{{f^{\left( {m + 2} \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right) - {f^{\left( {m + 2} \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \over {6\left( {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}} \right)}}\left( {\int_{{\Delta _m}} {\sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^3d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} } - \int_{{\Delta _m}} {{{\left( {\sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}{s_j}} } \right)}^3}d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} } \right)} \hfill \cr {\;\;\;\; + \;{{{\rho _2}{f^{\left( {m + 2} \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right) - {\rho _1}{f^{\left( {m + 2} \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \over {2\left( {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}} \right)}}\left( {\int_{\Delta m} {\sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^2d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} } - \int_{{\Delta _m}} {{{\left( {\sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}{s_j}} } \right)}^2}d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} } \right).} \hfill \cr } We apply Example 1 to compute the following integrals: Δmj=0mujfmsjdu0dum1,Δmj=0mujsj3du0dum1,andΔmj=0mujsj2du0dum1. \matrix{ {\int_{{\Delta _m}} {\sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{s_j}} \right)d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} } ,\;\;\;\int_{{\Delta _m}} {\sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^3d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} } ,} \hfill \cr {\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;{\rm{and}}\;\;\;\int_{{\Delta _m}} {\sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^2d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} } .} \hfill \cr } Next, by setting hx=xm+2m+2!andhx=xm+3m+3! h\left( x \right) = {{{x^{m + 2}}} \over {\left( {m + 2} \right)!}}\;\;\;{\rm{and}}\;\;\;h\left( x \right) = {{{x^{m + 3}}} \over {\left( {m + 3} \right)!}} in Proposition 1, we compute the corresponding expression Δmj=0mujsj2du0dum1andΔmj=0mujsj3du0dum1. \int_{{\Delta _m}} {{{\left( {\sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}{s_j}} } \right)}^2}d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} \;\;\;{\rm{and}}\;\;\;\int_{{\Delta _m}} {{{\left( {\sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}{s_j}} } \right)}^3}d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} . So we have j=0mfmsjm+1!fs0,,smfm+2ρ2fm+2ρ16ρ2ρ1j=0msj3m+1!6j1=0mj2=0j1j3=0j2sj1sj2sj3+ρ2fm+2ρ1ρ1fm+2ρ22ρ2ρ1j=0msj2m+1!2j1=0mj2=0j1sj1sj2. \matrix{ {{{\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{s_j}} \right)} } \over {\left( {m + 1} \right)!}} - f\left[ {{s_0},\ldots ,{s_m}} \right]} \hfill \cr {\;\;\;\;\; \le {{{f^{\left( {m + 2} \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right) - {f^{\left( {m + 2} \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \over {6\left( {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}} \right)}}\left( {{{\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {s_j^3} } \over {\left( {m + 1} \right)!}} - 6\sum\limits_{{j_1} = 0}^m {\sum\limits_{{j_2} = 0}^{{j_1}} {\sum\limits_{{j_3} = 0}^{{j_2}} {{s_{{j_1}}}{s_{{j_2}}}{s_{{j_3}}}} } } } \right)} \hfill \cr {\;\;\;\;\;\;\; + \;{{{\rho _2}{f^{\left( {m + 2} \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right) - {\rho _1}{f^{\left( {m + 2} \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \over {2\left( {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}} \right)}}\left( {{{\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {s_j^2} } \over {\left( {m + 1} \right)!}} - 2\sum\limits_{{j_1} = 0}^m {\sum\limits_{{j_2} = 0}^{{j_1}} {{s_{{j_1}}}{s_{{j_2}}}} } } \right).} \hfill \cr }

The following theorem extends inequalities related to divided differences for (h, g; αn)-convex functions.

