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If $A, B$ are positive definite matrices of order $n$, what is the smallest constant $c$ such that $\det(A^2+B^2)\le c\det(A+B)^2$?

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    If such $c$ does not exist, it must depend on the size $n$.2012-06-01
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    Have you tried the case where $A$ and $B$ are simultaneously diagonalizable? Might be an easy first step.2012-06-01
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    @RahulNarain: When AB=BA, we may take $c=1$. I guess, generally, $c>1$.2012-06-01

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There is no such $c$. Consider the $2 \times 2$ positive definite matrices (for $t \ne 0$) $$ A = \pmatrix{1 & 0\cr 0 & t^2\cr}, \ B = \pmatrix{1 & t\cr t & 2 t^2\cr}$$ Then $$\dfrac{\det(A^2 + B^2)}{\det(A+B)^2} = {\dfrac {1+7\,{t}^{2}+{t}^{4}}{25 {t}^{2}}} \to \infty \ \text{as}\ t \to 0$$

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    Isn't the determinant of $A+B$ in this case $5t^2$, and so the denominator should actually be $25t^4$, giving a constant ratio as $t\rightarrow\infty$?2012-06-02
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    The answer is correct.2012-06-02
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    Yes $\det(A+B) = 5 t^2$, but $\det(A^2+B^2)$ also has a factor of $t^2$.2012-06-02