Conditions for convexity of a derivative and some applications to the gamma function (Q1390824)

Let \(f:I\to \mathbb{R}\) be a differentiable function on a real interval \(I\). Put \(F(x,y)= (f(y)-f(x))/ (y-x)\) for \(x\neq y\); \(F(x,x)= f'(x)\). The author proves that the convexity of \(f'\) is equivalent to each other of four conditions related to \(f\) and/or \(F\). For example, \(f'\) is convex iff \(F\) is Schur-convex, or \(f'(\frac{x+y}{2})\leq F(x,y)\) \((x,y\in I)\). These results are then applied to a characterization of the Gamma function (which complement a result by H. Kairies), as well as to deduce certain inequalities for the Gamma function. The reviewer notes that these inequalities follow also from the well-known Jensen (or Hermite)-Hadamard inequalities for integrals in the case of the concave function \(\frac{d}{dx} (\log \Gamma(x))\) (digamma function).