# Equality constrained norm minimization

In these slides (5) the dual function for the norm minimization problem:

$$\min_x \|x\| \quad \mbox{s.t.} \quad Ax =b$$

is defined as:

$$g(v) = \inf_x (\|x\| - ν^\intercal Ax + b^\intercal ν)$$

what I don't understand is why the signs are reserved. The Lagrangian is according to the same author

$$\|x\| + v^\intercal (Ax - b)$$

so the dual function should have been

$$g(v) = \inf_x (\|x\| + ν^\intercal Ax - b^\intercal ν)$$

Is this correct?

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I think it doesnt change anything. Because you have finally a lagrange multiplier which is a free parameter and it doesnt matter if it is $-v^T$ or $v^T$. finally if you get $v^T$ in one type of optimization you will get $-v^T$ in another. – Seyhmus Güngören Aug 25 '12 at 12:39

$$g^{'}(v) = \inf_x (\|x\| + ν^\intercal Ax - b^\intercal ν)$$ is equivalent to $$g(v) = \inf_x (\|x\| - ν^\intercal Ax + b^\intercal ν)$$
except for the final $v^T$ that you will obtain which leads to $\min ||{x}||$. It means $x_{min}$ which minimizes $||x||$ conditioned on $Ax =b$ will be exactly the same if you use $g^{'}(v)$ or $g(v)$