Theorem 5

Let f(m) be a nonnegative (h, g; αn)-convex function on [0,∞⟩ where h is a nonnegative function on J ⊂ ℝ, h ≠ 0, g is positive function on [0,∞⟩, α, n ∈ ⟨0, 1], 0 ≤ ρ1 < ρ2 < ∞, f(m), g, hL1[ρ1, ρ2] and ai ≥ 0, i ∈ {0, . . . , l} such that i=0lai=1 \sum\nolimits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i} = 1} . Then the following inequality holds (2.1) i=0laifs0i,,smii=0laiΔmminhρ2nj=0mujsjiρ2nρ1αfmρ1gρ1+nh1ρ2nj=0mujsjiρ2nρ1αfmρ2gρ2,hj=0mujsjinρ1ρ2nρ1αfmρ2gρ2+nh1j=0mujsjinρ1ρ2nρ1αfmρ1gρ1du0dum1i=0laiminΔmhρ2nj=0mujsjiρ2nρ1αfmρ1gρ1+nh1ρ2nj=0mujsjiρ2nρ1αfmρ2gρ2du0dum1.Δmhj=0mujsjinρ1ρ2nρ1αfmρ2gρ2+nh1j=0mujsjinρ1ρ2nρ1αfmρ1gρ1du0dum1. \matrix{ {\sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}f\left[ {s_0^i,\ldots ,s_m^i} \right]} } \hfill \cr {\;\;\; \le \sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}} \int_{{\Delta _m}} {{{\min}}\left\{ {\left[ {h\left( {{{\left( {{{{\rho _2}n - \sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} } \over {{\rho _2}n - {\rho _1}}}} \right)}^\alpha }} \right){f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \right.} \right.} } \hfill \cr {\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\; + \left. {\;nh\left( {1 - {{\left( {{{{\rho _2}n - \sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} } \over {{\rho _2}n - {\rho _1}}}} \right)}^\alpha }} \right){f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \right],} \hfill \cr {\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\left[ {h\left( {{{\left( {{{\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i - n{\rho _1}} } \over {{\rho _2} - n{\rho _1}}}} \right)}^\alpha }} \right){f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \right.} \hfill \cr {\left. {\;\;\;\;\;\; + \;nh\left. {\left( {1 - {{\left( {{{\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i - n{\rho _1}} } \over {{\rho _2} - n{\rho _1}}}} \right)}^\alpha }} \right){f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \right]} \right\}d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} \hfill \cr {\;\;\; \le \sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}} \min \left\{ {\int_{{\Delta _m}} {\left[ {h\left( {{{\left( {{{{\rho _2}n - \sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} } \over {{\rho _2}n - {\rho _1}}}} \right)}^\alpha }} \right){f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \right.} } \right.} \hfill \cr {\left. {\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\; + \;nh\left. {\left( {1 - {{\left( {{{{\rho _2}n - \sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} } \over {{\rho _2}n - {\rho _1}}}} \right)}^\alpha }} \right){f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \right]d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} \right\}.} \hfill \cr {\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\int_{{\Delta _m}} {\left[ {h\left( {{{\left( {{{\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} - n{\rho _1}} \over {{\rho _2} - n{\rho _1}}}} \right)}^\alpha }} \right){f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \right.} } \hfill \cr {\left. {\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\; + \;nh\left. {\left( {1 - {{\left( {{{\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i - n{\rho _1}} } \over {{\rho _2} - n{\rho _1}}}} \right)}^\alpha }} \right){f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \right]d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} \right\}.} \hfill \cr }

Proof

First, we express the divided difference in its integral form. Next, we will prove an auxiliary result using Definition 2. To do so, we apply Definition 2 and set u=λx+n1λy, u = \lambda x + n\left( {1 - \lambda } \right)y, and then solve for λ=unyxny. \lambda = {{u - ny} \over {x - ny}}. Substituting this into the inequality (1.3), we obtain fuhunyxnyαfxgx+nh1unyxnyαfygy. f\left( u \right) \le h\left( {{{\left( {{{u - ny} \over {x - ny}}} \right)}^\alpha }} \right)f\left( x \right)g\left( x \right) + nh\left( {1 - {{\left( {{{u - ny} \over {x - ny}}} \right)}^\alpha }} \right)f\left( y \right)g\left( y \right). By swapping x and y, we obtain λ=unxynx, \lambda = {{u - nx} \over {y - nx}}, which leads to fuhunxynxαfygy+nh1unxynxαfxgx. f\left( u \right) \le h\left( {{{\left( {{{u - nx} \over {y - nx}}} \right)}^\alpha }} \right)f\left( y \right)g\left( y \right) + nh\left( {1 - {{\left( {{{u - nx} \over {y - nx}}} \right)}^\alpha }} \right)f\left( x \right)g\left( x \right). Thus, we derive the following inequality: (2.2) fuminhunyxnyαfxgx+nh1unyxnyαfygy,hunxynxαfygy+nh1unxynxαfxgx. \matrix{ {f\left( u \right) \le \min \left\{ {h\left( {{{\left( {{{u - ny} \over {x - ny}}} \right)}^\alpha }} \right)f\left( x \right)g\left( x \right) + nh\left( {1 - {{\left( {{{u - ny} \over {x - ny}}} \right)}^\alpha }} \right)f\left( y \right)g\left( y \right)} \right.,} \cr {\left. {h\left( {{{\left( {{{u - nx} \over {y - nx}}} \right)}^\alpha }} \right)f\left( y \right)g\left( y \right) + nh\left( {1 - {{\left( {{{u - nx} \over {y - nx}}} \right)}^\alpha }} \right)f\left( x \right)g\left( x \right)} \right\}.} \cr } We apply (2.2) to the function f(m), and integrating over the simplex, while utilizing the simple fact that Δmminf,gminΔmf,Δmg, \int_{{\Delta _m}} {\min \left\{ {f,g} \right\}} \; \le \min \left\{ {\int_{{\Delta _m}} f ,\int_{{\Delta _m}} g } \right\}, we obtain the desired result (2.1)

