# Matrix Norm Inequality proof

I came across this inequality

$$\|ABC\|_F \leq \|A\| \|B\|_F \|C\|$$

for all matrices $A$, $B$ and $C$, where $\|\cdot\|$ is the operator norm (max singular value)

I do not know how to prove this, nor do I have it accessible. Is there a proof available online?

-

The key fact is that $\|A^*A\|\,I-A^*A$ is positive-semidefinite, and then so is $B^*(\|A^*A\|-A^*A)B=\|A^*A\|B^*B-B^*A^*AB$.
Then, as the eigenvalues of a positive-semidefinite matrix are all non-negative, we have $$\|AB\|_F^2=\mbox{Tr}((AB)^*AB)=\mbox{Tr}(B^*A^*AB)\leq\mbox{Tr}(\|A^*A\|B^*B)=\|A^*A\|\,\mbox{Tr}(B^*B)\\ =\|A^*A\|\,\|B\|_F^2=\|A\|^2\,\|B\|_F^2.$$ Now, $$\|ABC\|_F=\|A(BC)\|_F\leq\|A\|\,\|BC\|_F=\|A\|\,\|C^*B^*\|_F\leq\|A\|\,\|C^*\|\,\|B^*\|_F =\|A\|\,\|B\|_F\,\|C\|.$$
$\ \\$
Edit: here's a short proof of the fact in the first line. As $A^*A$ is positive-semidefinite, it is diagonalizable, i.e. $A^*A=VDV^*$ for a unitary $V$ and diagonal $D$. As $\|A^*A\|=\|D\|$, it is clear that $\|A^*A\|\,I-D$ is positive-semidefinite (it is a diagonal matrix with non-negative diagonal entries). Then $$\|A^*A\|\,I-A^*A=\|A^*A\|\,VV^*-VDV^*=V(\|A^*A\|\,I-D)V^*$$ is positive-semidefinite.
@NSR: the trace is positive-preserving, so if you apply the trace to the positive-semidefinite matrix $\|A^*A\|B^*B-B^*A^*AB$, you get a non-negative number. Coupled with the fact that the trace is linear, this gives you the inequality. –  Martin Argerami Aug 30 '12 at 20:27