## The Annals of Mathematical Statistics

### A Threshold for Log-Concavity for Probability Generating Functions and Associated Moment Inequalities

J. Keilson

#### Abstract

Let $\{p_n\}_0^N$ be a discrete distribution on $0 \leqq n \leqq N$ and let $g(u) = \sum^\infty_0 p_n u^n$ be its $\operatorname{pgf}$. Then for $0 \leqq t < \infty g_t(u) = g(u + t)/g(1 + t) = \sum^N_0 p_n(t)u^n$ is a family of $\operatorname{pgf}$'s indexed by $t$. It is shown that there is a unique value $t^\ast$ such that $\{p_n(t)\}_0^N$ is $\log$-concave $(PF_2)$ for all $t \geqq t^\ast$ and is not $\log$-concave for $0 < t < t^\ast$. As a consequence one finds the infinite set of moment inequalities $\{\mu_{\lbrack r\rbrack}/\mathbf{r}!\}^{1/r} \geqq \{\mu_{\lbrack r+1\rbrack}/(r + 1)!\}^{1/r+1} \mathbf{r} = 1,2,3,\cdots$ etc. where $\mu_{\lbrack r\rbrack}$ is the $\mathbf{r}$th factorial moment of $\{p_n\}_0^N$ when the lattice distribution is $\log$-concave. The known set of inequalities for the continuous analogue is shown to follow from the discrete inequalities.

#### Article information

Source
Ann. Math. Statist., Volume 43, Number 5 (1972), 1702-1708.

Dates
First available in Project Euclid: 27 April 2007

Permanent link to this document
https://projecteuclid.org/euclid.aoms/1177692406

Digital Object Identifier
doi:10.1214/aoms/1177692406

Mathematical Reviews number (MathSciNet)
MR394804

Zentralblatt MATH identifier
0247.62007

JSTOR
links.jstor.org

#### Citation

Keilson, J. A Threshold for Log-Concavity for Probability Generating Functions and Associated Moment Inequalities. Ann. Math. Statist. 43 (1972), no. 5, 1702--1708. doi:10.1214/aoms/1177692406. https://projecteuclid.org/euclid.aoms/1177692406