3.
Applications

In the special case of Theorem 5 when h(x) = x, α = 1, n = 1, we obtain the following result for what we will refer to as g-convex functions:

Corollary 1

Let f(m) be a nonnegative function on [0,∞⟩, g is positive function on [0,∞⟩, 0 ≤ ρ1 < ρ2 <and f(m), gL1[ρ1, ρ2], ai ≥ 0, i ∈ {0, . . . , l} such that i=0lai=1 \sum\nolimits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i} = 0} and s¯j=i=0laisji {\bar s_j} = \sum\nolimits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}s_j^i} . Then the following inequality holds (3.1) m!i=0laifs0i,,smifmρ1gρ1ρ2ρ1ρ21m+1j=0ms¯j+fmρ2gρ2ρ2ρ11m+1j=0ms¯jρ1. \matrix{ {m!\sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}f\left[ {s_0^i,\ldots ,s_m^i} \right]} \le {{{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}\left( {{\rho _2} - {1 \over {m + 1}}\sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{{\bar s}_j}} } \right)} \hfill \cr {\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\; + \;{{{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}\left( {{1 \over {m + 1}}\sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {\bar s - {\rho _1}} } \right).} \hfill \cr }

Proof

We derive the following from (2.1): i=0laifs0i,,smi=i=0laiΔmfmj=0mujsjidu0dum1i=0laiminΔmρ2j=0mujsjiρ2ρ1fmρ1gρ1+j=0mujsjiρ1ρ2ρ1×fmρ2gρ2du0dum1,Δmj=0mujsjiρ1ρ2ρ1fmρ2gρ2+ρ2j=0mujsjiρ2ρ1fmρ1gρ1du0dum1=i=0laiminm+1ρ2j=0msjim+1!ρ2ρ1fmρ1gρ1+j=0msjiρ1m+1m+1!ρ2ρ1fmρ2gρ2,j=0msjiρ1m+1m+1!ρ2ρ1fmρ2gρ2+m+1ρ2j=0msjim+1!ρ2ρ1fmρ1gρ1=m+1ρ2j=0ms¯jm+1!ρ2ρ1fmρ1gρ1+j=0ms¯jρ1m+1m+1!ρ2ρ1fmρ2gρ2. \matrix{ {\sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}f\left[ {s_0^i,\ldots ,s_m^i} \right]} = \sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}\int_{{\Delta _m}} {{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {\sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} } \right)d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} } } \hfill \cr {\; \le \sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}} \min \left\{ {\int_{{\Delta _m}} {\left[ {{{{\rho _2} - \sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} } \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _1}} \right) + {{\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i - {\rho _1}} } \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right.} } \right.} \hfill \cr {\left. {\;\;\;\; \times \;{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \right]d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}},\int_{{\Delta _m}} {\left[ {{{\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i - {\rho _1}} } \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \right.} } \hfill \cr {\left. {\left. {\;\;\;\; + \;{{{\rho _2} - \sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} } \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \right]d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} \right\}} \hfill \cr {\; = \sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}} \min \left\{ {{{\left( {m + 1} \right){\rho _2} - \sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {s_j^i} } \over {\left( {m + 1} \right)!\left( {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}} \right)}}{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \right.} \hfill \cr {\;\;\;\; + \;{{\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {s_j^i} - {\rho _1}\left( {m + 1} \right)} \over {\left( {m + 1} \right)!\left( {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}} \right)}}{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _2}} \right),{{\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {s_j^i} - {\rho _1}\left( {m + 1} \right)} \over {\left( {m + 1} \right)!\left( {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}} \right)}}{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \hfill \cr {\;\;\;\;\left. { + \;{{\left( {m + 1} \right){\rho _2} - \sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {s_j^i} } \over {\left( {m + 1} \right)!\left( {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}} \right)}}{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \right\}} \hfill \cr { = {{\left( {m + 1} \right){\rho _2} - \sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{{\bar s}_j}} } \over {\left( {m + 1} \right)!\left( {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}} \right)}}{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _1}} \right) + {{\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{{\bar s}_j}} - {\rho _1}\left( {m + 1} \right)} \over {\left( {m + 1} \right)!\left( {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}} \right)}}{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _2}} \right).} \hfill \cr } With some elementary calculations and rearrangement, we arrive at (3.1).

