# How can I show $\log(1+\frac{X}{A})\log(1+\frac{Y}{B})\ge \log(1+\frac{X}{B})\log(1+\frac{Y}{A})$?

How can I show $$\log(1+\frac{X}{A})\log(1+\frac{Y}{B})\ge \log(1+\frac{X}{B})\log(1+\frac{Y}{A})$$ if $X\ge Y>0$ and $A\ge B>0$?

-
17 views and no comment yet! Any hint? Is it too simple or too hard? –  Helium Jun 8 '11 at 23:26
too many variables... where does the problem origin from? –  plusepsilon.de Jun 8 '11 at 23:42
You can fix $A \ge B > 0$ and define the function $f(u) = \ln (1+u/A) / \ln (1+u/B)$. If you prove $f'(u) > 0$ for all $u > 0$, you'll have demonstrated it is monotonic increasing and therefore $X \ge Y > 0 \implies f(X) \ge f(Y)$ which entails your inequality up there. –  anon Jun 8 '11 at 23:47
@user11848: It's related to the speed of computer networks :) Not an assignment, that's my research. –  Helium Jun 8 '11 at 23:54
@anon: Thanks. It really works. –  Helium Jun 9 '11 at 0:12

Given $\alpha \geq 1$, define $f_\alpha(u) = \frac{\log(1+\alpha u)}{\log(1+u)}$ for $u>0.$

Show that $f_\alpha$ is an non-increasing.

Then if $\alpha = X/Y$, let $u=Y/A$ and $u'=Y/B$. So $u\leq u'$, and, since $f_\alpha$ is non-increasing, $f_\alpha(u)\geq f_\alpha(u')$. Expand that out, you get:

$$\frac{\log(1+X/A)}{\log(1+Y/A)} \geq \frac{\log(1+X/B)}{\log(1+Y/B)}$$

which is equivalent to the result you want.

So you only need to show that $f_\alpha$ is non-increasing, or, alternatively, that $f_\alpha'(u)\leq 0$ for all u>0.

But:

$$f_\alpha'(u) = \frac{\alpha(1+u)\log(1+u) - (1+\alpha u)\log(1+\alpha u)}{(1+u)(1+\alpha u)\log^2(1+u)}$$

So you need to show that $\alpha(1+u)\log(1+u) \leq (1+\alpha u)\log(1+\alpha u)$ when $\alpha\geq 1$ and $u > 0$.

This can be thought of as saying that $$g_u(z)=\frac{(1+uz)\log(1+uz)}{z}$$ has the property that $g_u(1)\leq g_u(\alpha)$ when $\alpha\geq 1$.

Now we show that $g_u$ is non-decreasing.

$$g_u'(z) = -\frac{(1+uz)\log(1+uz)}{z^2} + \frac{u\log(1+uz) + u}{z}$$

which simplifies to:

$$\frac{uz-\log(1+uz)}{z^2}$$

But $w\geq\log(1+w)$ for all $w\geq 0$. Setting $w=uz$, we see that $g_u'(z)$ is non-negative when $z>0$, and thus, in particular, $g_u(1)\leq g_u(\alpha)$ when $\alpha\geq 1$ and $u>0$. So $f_u'$ is non-positive, so $f_u$ is non-increasing, and we are done.

-
Thank you very much. I think your answer is quite similar to anon's comment above. But I think his approach is a simpler one. Anyways, your answer is perfect. –  Helium Jun 9 '11 at 1:16
I was verifying your answer today and I found there is a problem with it. Actually, I think the numerator must be $\alpha (1+u)\log(1+u) - (1+\alpha u)\log(1+\alpha u)$ instead of the one you wrote (i.e. the first term has an $\alpha$ multiplier). I believe the general idea of your proof still holds but it needs a bit modification. I'll get back if I found the answer. But write here if you have any idea. –  Helium Jun 20 '11 at 21:43
@Mohsen You are right, I'll see what I can do to fix that. –  Thomas Andrews Jun 22 '11 at 15:01
It's perfect. Thank you. –  Helium Jun 22 '11 at 19:27