Characterization of pairs invariant in both types

Let

m(a,b)=a+b2,M(a,b,c)=a+b+c3.m(a,b)=\dfrac{a+b}{2},\qquad M(a,b,c)=\dfrac{a+b+c}{3}.

A pair of means (m,M)(\overline{m},\overline{M}) is said to satisfy both (M,m)1(\overline{M},\overline{m})_{1} and (M,m)2(\overline{M},\overline{m})_{2} when it is invariant in both types defined in the source.

Both-types invariance conjecture. The only such pairs are the quasi-arithmetic transforms

m(a,b)=h1(m(h(a),h(b))),\overline{m}(a,b)=h^{-1}(m(h(a),h(b))), M(a,b,c)=h1(M(h(a),h(b),h(c))),\overline{M}(a,b,c)=h^{-1}(M(h(a),h(b),h(c))),

where h(u)h(u) is monotonic on (0,)(0,\infty).

The conjecture is motivated by the calculation showing that the invariant logarithmic mean is type 1 invariant but not type 2 invariant with respect to the logarithmic mean. The source offers this as a belief and does not provide a proof or resolution.

Sources & referencesView supporting material

Primary source

Alan Horwitz, “Invariant Means”, arXiv:math/0007095 (2000).

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