# An inequality involving integrals

Let be $f:[0,1] \longrightarrow R$, $f$ is an integrable function such that:

$$\int_{0}^{1} f(x) \space dx = \int_{0}^{1} xf(x) \space dx=1$$

I need to prove that:

$$\int_{0}^{1} f^2(x) \space dx\geq4$$

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is it possible to apply cauchy's inequality ? –  Theorem Jun 14 '12 at 13:06
@Theorem: is it useful here? I'll check it. –  Chris's sis Jun 14 '12 at 13:07
Should this contain the homework tag? –  Nate Iverson Jun 14 '12 at 15:02
@Nate Iverson: no. –  Chris's sis Jun 14 '12 at 15:03

Note that if $h(x)=-2+6x$ then $$\int_0^1 h(x)\, dx = \int_0^1 xh(x)\, dx =1.$$ Moreover $$\int_0^1 (h-f)^2 dx\ge 0$$
The rest is simple. Also Cauchy--Schwarz works with a slightly modified proof.

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thanks. That's an interesting approach, but at the same time very simple. –  Chris's sis Jun 14 '12 at 13:38
A geometric reading of this question is to consider the space $E=\mathcal C([0,1],\mathbb R)$ with inner product : $$\langle f,g \rangle = \int_0^1 f(t) g(t) dt$$ and say : Show that forall $f \in F^{\bot}$ , we have : $\| f \| \geq 2$ where $F= \text{Span} \{x \mapsto 1, x \mapsto x \}$. By Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization procedure, we obtain $(x \mapsto 1, x \mapsto \sqrt 3(2x-1))$ as orthonormal basis of $F$ who gives one expression of $p_F(f)$ projection of $f$. By Pythagore theorem we have : $\|p_F(f)\| \leq \|f\|$ and since the basis is orthonormal wa have : $$\|P_F(f)\|^2=(\langle f,1 \rangle )^2 + (\langle f,\sqrt 3(2x-1) \rangle )^2 = 1^2 + \sqrt 3^2 = 4$$
All this can explain the provenace of the function $x \mapsto 6x-2 = 1 + 3(2x-1)$ used by Unoqualunque.
Edit : $x \mapsto 6x-2 = 1 + 3(2x-1)$ instead of $x \mapsto 6x-2 = 3(2x-1)$
@Mohamed: <<....function $x↦6x−2=3(2x−1)$ used...>>?? –  Unoqualunque Jun 14 '12 at 14:26
@ Unoqualunque Sorry I wont say : $6x -2 = 1+ 3(2x-1)$ who is in $\text{Span}\{ \sqrt{3} (2x-1),1\}=F^{\bot}$ . Precesely: since $(1,\sqrt 3(2x-1))$ is an orthonormal basis of $F^{bot}$, we have coordinates of $p_F(f)$ expessions : $\langle f,1 \rangle = 1$ and $\langle f, \sqrt 3(2x-1) \rangle = \sqrt 3$, so : $\|p-F(f) \|^2 = 4$ , Pythagore gives : $\|f\|^2 \geq \|p_F(f) \|^2 =4$. –  Mohamed Jun 14 '12 at 16:05