Log-concavity and LC-positivity

A triangle $\{a(n,k)\}_{0\le k\le n}$ of nonnegative numbers is LC-positive if for each $r$, the sequence of polynomials $\sum_{k=r}^{n}a(n,k)q^k$ is $q$-log-concave. It is double LC-positive if both triangles $\{a(n,k)\}$ and $\{a(n,n-k)\}$ are LC-positive. We show that if $\{a(n,k)\}$ is LC-positive then the log-concavity of the sequence $\{x_k\}$ implies that of the sequence $\{z_n\}$ defined by $z_n=\sum_{k=0}^{n}a(n,k)x_k$, and if $\{a(n,k)\}$ is double LC-positive then the log-concavity of sequences $\{x_k\}$ and $\{y_k\}$ implies that of the sequence $\{z_n\}$ defined by $z_n=\sum_{k=0}^{n}a(n,k)x_ky_{n-k}$. Examples of double LC-positive triangles include the constant triangle and the Pascal triangle. We also give a generalization of a result of Liggett that is used to prove a conjecture of Pemantle on characteristics of negative dependence.Comment: 16 page

Preservation of log-concavity on summation

We extend Hoggar's theorem that the sum of two independent discrete-valued log-concave random variables is itself log-concave. We introduce conditions under which the result still holds for dependent variables. We argue that these conditions are natural by giving some applications. Firstly, we use our main theorem to give simple proofs of the log-concavity of the Stirling numbers of the second kind and of the Eulerian numbers. Secondly, we prove results concerning the log-concavity of the sum of independent (not necessarily log-concave) random variables

Recurrence Relations for Strongly q-Log-Convex Polynomials

We consider a class of strongly q-log-convex polynomials based on a triangular recurrence relation with linear coefficients, and we show that the Bell polynomials, the Bessel polynomials, the Ramanujan polynomials and the Dowling polynomials are strongly q-log-convex. We also prove that the Bessel transformation preserves log-convexity.Comment: 15 page

On unimodality problems in Pascal's triangle

Many sequences of binomial coefficients share various unimodality properties. In this paper we consider the unimodality problem of a sequence of binomial coefficients located in a ray or a transversal of the Pascal triangle. Our results give in particular an affirmative answer to a conjecture of Belbachir et al which asserts that such a sequence of binomial coefficients must be unimodal. We also propose two more general conjectures.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figure

Infinite log-concavity: developments and conjectures

Given a sequence (a_k) = a_0, a_1, a_2,... of real numbers, define a new sequence L(a_k) = (b_k) where b_k = a_k^2 - a_{k-1} a_{k+1}. So (a_k) is log-concave if and only if (b_k) is a nonnegative sequence. Call (a_k) "infinitely log-concave" if L^i(a_k) is nonnegative for all i >= 1. Boros and Moll conjectured that the rows of Pascal's triangle are infinitely log-concave. Using a computer and a stronger version of log-concavity, we prove their conjecture for the nth row for all n <= 1450. We also use our methods to give a simple proof of a recent result of Uminsky and Yeats about regions of infinite log-concavity. We investigate related questions about the columns of Pascal's triangle, q-analogues, symmetric functions, real-rooted polynomials, and Toeplitz matrices. In addition, we offer several conjectures.Comment: 21 pages. Minor changes and additional references. Final version, to appear in Advances in Applied Mathematic