CENTROID BODIES AND COMPARISON OF VOLUMES.

V.YASKIN AND M.YASKINA

Abstract. For 1 < p < 1 we introduce the concept of a polar pcentroid body p K of a star body K. We consider the question of
whether p K p L implies vol(L) vol(K). Our results extend the
studies by Lutwak in the case p = 1 and Grinberg, Zhang in the case
p > 1.

1. Introduction
Let K be a star body in Rn , then the centroid body of K is a convex
body K defined by its support function:
Z
1
hK () =
|(x, )|dx, Rn .
vol(K) K
Let K and L be two origin-symmetric star bodies in Rn such that K
L, what can be said about the volumes of K and L? Lutwak [L] proved
that, if L is a polar projection body then vol(K) vol(L). On the other
hand, if K is not a polar projection body, then there is a body L, so that
K L, but vol(K) > vol(L). Since in R2 every convex body is a polar
projection body [S], the results of Lutwak imply the following:
Suppose that K and L are two origin-symmetric convex bodies in Rn such
that K L. If n = 2, then we necessarily have vol(K) vol(L), while
this is no longer true if n 3.
Let K be a star body in Rn and p 1, then the p-centroid body of K is
the body p K defined by:

hp K () =

1
vol(K)

|(x, )| dx

1/p
,

Rn .

(1)

Clearly, hp K is a homogeneous function of degree 1, and if p 1, then this

function is convex, and, therefore, p K is well-defined. The polar of p K
is called the polar p-centroid body of K and denoted by p K. Since the
support function of a body is the norm of its polar, h = k k , the polar
p-centroid body of K is given by

1/p
Z
1
p
kkp K =
, Rn .
(2)
|(x, )| dx
vol(K) K
The p-centroid bodies and their polars have recently been studied by
different authors, see e.g. [CG], [GZ], [L], [LYZ], [LZ]. In [GZ] Grinberg
1

V.YASKIN AND M.YASKINA

and Zhang generalized the results of Lutwak discussed in the beginning of

this section. Namely, let K and L be two origin-symmetric star bodies in
Rn such that for p 1
p K p L.
They prove that if the space (Rn , k kL ) embeds in Lp , then we necessarily
have
vol(K) vol(L).
On the other hand, if (Rn , k kK ) does not embed in Lp , then there is a body
L so that p K p L, but vol(K) vol(L).
Note, that if p = 1 the positive answer holds for all convex bodies in R2 ,
while if p > 1 there is no dimension where this is always true. The preceding
remark suggests considering p < 1 in order to make the answer affirmative
in higher dimensions.
If p < 1, then the function hp K () in (1) is not necessarily convex,
therefore it is not a support function, but the definition of the polar pcentroid body still makes sense, even though these bodies may be nonconvex. So for all p > 1, p 6= 0 we define the polar p-centroid body of a
star body K by the formula:

kkp K =

1
vol(K)

1/p
|(x, )| dx
,

Rn .

(3)

For p = 0, this definition looks as follows (if we send p 0):


kk0 K = exp

1
vol(K)

ln |(x, )|dx ,

Rn .

(4)

Now we can ask the question discussed above for all p > 1. Namely,
suppose that
p L p K,

(5)

for origin-symmetric star bodies K and L. Does it follow that we have

an inequality for the volumes of K and L? In this paper we show that if
(Rn , k kL ) embeds in Lp , p > 1, then we have vol(K) vol(L). However
if (Rn , k kK ) does not embed in Lp , we construct counterexamples to the
latter result.
These results can also be reformulated as follows:
(i) If 0 < p < 1, then in R2 the condition (5) implies that vol(K) vol(L),
while this is no longer true in dimensions n 3.
(ii) If 1 < p 0, (5) implies that vol(K) vol(L) if and only if n 3.

CENTROID BODIES AND COMPARISON OF VOLUMES.

