# Solved – Relationship between first and second order condition of convexity

calculusoptimization

Suppose we have a function $$f(\boldsymbol{x})$$ and its hessian, i.e $$\nabla_{\boldsymbol{x}}^2f(\boldsymbol{x})$$, equals $$\mathbf{0}$$.

We know that for convexity $$\nabla_{\boldsymbol{x}}^2f(\boldsymbol{x})\succeq\mathbf{0}$$.

The first question is whether $$f(\boldsymbol{x})$$ is strictly convex or just convex? Secondly, if the hessian is equal to $$\mathbf{0}$$, how does it change the first order condition of convexity? Does the inequality in the first order condition $$f(\boldsymbol{y})\geq f(\boldsymbol{x}) + \nabla^\top f(\boldsymbol{x}) (\boldsymbol{y}-\boldsymbol{z})$$ also reduces to equality?

Maybe if someone can tell how the second order condition is derived from the first order condition, it could answer my question.

$$f(\alpha x +(1-\alpha)y) \leq \alpha f(x) +(1-\alpha) f(y)$$
It is strictly convex if such inequality holds for $$<$$.
Now, the second-order condition can only be used for twice-differentiable functions (after all you'll need to be able to compute it's second derivatives), and strict convexity is evaluted like above; convex if $$\nabla_{\boldsymbol{x}}^2f(\boldsymbol{x})\succeq\mathbf{0}$$ and strictly convex if $$\nabla_{\boldsymbol{x}}^2f(\boldsymbol{x})>\mathbf{0}$$.