Remark 1

In the special case where h(x) = x, α = 1, n = 1, g ≡ 1, we obtain the result for convex functions, and the following Lah-Ribarič inequality holds, as proven [1, Theorem 10]. i=0laifs0i,,smi=i=0laiΔmfmj=0mujsjidu0dum1i=0laiminΔmρ2j=0mujsjiρ2ρ1fmρ1+j=0mujsjiρ1ρ2ρ1fmρ2du0dum1,Δmj=0mujsjiρ1ρ2ρ1fmρ2+ρ2j=0mujsjiρ2ρ1fmρ1du0dum1=m+1ρ2j=0ms¯jm+1!ρ2ρ1fmρ1+j=0ms¯jρ1m+1m+1!ρ2ρ1fmρ2. \matrix{ {\sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}f\left[ {s_0^i,\ldots ,s_m^i} \right]} = \sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}} \int_{{\Delta _m}} {{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {\sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} } \right)d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} } \hfill \cr { \le \sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}} \min \left\{ {\int_{{\Delta _m}} {\left[ {{{{\rho _2} - \sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} } \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \right.} } \right.} \hfill \cr {\left. {\;\;\; + \;{{\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} - {\rho _1}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \right]d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}},\int_{{\Delta _m}} {\left[ {{{\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} - {\rho _1}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \right.} } \hfill \cr {\;\;\;\left. { + \left. {\;{{{\rho _2} - \sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} } \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \right]d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} \right\}} \hfill \cr { = {{\left( {m + 1} \right){\rho _2} - \sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{{\bar s}_j}} } \over {\left( {m + 1} \right)!\left( {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}} \right)}}{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right) + {{\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{{\bar s}_j}} - {\rho _1}\left( {m + 1} \right)} \over {\left( {m + 1} \right)!\left( {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}} \right)}}{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right).} \hfill \cr }

In the following theorem, we apply the results obtained to the function F of two variables, as described by Pečarić and Beesack in [5] (see also [6]).

Theorem 6

Let f(m) be a nonnegative function on [0,∞⟩, g is positive function on [0,∞⟩, 0 ≤ ρ1 < ρ2 <and f(m), gL1[ρ1, ρ2], ai ≥ 0, i ∈ {0, . . . , l} such that i=0lai=1 \sum\nolimits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i} = 1} and s¯j=i=0laisji {\bar s_j} = \sum\nolimits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}s_j^i} and let J be an interval such that Jf(m)(I). If F : J × J → ℝ is a function defined such that uF(u, v) is increasing for any vJ, then for every ξ=1m+1j=0ms¯j \xi = {1 \over {m + 1}}\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{{\bar s}_j}} we have Fm!i=0laifs0i,,smi,fmξFfmρ1gρ1ρ2ρ1ρ2ξ+fmρ2gρ2ρ2ρ1ξρ1,fmξmaxξρ1,ρ2Ffmρ1gρ1ρ2ρ1ρ2ξ+fmρ2gρ2ρ2ρ1ξρ1,fmξ. \matrix{ {F\left( {m!\sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}f\left[ {s_0^i,\ldots ,s_m^i} \right]} ,{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( \xi \right)} \right)} \hfill \cr {\; \le F\left( {{{{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}\left( {{\rho _2} - \xi } \right) + {{{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}\left( {\xi - {\rho _1}} \right),{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( \xi \right)} \right)} \hfill \cr {\; \le \mathop {\max }\limits_{\xi \in \left[ {{\rho _1},{\rho _2}} \right]} \;F\left( {{{{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}\left( {{\rho _2} - \xi } \right) + {{{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}\left( {\xi - {\rho _1}} \right),{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( \xi \right)} \right).} \hfill \cr }

In the special case of Theorem 5 when α = 1, n = 1, we obtain the following result for (h, g)-convex functions:

