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Gruber P. Convex and Discrete Geometry

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C<br />

Steiner Symmetrization<br />

Fig. 9.1. Steiner symmetrization<br />

H<br />

9 Symmetrization 169<br />

Let C be a convex body <strong>and</strong> H a hyperplane in E d .TheSteiner symmetral st C =<br />

stH C of C (see Fig. 9.1) with respect to H is defined as follows: For each straight<br />

line L orthogonal to H <strong>and</strong> such that C ∩ L �= ∅, shift the line segment C ∩ L along<br />

L until its midpoint is in H. The union of all line segments thus obtained is st C.<br />

Clearly, st C is symmetric with respect to (mirror) reflection in H.<br />

According to Danilova [236], L’Huillier [654] <strong>and</strong> an anonymous author, possibly<br />

Gergonne [369], anticipated Steiner symmetrization in a vague form.<br />

Basic Properties of Steiner Symmetrization<br />

We first collect a series of simple results on Steiner symmetrization. Given a convex<br />

body C, theinradius r(C) <strong>and</strong> the circumradius R(C) are the maximum radius of a<br />

(solid Euclidean) ball contained in C <strong>and</strong> the minimum radius of a ball containing<br />

C, respectively.<br />

Proposition 9.1. Steiner symmetrization of convex bodies with respect to a given<br />

hyperplane H has the following properties:<br />

st H C<br />

(i) st C ∈ C for C ∈ C<br />

(ii) st λC = λ st C (up to translations) for λ ≥ 0, C ∈ C<br />

(iii) st(C + D) ⊇ st C + st D (up to translations) for C, D ∈ C<br />

(iv) st C ⊆ st DforC, D ∈ C, C ⊆ D,<br />

(v) st : Cp → Cp is continuous<br />

(vi) V (st C) = V (C) for C ∈ C<br />

(vii) S(st C) ≤ S(C) for C ∈ C<br />

(viii) diam st C ≤ diam CforC∈ C<br />

(ix) r(st C) ≥ r(C), R(st C) ≤ R(C) for C ∈ C

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