Clearly the integral in (3) diverges if p 1, but still we can make sense
of this integral considering fractional derivatives. Indeed, if 1 < p < 0
Z
Z
Z
1
1
|(x, )|p dx =
|z|p
(kxkK )dx dz
vol(K) K
vol(K)
(x,)=z
Z
1
=
|z|p AK, (z)dz
vol(K)
2(p + 1) (p1)
=
A
(0),
vol(K) K,
(p1)

where AK, (z) is the parallel section function of K, and AK, (0) is its
fractional derivative at zero. (For details on fractional derivatives, see e.g.
[K5, Section 2.6]). So, in such terms our problem can be written as follows:
Suppose K and L are two origin-symmetric star bodies, so that for all
S n1 :
(p1)

AK,

(0)

(p1)

AL,

(0)

.
vol(K)
vol(L)
Do we necessarily have an inequality for the volumes of K and L?
Note that Koldobsky already considered such inequalities (see e.g. [K4])
without dividing by volumes. So, for 1 < p < 0 the positive part of our
results can also be obtained from the results of Koldobsky, but we give our
own proof. The case p = 1 leads to the following modification of the
Busemann-Petty problem. Let K and L be two convex origin-symmetric
bodies in Rn such that
voln1 (K )
voln1 (L )

.
vol(K)
vol(L)
Does this imply an inequality for the volumes of K and L?
It is easy to show that in dimensions n 4 we have vol(L) vol(K). The
proof is almost identical to that of the original solution of the BusemannPetty problem from [GKS]. The counterexamples in dimensions n 5 from
[GKS] also work in this situation.
In view of all these remarks one can consider our results as a certain bridge
between the results of Lutwak-Grinberg-Zhang about p-centroid bodies and
the results of Busemann-Petty type obtained by Koldobsky.
2. Centroid inequalities for 1 < p < 1, p 6= 0.
The Minkowski functional of a star-shaped origin-symmetric body K
is defined as
kxkK = min{a 0 : x aK}.

Rn

We denote by (Rn , k kK ) the Euclidean space equipped with the Minkowski

functional of the body K. Clearly, (Rn , k kK ) is a normed space if and only
if the body K is convex.

V.YASKIN AND M.YASKINA

The support function of a convex body K in Rn is defined by

hK (x) = max(x, ), x Rn .
K

If K is origin-symmetric, then hK is the Minkowski norm of the polar body

K .
A well-known result going back to P.Levy, (see [BL, p. 189] or [K5, Section
6.1]), is that a space (Rn , k k) embeds into Lp , p > 0 if and only if there
exists a finite Borel measure on the unit sphere so that, for every x Rn ,
Z
kxkp =
|(x, )|p d().
(6)
S n1

On the other hand, this can be considered as the definition of embedding in

Lp , 1 < p < 0 (cf. [K2]).
It was proved in [K1] that a space (Rn , k k) embeds isometrically in
Lp , p > 0, p
/ 2N if and only if the Fourier transform of the function
(p/2)kxkp (in the sense of distributions) is a positive distribution outside
of the origin. If n < p < 0 a similar fact was proved in [K2]: a space
(Rn , k k) embeds in Lp if and only if the Fourier transform of k kp is a
positive distribution in the whole Rn .
Now we are ready to prove our first result.
Theorem 2.1. Let 1 < p < 1, p 6= 0. Let K and L be origin-symmetric
convex bodies in Rn , so that (Rn , k kK ) embeds in Lp and
p K p L.

(7)

Then vol(L) vol(K).

Proof. First let us prove the case 0 < p < 1. Since (Rn , k kK ) embeds in
Lp , there exists a measure K on the unit sphere S n1 such that
Z
p
kxkK =
|(x, )|p dK ().
S n1

Note that (7) can be written as

Z
Z
1
1
p
|(x, )| dx
|(x, )|p dx.
vol(L) L
vol(K) K

(8)

Integrating both sides of the last inequality over S n1 with the measure
K , we get
Z
Z
Z
Z
1
1
|(x, )|p dx dK ()
|(x, )|p dx dK ().
vol(L) S n1 L
vol(K) S n1 K
Applying Fubinis Theorem,
Z
Z
1
1
kxkpK dx
kxkpK dx.
vol(L) L
vol(K) K

(9)

CENTROID BODIES AND COMPARISON OF VOLUMES.

