Homogenous forms

As Polynomials

Homogenous Forms refer to homogenous polynomials of degree k. They can be viwed as \(f:V^{k} \to F\).

They can be written as Tensor vector products, as in the case of quadratic forms.

Importance

Differential functions of order \(k\) are actually homogenous forms.

Quadratic form

Representation

\(x^{*}Bx = \sum_{i,j} B_{i,j}x_{i}x_{j}\).

Reformulation: \(tr(x^{}Bx) = tr(Bxx^{})\).

Symmetrification

If \(x^{}Bx \in R\): As \(B = H+ H’ = \frac{B+B^{}}{2} + \frac{B-B^{}}{2}\), skew hermitian part can be ignored: \(x^{}Bx = x^{*}Hx\).

Connection to triple matrix product

Similarly, in D = ABC has \(D_{i,j} = a_{i,:}Bc_{i}\).

Generalizations

Monomial

\(f(x) = c \prod x_i^{a_i}\).

Posynomial

Sum of monomials. Used to define geometric programming.