Corollary 2

Let f(m) be a nonnegative (h, g)-convex function on [0,∞⟩ where h is a nonnegative concave function on J ⊂ ℝ, h ≠ 0, g is positive function on [0,∞⟩, 0 ≤ ρ1 < ρ2 < ∞, f(m), g, hL1[ρ1, ρ2] and ai ≥ 0, i ∈ {0, . . . , l} such that i=0lai=1 \sum\nolimits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i} = 1} . Then the following inequality holds m!i=0laifs0i,,smii=0laifmρ1gρ1hρ21m+1j=0msjiρ2ρ1+fmρ2gρ2h1m+1j=0msjiρ1ρ2ρ1. \matrix{ {m!\sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}f\left[ {s_0^i,\ldots ,s_m^i} \right]} \le \sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}\left[ {{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)h\left( {{{{\rho _2} - {1 \over {m + 1}}\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {s_j^i} } \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right)} \right.} } \hfill \cr {\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\left. { + \;{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)h\left( {{{{1 \over {m + 1}}\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {s_j^i} - {\rho _1}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right)} \right].} \hfill \cr }

Proof

i=0laifs0i,,smii=0laiΔmminhρ2j=0mujsjiρ2ρ1fmρ1gρ1+hj=0mujsjiρ1ρ2ρ1fmρ2gρ2,hj=0mujsjiρ1ρ2ρ1fmρ2gρ2+hρ2j=0mujsjiρ2ρ1fmρ1gρ1du0dum1i=0laiminΔmhρ2j=0mujsjiρ2ρ1fmρ1gρ1+hj=0mujsjiρ1ρ2ρ1fmρ2gρ2du0dum1,Δmhj=0mujsjiρ1ρ2ρ1fmρ2gρ2+hρ2j=0mujsjiρ2ρ1fmρ1gρ1du0dum1i=0laiminfmρ1gρ1m!hm!Δmρ2j=0mujsjiρ2ρ1du0dum1+fmρ2gρ2m!hm!Δmj=0mujsjiρ1ρ2ρ1du0dum1,fmρ2gρ2m!hm!Δmj=0mujsjiρ1ρ2ρ1du0dum1+fmρ1gρ1m!hm!Δmρ2j=0mujsjiρ2ρ1du0dum1=i=0laiminfmρ1gρ1m!hρ21m+1j=0msjiρ2ρ1+fmρ2gρ2m!h1m+1j=0msjiρ1ρ2ρ1,fmρ2gρ2m!h1m+1j=0msjiρ1ρ2ρ1+fmρ1gρ1m!hρ21m+1j=0msjiρ2ρ1=i=0laifmρ1gρ1m!hρ21m+1j=0msjiρ2ρ1+fmρ2gρ2m!h1m+1j=0msjiρ1ρ2ρ1. \matrix{ {\sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}f\left[ {s_0^i,\ldots ,s_m^i} \right]} \le \sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}} \int_{{\Delta _m}} {\min \left\{ {\left[ {h\left( {{{{\rho _2} - \sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} } \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right){f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \right.} \right.} } \hfill \cr {\left. {\;\;\; + \;h\left( {{{\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} - {\rho _1}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right){f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \right],\left[ {h\left( {{{\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} - {\rho _1}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right){f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \right.} \hfill \cr {\left. {\left. {\;\;\; + \;h\left( {{{{\rho _2} - \sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} } \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right){f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \right]} \right\}d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} \hfill \cr { \le \sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}} \min \left\{ {\int_{{\Delta _m}} {\left[ {h\left( {{{{\rho _2} - \sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} } \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right){f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \right.} } \right.} \hfill \cr {\left. {\;\;\; + \;h\left( {{{\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} - {\rho _1}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right){f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \right]d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}},} \hfill \cr {\;\;\;\int_{{\Delta _m}} {\left[ {h\left( {{{\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} - {\rho _1}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right){f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \right.} } \hfill \cr {\left. {\left. { + \;h\left( {{{{\rho _2} - \sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} } \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right){f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \right]d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} \right\}} \hfill \cr { \le \sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}} \min \left\{ {\left[ {{{{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \over {m!}}h\left( {m!\int_{{\Delta _m}} {{{{\rho _2} - \sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} } \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} } \right)} \right.} \right.} \hfill \cr {\left. {\;\;\; + \;{{{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \over {m!}}h\left( {m!\int_{{\Delta _m}} {{{\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} - {\rho _1}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} } \right)} \right],} \hfill \cr {\;\;\;\left[ {{{{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \over {m!}}h\left( {m!\int_{{\Delta _m}} {{{\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} - {\rho _1}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} } \right)} \right.} \hfill \cr {\left. {\left. {\;\;\; + \;{{{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \over {m!}}h\left( {m!\int_{{\Delta _m}} {{{{\rho _2} - \sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{u_j}s_j^i} } \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}d{u_0} \ldots d{u_{m - 1}}} } \right)} \right]} \right\}} \hfill \cr { = \sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}} \min \left\{ {\left[ {{{{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \over {m!}}h\left( {{{{\rho _2} - {1 \over {m + 1}}\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {s_j^i} } \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right)} \right.} \right.} \hfill \cr {\left. {\;\;\; + \;{{{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \over {m!}}h\left( {{{{1 \over {m + 1}}\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {s_j^i} - {\rho _1}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right)} \right],} \hfill \cr {\left. {\left[ {{{{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \over {m!}}h\left( {{{{1 \over {m + 1}}\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {s_j^i} - {\rho _1}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right) + {{{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \over {m!}}h\left( {{{{\rho _2} - {1 \over {m + 1}}\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {s_j^i} } \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right)} \right]} \right\}} \hfill \cr { = \sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}\left[ {{{{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \over {m!}}h\left( {{{{\rho _2} - {1 \over {m + 1}}\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {s_j^i} } \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right)} \right.} } \hfill \cr {\;\;\;\left. { + \;{{{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \over {m!}}h\left( {{{{1 \over {m + 1}}\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {s_j^i} - {\rho _1}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right)} \right].} \hfill \cr}

