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Gruber P. Convex and Discrete Geometry

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9 Symmetrization 173<br />

Proof. For D ∈ C, letϱ(D) denote the minimum radius of a ball with centre o<br />

which contains D. LetS = S(C) be the family of all convex bodies which can be<br />

obtained from C by finitely many successive Steiner symmetrizations with respect<br />

to hyperplanes through o. Let<br />

There is a sequence (Cn) in S such that<br />

(1) ϱ(Cn) → σ .<br />

σ = inf{ϱ(D) : D ∈ S}.<br />

Since C ⊆ ϱ(C)B d , an application of Proposition 9.1(iv) shows that Cn ⊆<br />

ϱ(C)B d for n = 1, 2,... Now apply Blaschke’s selection theorem 6.3. Then, by<br />

considering a suitable subsequence of (Cn) <strong>and</strong> renumbering, if necessary, we may<br />

assume that<br />

(2) Cn → C0 ∈ C,say.<br />

Clearly, ϱ(·) is continuous on C. It thus follows from (2) <strong>and</strong> (1) that ϱ(Cn) →<br />

ϱ(C0) = σ . We assert that<br />

(3) C0 = σ B d .<br />

For, if not, C0�σ B d (note that ϱ(C0) = σ ). Thus there is a calotta of σ B d which is<br />

disjoint from C0, where a calotta of B d is the intersection of B d with a closed halfspace.<br />

Given a calotta of σ B d , we may cover bd σ B d by finitely many mirror images<br />

of it in hyperplanes through the origin o. For suitable hyperplanes H1,...,Hk<br />

through o, the convex body:<br />

(4) D0 = stHk stHk−1 ···stH1 C0 ∈ Cp<br />

is then contained in int σ B d <strong>and</strong> therefore:<br />

Clearly,<br />

(5) ϱ(D0)

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