Note that
Z
K

kxkpK dx =

S n1

1
n+p

kk1
K

Z
S n1

!
krkpK rn1 dr d

kkn
K d =

n
vol(K).
n+p

Therefore, (9) can be rewritten as

Z
1
n
kxkpK dx
.
vol(L) L
n+p
Using the inequality


Z
1
n
vol(L) p/n
p
kxkK dx
vol(L) L
n + p vol(K)

(10)

from [MP, Section 2.2], we get



Z
n
1
n
vol(L) p/n
p

kxkK dx
,
n+p
vol(L) L
n + p vol(K)
therefore vol(L) vol(K), which proves the theorem for 0 < p < 1.
Now consider 1 < p < 0. In this case (7) is equivalent to
Z
Z
1
1
p
|(x, )| dx
|(x, )|p dx.
vol(L) L
vol(K) K

(11)

Since (Rn , k kK ) embeds into Lp , p > 1, there exists a measure K on

the unit sphere such that
Z
kxkpK =
|(x, )|p dK ().
S n1

Integrating both sides of (11) over S n1 with the measure K and using
the same argument as in the first part of the proof, we get
Z
n
1
kxkpK dx
.
(12)
vol(L) L
n+p
Passing to spherical coordinates and applying Holders inequality
!
Z
Z
Z kk1
L
p
p
n+p1
kxkK dx =
r
kkK dr d
S n1

1
n+p

Z
S n1

(n+p)/n Z
p/n
1
n
n
kkL d
kkK d
n+p
S n1
S n1
n
(vol(L))(n+p)/n (vol(K))p/n .
n+p
Z

kknp
kkpK d
L

V.YASKIN AND M.YASKINA

So (12) can be written as

1
(vol(L))(n+p)/n (vol(K))p/n
1
vol(L)
= (vol(L))p/n (vol(K))p/n .
Therefore, using the fact that p < 0, we get vol(L) vol(K).

Since all 2-dimensional spaces embed in L1 , and therefore in Lp with
2 < p < 1 (see e.g. [K5, Chapter 6]), and all 3-dimensional spaces embed
in L0 , and therefore in Lp with 3 < p < 0 (see [KKYY]), we have the
following
Corollary 2.2. Let K and L be origin-symmetric convex bodies in Rn , so
that p K p L. Then
i) if 0 < p < 1, we necessarily have vol(L) vol(K) in dimension n = 2,
ii) if 1 < p < 0, we necessarily have vol(L) vol(K) in dimensions
n = 2 and 3.
In order to show a negative counterpart of Theorem 2.1, we need some
lemmas. The following Lemma is [K5, Corollary 3.15] with k = 0 and
p = q 1.
Lemma 2.3. Let 1 < p < 1, p 6= 0. For an origin-symmetric convex body
K in Rn we have
Z



np
kxkK
() =
|(, )|p kknp
d.
K
2(p + 1) sin (p/2) S n1
We will use this formula in the following form:
Z


(n + p)
np
kxkK
() =
|(x, )|p dx.
2(p + 1) sin (p/2) K
Also we can write this formula in terms of fractional derivatives of the
parallel section function of K. Recall that the parallel section function of a
an origin-symmetric star body K is defined by
Z
AK, (z) =
(kxkK )dx.
(x,)=z

For 1 < q < 0 the fractional derivative of this function at zero is defined
by
Z
Z
1
1
(q)
1q
AK, (0) =
|z|
AK, (z)dz =
|(x, )|1q dx.
2(q)
2(q) K
In fact one can see that this is analytically extendable to q < 1. Therefore
Lemma 2.3 can be reformulated as follows. Let 1 < p < 1, p 6= 0, then


(n + p) (p1)
kxknp
() =
A
(0).
K
sin(p/2) K,
Note, that for 1 < p < 0 this formula was proved in [GKS].

CENTROID BODIES AND COMPARISON OF VOLUMES.

Now recall a version of Parsevals formula on the sphere proved by Koldobsky [K3].
Lemma 2.4. If K and L are origin-symmetric infinitely smooth bodies in
n+p

Rn and 0 < p < n, then (kxkp

) are continuous functions
K ) and (kxkL
on S n1 and
Z
Z




n+p
n+p
n
()
kxk
()d
=
(2)
kxkp
dx.
kxkp
K
L
K kxkL
S n1

S n1

Remark 2.5. A proof of this formula via spherical harmonics was given in
[K4]. Repeating this proof word by word and using the above definition of
the fractional derivative of order q < 1, one can easily extend this result
to 1 < p < 0.
Now we prove a negative counterpart of Theorem 2.1.
Theorem 2.6. Let L be an infinitely smooth origin-symmetric strictly convex body in Rn , for which (Rn , k kL ) does not embed in Lp , 1 < p < 1,
p 6= 0. Then there exists an origin-symmetric convex body K in Rn such
that
p K p L.
but
vol(L) > vol(K).
Proof. First consider 0 < p < 1. Since (Rn , k kL ) does not embed in Lp ,


there exists a S n1 such that kxkpL () is positive; for more details


see [K1]. Because kxkpL () is a continuous function on S n1 , there exists
a neighborhood of where it is positive. Define


