Evolution of the minimax inequality of Ky Fan (Q472503)

Summary: There are quite a few generalizations or applications of the 1984 minimax inequality of \textit{Ky Fan} [Math. Ann. 266, No. 4, 519--537 (1984; Zbl 0515.47029)] compared with his original 1972 minimax inequality [in: Inequalities III, Proc. 3rd Symp., Los Angeles 1969, 103--113 (1972; Zbl 0302.49019)]. In a certain sense, the relationship between the 1984 inequality and several hundreds of known generalizations of the original 1972 inequality has not been recognized for a long period. Hence, it would be necessary to seek such relationship. In this paper, we give several generalizations of the 1984 inequality and some known applications in order to clarify the close relationship among them. Some new types of minimax inequalities are added.