# Is this function convex or non-convex?

Let $$f(a,b,c,d)=\frac{(a-b)*(c-d)}{\sqrt{(a-b)^2+(c-d)^2}},$$ where $a,b,c,d$ are variables.

Is this function convex or non-convex?

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Why are you writing an equation? –  Giuseppe Negro Feb 3 '13 at 18:45
Assuming your function is the LHS, compute, say, $\frac{\partial^2}{\partial a^2}$ and notice it is negative for $a>b, c>d$... –  user7530 Feb 3 '13 at 18:51
What is(are) your variable(s) WRT convexity? –  vonbrand Feb 3 '13 at 19:06
updated and convexity only WRT two variables? –  Nob Jame Feb 3 '13 at 19:40
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## 2 Answers

We have $$\frac{\partial f}{\partial a} = \frac{c-d}{\sqrt{(a-b)^2+(c-d)^2}}-\frac{(a-b)^2(c-d)}{\left[(a-b)^2+(c-d)^2\right]^{3/2}}=\frac{(c-d)^3}{\left[(a-b)^2+(c-d)^2\right]^{3/2}}$$ $$\frac{\partial^2f}{\partial a^2} = -\frac{3(a-b)(c-d)^3}{\left[(a-b)^2+(c-d)^2\right]^{5/2}},$$ which is negative when $a>b$ and $c>d$. Therefore the Hessian of $f$ cannot be positive semi-definite, and so $f$ is not convex.

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The pre-requisite of a function to be convex is: the domain set of the function must be convex. ( A set C is convex if and only if for any ${ x }_{ 1 },{ x }_{ 2 }\in C$, and any $\theta$ with $0\le \theta \le 1$: $$\theta { x }_{ 1 }+(1-\theta ){ x }_{ 2 }\in C$$

It's easy to show that the domain set of the function you have mentioned is not convex.

e.g. $$(x,0,y,0), \quad(0,x,0,y)\in dom \quad f$$

but $$\frac { 1 }{ 2 } (x,0,y,0)+(1-\frac { 1 }{ 2 } )(0,x,0,y)=\frac { 1 }{ 2 } (x,x,y,y)\notin dom\quad f$$

So the domain set of the function is not a convex set. Therefore the function is not a convex function.

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