= { S n1 : kxkpL () > 0}.
Choose a non-positive infinitely-smooth even function v supported in .
Extend v to a homogeneous function |x|np
v(x/|x|2 ) of degree n p on
2
n
R . By [K5, Lemma 3.16], the Fourier transform of |x|np
v(x/|x|2 ) is equal
2
to |x|p2 g(x/|x|2 ) for some infinitely smooth function g on S n1 .
Define a body K by
np
g(x/|x|2 )
+ |x|np
kxknp
= kxkL
2
K

for some small  so that the body K is convex (see e.g. the perturbation
argument from [K5, p.96]). Applying the Fourier transform to both sides
we get


kxknp
K

() =

kxknp
L

() + (2)n ||p2 v(/||2 ).

So using the formula from Lemma 2.3


Z


(p + 1)
()
=
(p)
sin
kxknp
|(x, )|p dx
K
2
K

V.YASKIN AND M.YASKINA

we have

|(x, )|p dx.

|(x, )| dx <
L

(13)

Consider the integral





()d
kxkpL () kxknp
K
S n1
Z
Z




p

np
n
()d + (2)
kxkpL ()v()d
kxkL () kxkL
=
n1
S n1
ZS



()d
<
kxkpL () kxknp
L
n1
S
Z
n
= (2)
kxkpL kxknp
dx = (2)n nvol(L).
(14)
L

S n1

Here we used a version of Parsevals formula (Lemma 2.4 and Remark 2.5)
and the fact that v is negative on .
On the other hand, again using Parsevals formula and (10)
Z
Z


p

np
np
n
kxkL () kxkK
()d = (2)
kxkpL kxkK
dx
S n1

S n1

= (2) (n + p)
K

kxkpL dx

(2) nvol(K)

vol(L)
vol(L)

p/n
.

(15)

Combining (14) and (15) we get

vol(K) < vol(L).

(16)

Now from (16) and (13) it follows that

Z
Z
1
1
p
|(x, )| dx
|(x, )|p dx,
vol(L) L
vol(K) K
which is equivalent to
p K p L.
n , k k ) does not embed
Now consider the case 1 < p < 0. Since (R
L

in Lp , there exists a S n1 such that kxkpL () is negative, see [K2,

Theorem 1]. Define


= { S n1 : kxkpL () < 0}

and choose v() the same way as in the first part.

Define a body K by
kxknp
kxknp
L
K
=
+ |x|np
g(x/|x|2 )
2
vol(K)
vol(L)
for some small  so that the body K is convex. Applying Fourier transform
to both sides we get



1
1 
np
kxknp
()
=
kxk
() + (2)n ||p2 v(/||2 ).
K
L
vol(K)
vol(L)

CENTROID BODIES AND COMPARISON OF VOLUMES.

Again using the formula from Lemma 2.3 and the fact that v() is nonpositive, we have
Z
Z
1
1
|(x, )|p dx <
|(x, )|p dx,
vol(K) K
vol(L) L
which is the same as
p K p L,
since 1 < p < 0.
Consider the integral
Z




1
kxkpL () kxknp
()d
K
vol(K) S n1
Z
Z




1
p

np
n
=
kxkL () kxkL
()d+(2)
kxkpL ()v()d
vol(L) S n1
S n1
Z



1
np
>
kxkpL () kxkL
()d = (2)n n.
(17)
vol(L) S n1
Here we used Parsevals formula and the fact that v is negative on .
On the other hand, again using Parsevals formula and Holders inequality
Z
Z


p

np
n
()d = (2)
kxkpL kxknp
dx
kxkL () kxkK
K
S n1

S n1

Z

(2)

S n1
n

p/n Z
n
kxkL dx
p/n

= (2) n (vol(L))

S n1
(n+p)/n

(vol(K))

(n+p)/n

kxkn
K dx
.

(18)

So combining (17) and (18) we get vol(L) > vol(K).


