n-convexity and majorization (Q583402)

Let \(x,y\in {\mathbb{R}}^{n+1}\) be given. It is said that y is weakly majorized from below by x \((y\prec_ wx)\) if: \[ \sum^{k}_{i=0}y_{[i]}\leq \sum^{k}_{i=0}x_{[i]},\quad k=0,...,n, \] where \(x_{[0]}\geq...\geq x_{[n]}\) denotes a decreasing rearrangement of \(x_ 0,...,x_ n,\) the coordinates of x. If moreover, \(\sum^{n}_{i=0}x_ i=\sum^{n}_{i=0}y_ i,\) it is said that y is majorized by x \((y\prec x).\) A function f is said to be \((n+2)\)-convex on (a,b) if for all \(x\in (a,b)^{n+3},\) the divided differences \([x_ 0,...,x_{n+2}]f\) are non-negative. The authors prove that if f is \((n+2)\)-convex on (a,b) and \(x,y\in (a,b)^{n+1},\) then: \([x_ 0,...,x_ n]f\leq [y_ 0,...,y_ n]f\) if: \(a)\quad x\prec y,\) or \(b)\quad x\prec_ wy\) and f is \((n+1)\)-convex. Some applications are also given.