Theorem 7

Let f(m) be a nonnegative (h, g)-convex function on [0,∞⟩ where h is a nonnegative concave function on J ⊂ ℝ, h ≠ 0, g is positive function on [0,∞⟩, 0 ≤ ρ1 < ρ2 < ∞ and f(m), g, hL1[ρ1, ρ2], ai ≥ 0, i ∈ {0, . . . , l} such that i=0lai=1 \sum\nolimits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i} = 1} and let J be an interval such that Jf(m)(I). If F : J × J → ℝ is a function defined such that uF(u, v) is increasing for any vJ, then for every ξi=1m+1j=0msji {\xi ^i} = {1 \over {m + 1}}\sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {s_j^i} we have Fm!i=0laifs0i,,smi,fmξiFi=0laifmρ1gρ1hρ2ξiρ2ρ1+fmρ2gρ2hξiρ1ρ2ρ1,fmξimaxξiρ1,ρ2Fi=0lai(fmρ1gρ1hρ2ξiρ2ρ1+fmρ2gρ2hξiρ1ρ2ρ1,fmξi. \matrix{ {F\left( {m!\sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}f\left[ {s_0^i,\ldots ,s_m^i} \right]} ,{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\xi ^i}} \right)} \right)} \hfill \cr { \le F\left[ {\sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}} \left( {{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)h\left( {{{{\rho _2} - {\xi ^i}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right) + {f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)h\left( {{{{\xi ^i} - {\rho _1}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right)} \right),{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\xi ^i}} \right)} \right]} \hfill \cr { \le \mathop {\max }\limits_{{\xi ^i} \in \left[ {{\rho _1},{\rho _2}} \right]} \;F\left[ {\sum\limits_{i = 0}^l {{a_i}({f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)h\left( {{{{\rho _2} - {\xi ^i}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right)} } \right.} \hfill \cr {\;\;\;\left. {\left. { + \;{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)g\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)h\left( {{{{\xi ^i} - {\rho _1}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right)} \right),{f^{\left( m \right)}}\left( {{\xi ^i}} \right)} \right].} \hfill \cr }

In the last part of the section, we will provide a discussion on h-convex functions.