The result of Theorem 2.6 can be formulated as follows:
Corollary 2.7. i) Let 1 < p < 0. There exist origin-symmetric convex
bodies K and L in R4 , so that p K p L, but vol(L) > vol(K).
ii) Let 0 < p < 1. There exist origin-symmetric convex bodies K and L
in R3 , so that p K p L, but vol(L) > vol(K).
Proof. Consider only the case 1 < p < 0, the other case is similar. In
view of the previous theorem it is enough to construct an origin-symmetric
infinitely smooth convex body L R4 for which the distribution (kxkpL ) is
not positive. The construction will be similar to that from [GKS].
Define fN (x) = (1 x2 N x4 )1/3 ; let aN > 0 be such that fN (aN ) = 0
and fN (x) > 0 on the interval (0, aN ). Define a body L in R4 by
q
4
L = {(x1 , x2 , x3 , x4 ) R : x4 [aN , aN ] and x21 + x22 + x23 fN (x4 )}.
The body L is strictly convex and infinitely smooth.

10

V.YASKIN AND M.YASKINA

By the formula
(q)

AL, (0) =



cos q
2
kxkn+q+1
()
L
(n q 1)

from [GKS] and the definition of fractional derivatives, we get

p
(3+p)
kxkpL () =
A
(0)
(3+p) L,
cos 2
2
Z
AL, (z) AL, (0) A00L, (0) z2
p
dz.
=
z 4+p
0
(3 p) cos (3+p)
2
Note that the coefficient in the latter formula is positive, therefore it is
enough to show that the integral is negative.
The function AL, can easily be computed:
AL, (x) =

4
(1 x2 N x4 ).
3

We have
Z

A (z) A (0) A00 (0) z2

z 4+p

4
=
3

dz =

1
1
1

N a1+p
N +
(1+p)
1+p
(3 + p)a3+p
(1 + p)aN
N

!
.

The latter is negative for N large enough, because N 1/4 aN 1 as N .


3. Centroid inequalities for p = 0.
In this section we extend the results of the previous section to p = 0.
First we need some preliminary results. The concept of embedding in L0
was introduced in [KKYY]:
Definition 3.1. We say that a space (Rn , k k) embeds in L0 if there exist
a finite Borel measure on the sphere S n1 and a constant C R so that,
for every x Rn ,
Z
ln kxk =
ln |(x, )|d() + C.
(19)
S n1

It follows directly from the definition that is a probability measure, and

the constant C equals
Z
1
1
1 0 (n/2)
C = n1
ln kxkdx 0 (1/2) +
.
(20)
|S
| S n1
2 (n/2)
2
Also it was proved that if K is an infinitely smooth body then (ln kxkK ) ()
is a homogeneous of degree n function on Rn \ {0}, as seen from the following result.

CENTROID BODIES AND COMPARISON OF VOLUMES.

11

Theorem 3.2. [KKYY, Theorem 4.1] Let K be an infinitely smooth origin(n1)

symmetric star body in Rn . Extend AK, (0) to a homogeneous function of
degree n of the variable Rn \ {0}. Then
i) if n is odd
(n1)

(ln kxkK ) () = (1)(n+1)/2 AK, (0), Rn \ {0}

ii) if n is even, then for Rn \ {0},
Z

(ln kxkK ) () = an

n2

z
A (z) A (0) A00 (0) z2 ... An2 (z) (n2)!

zn

dz,

where an = 2(1)n/2+1 (n 1)!

In particular, for an infinitely smooth origin-symmetric star body K,
(ln kxkK ) () is a continuous function on S n1 , and moreover the measure
in Definition 3.1 equals
1
(ln kxkK ) ()d.
(2)n
Since is a probability measure, one can see that
Z
(ln kxkK ) ()d = (2)n
d() =

(21)

S n1

for any infinitely smooth origin-symmetric star body K (see [KKYY, Remark 3.2]).
In our next Lemma we prove that a representation similar to (19) holds
for all infinitely smooth bodies, with being a signed measure.
Lemma 3.3. Let K be an infinitely smooth origin-symmetric star body in
Rn . Then
Z
1
ln kxkK =
ln |(x, )| (ln kxkK ) ()d + CK ,
(22)
(2)n S n1
where CK is the constant from (20).
Proof. Since the body K is infinitely smooth, by Theorem 3.2, (ln kxkK ) ()
is a continuous homogeneous function of degree n on Rn \ {0}.
Let be an even test function supported outside of the origin, then
Z

ln |(x, )| (ln kxkK ) ()d


,

S n1

Z

ln |(x, )| (ln kxkK ) ()d, (x)

