# Positive Definite Proof

Prove that the inner product associated with a positive definite quadratic form $q(x)$ is given by the polarization formula $\langle x, y\rangle = \frac{1}{2}[q(x+y) - q(x) - q(y)]$.

How will I be able to do this problem. I know in order to be a positive definite you need the following axioms to be verified: bilinearity, positivity and symmetric. Thus we need that $\langle x, y\rangle = x^TKy$ for $x,y \in R^n$ but how do I go on to apply that here?

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But first of all, observe/verify that for given inner product $\langle,\rangle$, with $q(x):=\langle x,x\rangle$ the polarization formula holds.
What do you mean by '$\langle x,y\rangle$ holds'? What do we know about $q$? – Berci Oct 7 '12 at 3:18
I don't know what we can start out from. How is a quadratic form defined in the context? By the matrix $K$? or what? – Berci Oct 7 '12 at 3:48
So, have you verified the 'But first of all..' part? That unfolding $\langle x+y,x+y\rangle$ helps to get back $\langle x,y\rangle$.. – Berci Oct 7 '12 at 3:52