Convex Function
A convex function is a continuous function whose value at the midpoint of every interval in its domain does not exceed the arithmetic mean of its values at the ends of the interval.
More generally, a function is convex on an interval if for any two points and in and any where ,
(Rudin 1976, p. 101; cf. Gradshteyn and Ryzhik 2000, p. 1132).
If has a second derivative in , then a necessary and sufficient condition for it to be convex on that interval is that the second derivative for all in .
If the inequality above is strict for all and , then is called strictly convex.
Examples of convex functions include for or even , for , and for all . If the sign of the inequality is reversed, the function is called concave. SEE ALSO: Convex, Concave Function, Interval, Logarithmically Convex Function REFERENCES:
Eggleton, R. B. and Guy, R. K. "Catalan Strikes Again! How Likely is a Function to be Convex?" Math. Mag. 61, 211-219, 1988.
Gradshteyn, I. S. and Ryzhik, I. M. Tables of Integrals, Series, and Products, 6th ed. San Diego, CA: Academic Press, p. 1132, 2000.
Rudin, W. Principles of Mathematical Analysis, 3rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1976.
Webster, R. Convexity. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 1995.
Referenced on Wolfram|Alpha: Convex Function
Concave Function
A function is said to be concave on an interval if, for any points and in , the function is convex on that interval (Gradshteyn and Ryzhik 2000). SEE ALSO: Convex Function REFERENCES:
Gradshteyn, I. S. and Ryzhik, I. M. Tables of Integrals, Series, and Products, 6th ed. San Diego, CA: Academic Press, p. 1132, 2000. Referenced on Wolfram|Alpha: Concave Function
from: http://mathworld.wolfram.com/ConvexFunction.html
http://mathworld.wolfram.com/ConcaveFunction.html