=
S n1

Z

=
Rn

S n1

ln |(x, )| (ln kxkK ) ()d (x)dx

12

V.YASKIN AND M.YASKINA

Z

ln |(x, )|(x)dx
(ln kxkK ) ()d

=
S n1

Rn

Now compute the inner integral using Fubinis theorem and the connection between the Radon and Fourier transforms (see e.g. [K5, Lemma 2.11]):
Z
Z
Z

ln |(x, )|(x)dx =
ln |t|
(x)dxdt
Rn

1
=
2

(x,)=t

Z
1

(ln |t|) (z)

(z)dz =
|z|1 (z)dz
2 R
R
(x,)=t
Z
Z
= 2n1 n
|z|1 (z)dz = (2)n
z 1 (z)dz

(x)dx

Here we used the formula for the Fourier transform of ln |t| (see [GS,
p.362])
(ln |z|) (t) = |t|1

(23)

outside of the origin. Therefore, passing from polar to Euclidean coordinates

and recalling from Theorem 3.2, that (ln kxkK ) is a homogeneous function
of degree n on Rn \ {0}, we get
Z

, i
h
ln |(x, )| (ln kxkK ) ()d
S n1
Z

Z
n
1
= (2)
z (z)dz (ln kxkK ) ()d
n1
S
0
Z
n
= (2)
(y) (ln kxkK ) (y)dy = (2)n h(ln kxkK ) , i.
Rn

It follows that
Z


ln |(x, )| (ln kxkK ) ()d

= (2)n (ln kxkK )
S n1

as distributions
outside of the origin. Hence, the functions (2)n ln kxkK
R
and S n1 ln |(x, )| (ln kxkK ) ()d may differ only by a polynomial. But
Z
1
ln |(x, )| (ln kxkK ) ()d + ln kxkK
(2)n S n1
is a homogeneous function of degree zero, therefore this polynomial is some
constant C, which is exactly the constant from Definition 3.1, as computed
in [KKYY].

Now we need a version of Parsevals formula for L0 . How does the formula
of Lemma 2.4 look if we pass to the limit as p 0? The answer to this
question is given in our next Lemma. Even though in the proof we use
an argument based on Lemma 3.3, one can obtain the following Lemma by
taking the limit in Parsevals formula.

CENTROID BODIES AND COMPARISON OF VOLUMES.

13

Lemma 3.4. Let K and L be infinitely smooth origin-symmetric star bodies

in Rn . Then
Z

Z
Z
1

ln |(x, )|dx (ln kxkK ) ()d = (ln kxkK CK )dx.

(2)n S n1 L
L
Proof. By Lemma 3.3 we have
Z
1
ln |(x, )| (ln kxkK ) ()d = ln kxkK CK .

(2)n S n1
Integrating this equality over the body L we get the statement of the Lemma.

Now we prove the main result of this section.
Theorem 3.5. Let K and L be two origin-symmetric star bodies in Rn such
that (Rn , k kK ) embeds in L0 and
0 K 0 L

(24)

for every S n1 . Then

vol(L) vol(K).
Proof. Since (Rn , k kK ) embeds in L0 , there exist a probability measure K
on S n1 (which is the restriction of the Fourier transform of ln kxkK to the
unit sphere) and a constant CK from Definition 3.1.
Rewrite inequality (24) as follows:
R
R
ln |(x, )|dx
L ln |(x, )|dx
K
,
vol(L)
vol(K)
and integrate it over S n1 with respect to K to get
R
R
Z
Z
L ln |(x, )|dx
K ln |(x, )|dx
dK ()
dK ().
vol(L)
vol(K)
S n1
S n1
Using the Fubini theorem and the definition of embedding in L0 , we get
Z
Z
1
1
(ln kxkK CK )dx
(ln kxkK CK )dx.
vol(L) L
vol(K) K
Therefore
1
vol(L)

Z
ln kxkK dx
L

1
vol(K)

1
ln kxkK dx = ,
n
K

where the latter equality follows from the formula

Z
n
1
kxkpK dx =
,
vol(K) K
n+p
that we had earlier, after differentiating and letting p = 0.
Now use the following inequality from Milman and Pajor [MP, Section
2.2]:
Z
1
1
1
ln kxkK dx + [ln(vol(L)) ln(vol(K))].
(25)
vol(L) L
n n

14

V.YASKIN AND M.YASKINA

Therefore
vol(L) vol(K).

