An inequality for sums of binary digits, with application to Takagi functions (Q542846)

Let \(\phi(x)=2\inf\{|x-n|\;:\;n\in \mathbb{Z}\}\). For \(\alpha>0\) let \(f_\alpha(x)=\sum\limits_{j=0}^\infty2^{-\alpha j}\phi(2^jx)\). In particular, \(\frac{1}{2}f_1\) is Takagi's continuous nowhere differentiable function. \textit{J. Tabor} and \textit{J. Tabor} [J. Math. Anal. Appl. 356, No. 2, 729--737 (2009; Zbl 1188.26008)] proved that \[ f_\alpha\Big(\frac{x+y}{2}\Big)\leq\frac{f_\alpha(x)+f_\alpha(y)}{2}+|x-y|^\alpha, \] for all \(\alpha\in[1,2]\) and \(x,y\in[0,1]\). By developing an explicit expression for \(f_\alpha\) at dyadic rational points, the author shows that the above inequality can be reduced to a simple inequality for weighted sums of binary digits. This simple inequality (which is also of independent interest) is used to give an alternative proof of the result of Tabor and Tabor, which provides more insight into the essential structure of the function \(f_\alpha\).