Remark 2

Let f : [ρ1, ρ2] → ℝ be a h-convex function. We apply inequality (1.4) on the concave function h by setting x = ρ1, y = ρ2, u=λρ1+1λρ2 u = \lambda {\rho _1} + \left( {1 - \lambda } \right){\rho _2} and then proceed to solve for λ=uρ2ρ1ρ2. \lambda = {{u - {\rho _2}} \over {{\rho _1} - {\rho _2}}}. Substituting this into the inequality (1.4), we obtain (3.2) fuhρ2uρ2ρ1fρ1+huρ1ρ2ρ1fρ2. f\left( u \right) \le h\left( {{{{\rho _2} - u} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right)f\left( {{\rho _1}} \right) + h\left( {{{u - {\rho _1}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right)f\left( {{\rho _2}} \right). By substituting u = xj , where j ∈ {0, . . . , m}, into (3.2) and multiplying each inequality by λj , j ∈ {0, . . . ,m}, such that j=0mλj=1 \sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{\lambda _j} = 1} , we obtain the following result λjfxjλjhρ2xjρ2ρ1fρ1+λjhxjρ1ρ2ρ1fρ2,j0,,m. {\lambda _j}f\left( {{x_j}} \right) \le {\lambda _j}h\left( {{{{\rho _2} - {x_j}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right)f\left( {{\rho _1}} \right) + {\lambda _j}h\left( {{{{x_j} - {\rho _1}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right)f\left( {{\rho _2}} \right),\;\;j \in \left\{ {0,\ldots ,m} \right\}. By summing these inequalities from j = 0 to j = m, we obtain j=0mλjfxjj=0mλjhρ2xjρ2ρ1fρ1+j=0mλjhxjρ1ρ2ρ1fρ2. \sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{\lambda _j}f\left( {{x_j}} \right)} \le \sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{\lambda _j}h\left( {{{{\rho _2} - {x_j}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right)f\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} + \sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{\lambda _j}h\left( {{{{x_j} - {\rho _1}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right)f\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} . Since h is a concave function and f is assumed to be a nonnegative, we have, by denoting x¯=j=0mλjxj \bar x = \sum\nolimits_{j = 0}^m {{\lambda _j}{x_j}} , the following result: j=0mλjfxjj=0mλjhρ2xjρ2ρ1fρ1+j=0mλjhxjρ1ρ2ρ1fρ2hρ2x¯ρ2ρ1fρ1+hx¯ρ1ρ2ρ1fρ2. \matrix{ {\sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{\lambda _j}f\left( {{x_j}} \right)} } \hfill & { \le \;\sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{\lambda _j}h\left( {{{{\rho _2} - {x_j}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right)f\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} + \sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{\lambda _j}h\left( {{{{x_j} - {\rho _1}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right)f\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} } \hfill \cr {} \hfill & { \le \;\;h\left( {{{{\rho _2} - \bar x} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right)f\left( {{\rho _1}} \right) + h\left( {{{\bar x - {\rho _1}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right)f\left( {{\rho _2}} \right).} \hfill \cr } Now we apply the obtained result to the function F of two variables, which is monotonic in its first argument (compare [5] and [6]), and get Fj=0mλjfxj,fx¯Fhρ2x¯ρ2ρ1fρ1+hx¯ρ1ρ2ρ1fρ2,fx¯maxξρ1,ρ2Fhρ2ξρ2ρ1fρ1+hξρ1ρ2ρ1fρ2,fξ. \matrix{ {F\left( {\sum\limits_{j = 0}^m {{\lambda _j}f\left( {{x_j}} \right),f\left( {\bar x} \right)} } \right) \le F\left( {h\left( {{{{\rho _2} - \bar x} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right)f\left( {{\rho _1}} \right) + h\left( {{{\bar x - {\rho _1}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right)f\left( {{\rho _2}} \right),f\left( {\bar x} \right)} \right)} \hfill \cr {\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\; \le \mathop {\max }\limits_{\xi \in \left[ {{\rho _1},{\rho _2}} \right]} {\rm{\;}}F\left( {h\left( {{{{\rho _2} - \xi } \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right)f\left( {{\rho _1}} \right) + h\left( {{{\xi - {\rho _1}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right)f\left( {{\rho _2}} \right),f\left( \xi \right)} \right).} \hfill \cr } If we for the function F set F(u, v) = uv, we denote Φξ=hρ2ξρ2ρ1fρ1+hξρ1ρ2ρ1fρ2fξ. \Phi \left( \xi \right) = h\left( {{{{\rho _2} - \xi } \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right)f\left( {{\rho _1}} \right) + h\left( {{{\xi - {\rho _1}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right)f\left( {{\rho _2}} \right) - f\left( \xi \right). Now, we will use this result to determine the conversion of inequality (1.4) i.e. we need to find the constant μ such that hλfx+h1λfyfλx+1λy+μ h\left( \lambda \right)f\left( x \right) + h\left( {1 - \lambda } \right)f\left( y \right) \le f\left( {\lambda x + \left( {1 - \lambda } \right)y} \right) + \mu is valid, where μ=maxξρ1,ρ2Φξ. \mu = \;\;\mathop {\max }\limits_{\xi \in \left[ {{\rho _1},{\rho _2}} \right]} \;\Phi \left( \xi \right). According to the Bolzano–Weierstrass theorem, determining the maximum value of the function Φ requires evaluating it at key points. The potential candidates for the global maximum are the boundary points ξ = ρ1 and ξ = ρ2, along with any critical points where the derivative satisfies Φ′(ξ) = 0, hence to identify the global maximum, we will compute Φ at each of these points and compare their values:

  • 1 Φ(ρ1) = h(1)f(ρ1) + h(0)f(ρ2) − f(ρ1),

  • 2 Φ(ρ2) = h(0)f(ρ1) + h(1)f(ρ2) − f(ρ2),

  • 3 Φ(ξ0) where Φ(ξ0) = 0 i.e.

0=hρ2ξ0ρ2ρ1fρ1ρ2ρ1+hξ0ρ1ρ2ρ1fρ2ρ2ρ1fξ0. 0 = - h'\left( {{{{\rho _2} - {\xi _0}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right){{f\left( {{\rho _1}} \right)} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}} + h'\left( {{{{\xi _0} - {\rho _1}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right){{f\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}} - f'\left( {{\xi _0}} \right).

Now, we need to analyze the second derivative of the function Φ Φξ=hρ2ξρ2ρ1fρ1+hξρ1ρ2ρ1fρ21(ρ2ρ1)2fξ, \Phi ''\left( \xi \right) = \left( {h''\left( {{{{\rho _2} - \xi } \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right)f\left( {{\rho _1}} \right) + h''\left( {{{\xi - {\rho _1}} \over {{\rho _2} - {\rho _1}}}} \right)f\left( {{\rho _2}} \right)} \right){1 \over {{{({\rho _2} - {\rho _1})}^2}}} - f''\left( \xi \right), to determine type of local extrema. For a function f that is h-convex, determining the maximum of the function Φ is not a straightforward task. The complexity arises from the dependence on the (classical) properties of both functions f and h, which influence the analytical behavior of Φ in the given domain. For example, consider the functions f and hk defined as hk(x) = xk, f(x) = xλ, x > 0, k, λ ∈ ℝ. From [9], we know that the function f is hk-convex if:

  • (i)

    λ ∈ ⟨−∞, 0] ∪ [1,∞⟩ and k ≤ 1;

  • (ii)

    λ ∈ ⟨0, 1⟩ and kλ.

In the first case, the function f is both hk-convex and convex in the classical sense, while hk is concave in the classical sense. In the second case, the function f is hk-convex and concave in the classical sense, while hk is concave for 0 < k < λ and convex for k < 0 (in the classical sense). We consider here the case (i). Φρ1=h1fρ1+h0fρ2fρ1=1fρ1+0fρ2fρ1=0, \Phi \left( {{\rho _1}} \right) = h\left( 1 \right)f\left( {{\rho _1}} \right) + h\left( 0 \right)f\left( {{\rho _2}} \right) - f\left( {{\rho _1}} \right) = 1 \cdot f\left( {{\rho _1}} \right) + 0 \cdot f\left( {{\rho _2}} \right) - f\left( {{\rho _1}} \right) = 0, and Φρ2=h0fρ1+h1fρ2fρ2=0fρ1+1fρ2fρ2=0. \Phi \left( {{\rho _2}} \right) = h\left( 0 \right)f\left( {{\rho _1}} \right) + h\left( 1 \right)f\left( {{\rho _2}} \right) - f\left( {{\rho _2}} \right) = 0 \cdot f\left( {{\rho _1}} \right) + 1 \cdot f\left( {{\rho _2}} \right) - f\left( {{\rho _2}} \right) = 0. Also, according to inequality (1.4), we know that the function Φ is non-negative, Φ″ ≤ 0, and we can conclude that Φ achieves a global maximum at some interior point ξ0, where Φ′(ξ0) = 0.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/amsil-2026-0001 | Journal eISSN: 2391-4238 | Journal ISSN: 0860-2107
Language: English
Submitted on: Jun 9, 2025
|
Accepted on: Jan 27, 2026
|
Published on: Feb 25, 2026
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 2 issues per year
Keywords:

© 2026 Gorana Aras-Gazić, Julije Jakšetić, Josip Pečarić, published by University of Silesia in Katowice, Institute of Mathematics
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

AHEAD OF PRINT