# why two ans for single inequality in L1 norm?

Algebra

### why two ans for single inequality in L1 norm?

Hello!

Can anyone assist regarding the following a scalar measure of the difference between to vectors, please?

Thank you!

Let $\boldsymbol{u}=[u_{1}~~u_{2}~~u_{3}]$ and $\boldsymbol{v}=[v_{1}~~v_{2}~~v_{3}]$ be two known row vectors of proportions.~Suppose two row vectors $\boldsymbol{a}$ and $\boldsymbol{b}$ are defined as follows:
$$\boldsymbol{a}=\left[\frac{u_{1}}{u_{1}+u_{2}}~~\frac{u_{2}}{u_{1}+u_{2}}\right]~\text{and}~\boldsymbol{b}=\left[\frac{v_{1}}{v_{1}+v_{2}}~~\frac{v_{2}}{v_{1}+v_{2}}\right].$$
Does the following equation holds?
$$f(\boldsymbol{a},\boldsymbol{b})\le f(\boldsymbol{u},\boldsymbol{v}),$$
where the function for $\boldsymbol{x}$ and $\boldsymbol{y}$ is defined as:
$$f(\boldsymbol{x},\boldsymbol{y})=\frac{1}{2}\sum\limits_{i=1}^{3}|y_{i}-x_{i}|.$$

I have approached the question in two ways.

Firstly, I assumed some values for $\boldsymbol{u}=[5/10~~3/10~~2/10]$ and $\boldsymbol{v}=[7/10~~2/10~~1/10]$. Then, I computed $f(\boldsymbol{u},\boldsymbol{v})=1/10$ and $f(\boldsymbol{a},\boldsymbol{b})=11/72.$ Here, clearly $f(\boldsymbol{a},\boldsymbol{b}) < f(\boldsymbol{u},\boldsymbol{v})$ holds.

Secondly, I tried to prove this for the general case as follows. Consider,
$$f(\boldsymbol{a},\boldsymbol{b})\le f(\boldsymbol{u},\boldsymbol{v})$$
$$\frac{1}{2}\sum\limits_{i=1}^{2}|\frac{v_{i}}{v_{1}+v_{2}}-\frac{u_{i}}{u_{1}+u_{2}}|\le\frac{1}{2}\sum\limits_{i=1}^{3}|v_{i}-u_{i}|$$
$$\frac{1}{(v_{1}+v_{2})(u_{1}+u_{2})}\sum\limits_{i=1}^{2}|v_{i}-u_{i}|\le\sum\limits_{i=1}^{3}|v_{i}-u_{i}|$$
$$\frac{1}{(v_{1}+v_{2})(u_{1}+u_{2})}\le|v_{3}-u_{3}|$$
$$1 \le |v_{3}-u_{3}| (v_{1}+v_{2})(u_{1}+u_{2})$$

This last express does not look "correct" to me as $u_{i}$ and $v_{i}$ are proportions so the product of the LHR in the last expression "cannot" be greater than "1" (Isn't it?). Also note $u_{1}+u_{2}+u_{3}=1$ and $v_{1}+v_{2}+v_{3}=1$.

I am wondering where have I make a mistake in the second or first method? If both are correct, then why I am getting a different answer? Moreover, how may I correct if there is any mistake it?

Thank you!
zeeshas901

Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Feb 15, 2020 2:09 pm
Reputation: 0