Remark 3.6. Since every three dimensional normed space embeds in L0 (see
[KKYY, Corollary 4.3]), the previous theorem holds for all convex bodies in
R3 .
To prove our next Theorem we need the following Lemma.
Lemma 3.7. Let K be an origin-symmetric star body in Rn , then the
n
Fourier transform of kxkn
K is a continuous function on R \ {0} and equals
Z
n
(kxkK ) () = n
ln |(x, )|dx +
K
Z
0
+ (n (1) 1)vol(K)
kkn
K ln kkK d.
S n1

Proof. Let be an even test function. Using the definition of the action of
a homogeneous function of degree n (see [GS, p.303]) we get
n

h(kxkn
K ) , i = hkxkK , (x)i
Z
Z

(0))dx
+
=
kxkn ((x)
K

B1 (0)

r
S n1

Z
=
S n1

Rn \B

kkn
K

kkn
K ((r)

Z

1 (0)

(0))drd
+

r1 ((r)
(0))dr
+

kxkn
K (x)dx
Z

r1 kkn
K (r)drd

(r)dr d

S n1 1
Z
1

Z
1
1
=
kkn
K h|r| , (r)id
2 S n1
Z
Z
1
n
0
kkK h2 (1) 2 ln |t|,
()did
=
2 S n1
(,)=t
Z


0
= h
kkn
K (1) ln |(, )| d, ()i.
S n1

Here we used the formula for the Fourier transform of |r|1 from [GS, p.361]:
(|r|1 ) (t) = 20 (1) 2 ln |t|.
Thus we have proved that

(kxkn
K ) () =

Z
S n1



0
kkn

(1)

ln
|(,
)|
d.
K

(26)

CENTROID BODIES AND COMPARISON OF VOLUMES.

15

Next, let us compute the following:

Z
Z
Z kk1
K
ln |(x, )|dx =
rn1 ln |(r, )|drd
S n1

kk1
K

r
S n1

1
=
n

n1

Z
S n1

ln |(, )|

ln rdrd +
S n1

kkn
K ln kkK

S n1

rn1 drd


1
1
+ kkn
K d +
n
n

Therefore
Z
kkn
K ln |(, )|d =
n1
S
Z
Z
=n
ln |(x, )|dx +
K

kk1
K

Z
Z

S n1

kkn
K ln kkK +

kkn
K ln |(, )|d.


1
kkn
K d.
n

Combining this formula with the formula (26), we get

Z

(kxkn
)
()
=

n
ln |(x, )|dx +
K
K
Z
0
+ (n (1) 1)vol(K)
kkn
K ln kkK d.
S n1


Theorem 3.8. There are convex bodies K and L in Rn , n 4 such that
0 K 0 L
for every S n1 , but
vol(K) < vol(L).
Proof. Let L be a strictly convex infinitely smooth body in Rn , n 4, for
which (ln kxkL ) is not positive everywhere. (See [KKYY, Theorem 4.4]
for an explicit construction of such a body.)
Let S n1 be such that (ln kxkL ) () < 0. By continuity of the
function (ln kxkL ) () on the sphere there is a neighborhood of where this
function is negative. Let
= { S n1 : (ln kxkL ) () < 0}.
Choose an infinitely smooth body D whose Minkowski norm kxkD is equal
to 1 outside of and kxkD < 1 for x . Let v be a homogeneous function
of degree 0 on Rn \ {0}, defined as follows:
v(x) = ln kxkD ln |x|2 .
Clearly v(x) < 0 if x and v(x) = 0 if x S n1 \ .
In view of Theorem 3.2, the Fourier transforms of ln kxkD and ln |x|2
outside of the origin are some homogeneous functions of degree n, therefore

16

V.YASKIN AND M.YASKINA

the Fourier transform of v(x) outside of the origin is equal to |x|n

2 g(x/|x|2 )
for some infinitely smooth function g on S n1 . Since by (21)
Z
Z
(ln kxkD ) ()d =
(ln |x|2 ) ()d = (2)n ,
S n1

we have

S n1

Z
g()d = 0.

