Theorem 8.2. Let C be a non-empty closed convex set in ℝ^n. Then 0^+ C is closed,
and it consists of all possible limits of sequences of the form λ_1 x_1, λ_2 x_2, ..., where
x_i ∈ C and λ_i decreases to 0. In fact, for the convex cone K in ℝ^(n+1) generated
by {(1, x) | x ∈ C} one has cl K = K ∪ {(0, x) | x ∈ 0^+ C}.
Sequence data associated with a half-line inside C.
Rays from points in the relative interior stay in the relative interior.
A ray property in ri C yields membership in 0^+ (ri C).
Theorem 8.3. Let C be a non-empty closed convex set, and let y ≠ 0. If there exists
x such that the half-line {x + λ y | λ ≥ 0} is contained in C, then the same holds for
every x ∈ C, i.e. y ∈ 0^+ C. Moreover, for each x ∈ ri C, the half-line
{x + λ y | λ ≥ 0} is contained in ri C, so y ∈ 0^+ (ri C).
Characterization of recession directions of closure C via rays from a point in ri C.
Corollary 8.3.1. For any non-empty convex set C, one has
0^+ (ri C) = 0^+ (cl C). In fact, given any x ∈ ri C, one has
y ∈ 0^+ (cl C) if and only if x + λ • y ∈ C for every λ > 0.
Elements of the recession cone scale back into C from the origin.
If all inverse scalings of y lie in C, then y is a recession direction.
Corollary 8.3.2. If C is a closed convex set containing the origin, then
0^+ C = { y | ε⁻¹ • y ∈ C, ∀ ε > 0 } = ⋂ (ε > 0), ε • C.
A recession direction for the intersection yields half-lines in each set.
The recession cone of an intersection is contained in the intersection of recession cones.
Recession directions common to all sets are recession directions of the intersection.
Corollary 8.3.3. If {C_i | i ∈ I} is an arbitrary collection of closed convex sets in
ℝ^n whose intersection is not empty, then 0^+ (⋂ i, C_i) = ⋂ i, 0^+ C_i.
Nonempty preimage implies nonempty target set.
Recession cone of the preimage lies in the preimage of the recession cone.
Preimage of the recession cone lies in the recession cone of the preimage.
Corollary 8.3.4. Let A be a linear transformation from ℝ^n to ℝ^m, and let C be a
closed convex set in ℝ^m such that A ⁻¹' C is nonempty. Then
0^+ (A ⁻¹' C) = A ⁻¹' (0^+ C).
Bounded sets have only the zero recession direction.
An unbounded set admits a sequence with strictly increasing norms.
An unbounded closed convex set has a nonzero recession direction.
Theorem 8.4. A non-empty closed convex set C in ℝ^n is bounded if and only if its
recession cone 0^+ C consists of the zero vector alone.
Parallel nonempty affine subspaces have the same recession cone.
An empty intersection is bounded.
Boundedness transfer via recession cones for parallel affine subspaces.
Corollary 8.4.1. Let C be a closed convex set, and let M be an affine set such that
M ∩ C is non-empty and bounded. Then M' ∩ C is bounded for every affine set M' parallel
to M.