In the two-function case, the zero-sum condition in the family corollary
follows from the positivity hypothesis on f1_0_plus and f2_0_plus.
Corollary 9.2.2. Let f1 and f2 be closed proper convex functions on ℝ^n such that
(f1 0+)(z) + (f2 0+)(-z) > 0 for all z ≠ 0. Then infimalConvolution f1 f2 is a closed
proper convex function, and for each x the infimum in
(f1 square f2)(x) = inf_y { f1 (x - y) + f2 y } is attained by some y.
Positivity from a recession-direction separation hypothesis.
Example 9.2.2.2. For f = f₂ closed proper convex and f₁ the indicator function of
-C with C nonempty closed convex, (f₁ □ f)(x) = inf { δ(x - y | -C) + f(y) | y ∈ ℝ^n }
and equals inf { f(y) | y ∈ (C + x) }. If f and C have no common direction of
recession, then the infimum over the translate C + x is attained for each x, and the
resulting function of x is lower semicontinuous and convex.
The recession cone of the non-negative orthant lies in the orthant.
Nonnegative recession directions yield the no-common-recession hypothesis.
Example 9.2.2.3. Taking C to be the non-negative orthant of ℝ^n, we have
C + x = { y | y ≥ x } for each x. If f is a closed proper convex function on ℝ^n
whose recession cone contains no non-negative non-zero vectors, then the infimum in
g(x) = inf { f(y) | y ≥ x } is attained for each x, and g is a closed proper convex
function. Moreover, g is the greatest function with g ≤ f and g coordinatewise
non-decreasing.
The effective domain of a finite sum is the intersection of the effective domains,
assuming no summand takes the value ⊥.