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.