(27)

S n1

Define a body K by the formula:

kxkn
kxkn
K
L
=
+ n(2)n |x|n
2 g(x/|x|2 ).
vol(K)
vol(L)

(28)

Note that formula (27) validates this definition, since integrating the last
equality over the unit sphere we get the same quantity in both sides. Also,
since L is strictly convex, there is an  small enough, so that K is also convex
(see e.g. the perturbation argument from [K5, p.96]). From now on we fix
such an .
Now we will show that K together with L constructed above satisfy the
assumptions of the theorem. Apply the Fourier transform to both sides of
n
(28). Note, that the Fourier transform of |x|n
2 g(x/|x|2 ) is equal to (2) v
on test functions, whose Fourier transform is supported outside of the origin.
Such distributions can differ only by a polynomial, which must be a constant
in this case, since both functions cannot grow faster than a logarithm (see
Lemma 3.7). So


= (2)n (v + ),
|x|n
2 g(x/|x|2 )
for some constant whose value has no significance for us. Hence, by Lemma
3.7, the Fourier transform of (28) looks as follows:

n
K ln |(x, )|dx
=
vol(K)

L ln |(x, )|dx

vol(L)

+ n v() + C,

(29)

where the constant C equals

R
R
n
kkn
L ln kkL ddx
K kkK ln kkK ddx
C=
L
+ n .
vol(K)
vol(L)
Since the bodies L and D are fixed, dilating the body K we can make
this constant equal to zero. Indeed, multiply the Minkowski functional of K
by a positive constant , then
R
R
n
n ln kk ddx
K
K (kkK )
L kkL ln kkL ddx
C =

+ n
n vol(K)
vol(L)
R
R
n
kkn
L ln kkL ddx
K kkK [ln + ln kkK ] ddx
=
L
+ n
vol(K)
vol(L)
R
R
n
kkn
L ln kkL ddx
K kkK ln kkK ddx
= n ln +
L
+ n .
vol(K)
vol(L)

CENTROID BODIES AND COMPARISON OF VOLUMES.

One can choose a > 0 so that C = 0. Therefore from (29) we get

R
R
R
ln |hx, i|dx
K ln |hx, i|dx
L ln |hx, i|dx
=
 v() L
,
vol(K)
vol(L)
vol(L)

17

(30)

since v is non-positive. Therefore

0 K 0 L.
Now using Parsevals formula and inequality (30) we get
Z
1
(ln kxkL CL )dx =
vol(K) K
Z

Z
1
1
=
ln
|hx,
i|dx
(ln kxkL ) ()d
(2)n vol(K) S n1 K


Z
Z
1
1
=
ln |hx, i|dx v() (ln kxkL ) ()d
(2)n S n1 vol(L) L
Z

Z
1
1
=
ln |hx, i|dx (ln kxkL ) ()d
(2)n vol(L) S n1 L
Z
1
1
+
v()(ln kxkL ) ()d
(2)n vol(L) S n1
Z

Z
1
1
<
ln |hx, i|dx (ln kxkL ) ()d
(2)n vol(L) S n1 L
Z
1
=
(ln kxkL CL )dx,
vol(L) L
where the inequality follows from the fact that v is non-positive and supported on the set where (ln kxkL ) () < 0.
Recalling the inequality (25)
Z
1
1
1
1

ln kxkL dx + [ln(vol(K)) ln(vol(L))],
n
vol(K) K
n n
we get
vol(K) < vol(L).

Acknowledgments. The authors wish to thank A. Koldobsky for reading this manuscript and making many valuable suggestions. Both authors
were supported in part by the NSF grant DMS-0455696. The second-named
author was supported in part by the European Network PHD, FP6 Marie
Curie Actions, RTN, Contract MCRN-511953. The authors are grateful to
the Universidad de Zaragoza for hospitality and financial support.
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E. Lutwak, Centroid bodies and dual mixed volumes, Proc. London Math. Soc.
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V.Yaskin, Department of Mathematics, University of Missouri, Columbia,
MO 65211, USA
E-mail address: yaskinv@math.missouri.edu
M.Yaskina, Department of Mathematics, University of Missouri, Columbia,
MO 65211, USA
E-mail address: yaskinam@math.missouri.edu