In convex analysis, a branch of mathematics, the effective domain extends of the domain of a function defined for functions that take values in the extended real number line ${\displaystyle [-\infty ,\infty ]=\mathbb {R} \cup \{\pm \infty \}.}$

In convex analysis and variational analysis, a point at which some given extended real-valued function is minimized is typically sought, where such a point is called a global minimum point. The effective domain of this function is defined to be the set of all points in this function's domain at which its value is not equal to ${\displaystyle +\infty .}$^[1] It is defined this way because it is only these points that have even a remote chance of being a global minimum point. Indeed, it is common practice in these fields to set a function equal to ${\displaystyle +\infty }$ at a point specifically to exclude that point from even being considered as a potential solution (to the minimization problem).^[1] Points at which the function takes the value ${\displaystyle -\infty }$ (if any) belong to the effective domain because such points are considered acceptable solutions to the minimization problem,^[1] with the reasoning being that if such a point was not acceptable as a solution then the function would have already been set to ${\displaystyle +\infty }$ at that point instead.

When a minimum point (in ${\displaystyle X}$) of a function ${\displaystyle f:X\to [-\infty ,\infty ]}$ is to be found but ${\displaystyle f}$'s domain ${\displaystyle X}$ is a proper subset of some vector space ${\displaystyle V,}$ then it often technically useful to extend ${\displaystyle f}$ to all of ${\displaystyle V}$ by setting ${\displaystyle f(x):=+\infty }$ at every ${\displaystyle x\in V\setminus X.}$^[1] By definition, no point of ${\displaystyle V\setminus X}$ belongs to the effective domain of ${\displaystyle f,}$ which is consistent with the desire to find a minimum point of the original function ${\displaystyle f:X\to [-\infty ,\infty ]}$ rather than of the newly defined extension to all of ${\displaystyle V.}$

If the problem is instead a maximization problem (which would be clearly indicated) then the effective domain instead consists of all points in the function's domain at which it is not equal to ${\displaystyle -\infty .}$

Definition

Suppose ${\displaystyle f:X\to [-\infty ,\infty ]}$ is a map valued in the extended real number line ${\displaystyle [-\infty ,\infty ]=\mathbb {R} \cup \{\pm \infty \))$ whose domain, which is denoted by ${\displaystyle \operatorname {domain} f,}$ is ${\displaystyle X}$ (where ${\displaystyle X}$ will be assumed to be a subset of some vector space whenever this assumption is necessary). Then the effective domain of ${\displaystyle f}$ is denoted by ${\displaystyle \operatorname {dom} f}$ and typically defined to be the set^[1][2][3]

$${\displaystyle \operatorname {dom} f=\{x\in X~:~f(x)<+\infty \))$$

${\displaystyle f}$

${\displaystyle f}$

${\displaystyle f}$

$${\displaystyle \operatorname {dom} f=\{x\in X~:~f(x)>-\infty \}.}$$

In convex analysis and variational analysis, ${\displaystyle \operatorname {dom} f}$ is usually assumed to be ${\displaystyle \operatorname {dom} f=\{x\in X~:~f(x)<+\infty \))$ unless clearly indicated otherwise.

Characterizations

Let ${\displaystyle \pi _{X}:X\times \mathbb {R} \to X}$ denote the canonical projection onto ${\displaystyle X,}$ which is defined by ${\displaystyle (x,r)\mapsto x.}$ The effective domain of ${\displaystyle f:X\to [-\infty ,\infty ]}$ is equal to the image of ${\displaystyle f}$'s epigraph ${\displaystyle \operatorname {epi} f}$ under the canonical projection ${\displaystyle \pi _{X}.}$ That is

${\displaystyle \operatorname {dom} f=\pi _{X}\left(\operatorname {epi} f\right)=\left\{x\in X~:~{\text{ there exists ))y\in \mathbb {R} {\text{ such that ))(x,y)\in \operatorname {epi} f\right\}.}$^[4]

For a maximization problem (such as if the ${\displaystyle f}$ is concave rather than convex), the effective domain is instead equal to the image under ${\displaystyle \pi _{X))$ of ${\displaystyle f}$'s hypograph.

Properties

If a function never takes the value ${\displaystyle +\infty ,}$ such as if the function is real-valued, then its domain and effective domain are equal.

A function ${\displaystyle f:X\to [-\infty ,\infty ]}$ is a proper convex function if and only if ${\displaystyle f}$ is convex, the effective domain of ${\displaystyle f}$ is nonempty, and ${\displaystyle f(x)>-\infty }$ for every ${\displaystyle x\in X.}$^[4]