1 Introduction

Assuming that f , g L 2 R + , f = 0 f 2 x d x 1 2 < 0 , g < 0 , we have the following Hilbert's integral inequality (cf. [1]):

0 0 f x g y x + y d x d y < π f g ,
(1)

where the constant factor π is the best possible. Moreover, for a = a m m = 1 l 2 , b = b n n = 1 l 2 , a = m = 1 a m 2 1 2 < 0 , b > 0 , we still have the following discrete Hilbert's inequality

m = 1 n = 1 a m b n m + n < π a b ,
(2)

with the same best constant factor π. Inequalities (1) and (2) are important in analysis and its applications (cf. [24]) and they still represent the field of interest to numerous mathematicians. Also we have the following Mulholland's inequality with the same best constant factor (cf. [1, 5]):

m = 2 n = 2 a m b n ln m n < π m = 2 m a m 2 n = 2 n b n 2 1 2 .
(3)

In 1998, by introducing an independent parameter λ ∈ (0, 1], Yang [6] gave an extension of (1). By generalizing the results from [6], Yang [7] gave some best extensions of (1) and (2) as follows: If p>1, 1 p + 1 q =1, λ 1 + λ 2 =λ, k λ x , y is a non-negative homogeneous function of degree satisfying k ( λ 1 ) = 0 k λ ( t , 1 ) t λ 1 1 d t R + , , ϕ ( x ) = x p ( 1 λ 1 ) 1 , ψ ( x ) = x q ( 1 λ 2 ) 1 , f ( 0 ) L p , ϕ ( R + ) = { f f p , ϕ : = { 0 ϕ ( x ) | f ( x ) | p d x } 1 p < } , g ( 0 ) L q , ψ ( R + ) , f p , ϕ , g q , ψ > 0 , then

0 0 k λ x , y f x g y d x d y < k λ 1 f p , ϕ g q , ψ ,
(4)

where the constant factor k(λ1) is the best possible. Moreover if k λ (x, y) is finite and k λ x , y x λ 1 - 1 k λ x , y y λ 2 - 1 is decreasing for x > 0(y > 0), then for a = a m m = 1 l p , ϕ : = a | a p , ϕ : = n = 1 ϕ n a n p 1 p < , b = b n n = 1 l q , ψ , a p , ϕ , b q , ψ > 0 we have

m = 1 n = 1 k λ m , n a m b n < k λ 1 a p , ϕ b q , ψ ,
(5)

where, k(λ1) is still the best value. Clearly, for p=q=2,λ=1, k 1 x , y = 1 x + y , λ 1 = λ 2 = 1 2 , inequality (4) reduces to (1), while (5) reduces to (2). Some other results about Hilbert-type inequalities are provided by [816].

On half-discrete Hilbert-type inequalities with the general non-homogeneous kernels, Hardy et al. provided a few results in Theorem 351 of [1]. But they did not prove that the the constant factors in the inequalities are the best possible. However Yang [17] gave a result with the kernel 1 1 + n x λ by introducing an interval variable and proved that the constant factor is the best possible. Recently, Yang [18] gave the following half-discrete Hilbert's inequality with the best constant factor B(λ1, λ2)(λ1 > 0, 0 < λ2 1, λ1 + λ2 = λ):

0 f x n = 1 a n x + n λ d x < B λ 1 , λ 2 f p , ϕ a q , ψ .
(6)

In this article, by using the way of weight functions and Jensen-Hadamard's inequality, a more accurate half-discrete Mulholland's inequality with a best constant factor similar to (6) is given as follows:

3 2 f x n = 2 a n ln 4 9 x n d x < π 3 2 x f 2 ( x ) d x n = 2 n a n 2 1 2 .
(7)

Moreover, a best extension of (7) with multi-parameters, some equivalent forms as well as the operator expressions are also considered.

2 Some lemmas

Lemma 1 If λ 1 >0,0< λ 2 1, λ 1 + λ 2 =λ,α 4 9 , setting weight functions ω(n) and ϖ(x) as follows:

ω n : = ln α n λ 2 1 α ln α x λ 1 - 1 x ln α x n λ d x , n N \ 1 ,
(8)
ϖ x : = ln α x λ 1 n = 2 ln α n λ 2 - 1 n ln α x n λ , x 1 α , ,
(9)

then we have

ϖ x < ω n = B λ 1 , λ 2 .
(10)

Proof. Applying the substitution t = ln α x ln α n to (8), we obtain

ω n = 0 1 1 + t λ t λ 1 - 1 d t = B λ 1 , λ 2 .

Since by the conditions and for fixed x 1 α ,

h x , y : = ln α y λ 2 - 1 y ln α x y λ = 1 y ln α x + ln α y λ ln α y 1 - λ 2

is decreasing and strictly convex in y 3 2 , , then by Jensen-Hadamard's inequality (cf. [1]), we find

ϖ x < α ln x λ 1 3 2 1 y ln α x y λ ln α y λ 2 - 1 d y t = ( ln α y )/( ln α x ) = ln 3 α / 2 ln α x t λ 2 - 1 d t 1 + t λ B λ 2 , λ 1 B λ 1 , λ 2 ,

namely, (10) follows. □

Lemma 2 Let the assumptions of Lemma 1 be fulfilled and additionally, p > 1 , 1 p + 1 q = 1 , a n 0 , N \ 1 , f x is a non-negative measurable function in 1 α , . Then we have the following inequalities:

J : = n = 2 ln α n p λ 2 - 1 n 1 α f x ln α x n λ d x p 1 p B λ 1 , λ 2 1 q 1 α ϖ x x p - 1 ln α x p 1 - λ 1 f p x d x 1 p ,
(11)
L 1 : = 1 α ln α x q λ 1 - 1 x ϖ x q - 1 n = 2 a n ln α x n λ q d x 1 q B λ 1 , λ 2 n = 2 n q - 1 ln α n q 1 - λ 2 - 1 a n q 1 q .
(12)

Proof. By Hälder's inequality cf. [1] and (10), it follows

1 α f x d x ln α x n λ p = 1 α 1 ln α x n λ ln α x 1 - λ 1 / q x 1 / q ln α n 1 - λ 2 / p n 1 / p f x × ln α n 1 - λ 2 / p n 1 / p ln α x 1 - λ 1 / q x 1 / q d x p 1 α x p - 1 ln α x n λ ln α x 1 - λ 1 p - 1 n ln α n 1 - λ 2 f p x d x × 1 α 1 ln α x n λ n q - 1 ln α n 1 - λ 2 q - 1 x ln α x 1 - λ 1 d x p - 1 = ω n ln α n q 1 - λ 2 - 1 n 1 - q p - 1 1 α x p - 1 ln α x 1 - λ 1 p - 1 n ln α x n λ ln α n 1 - λ 2 f p x d x = B λ 1 , λ 2 p - 1 n ln α n p λ 2 - 1 1 α x p - 1 ln α x 1 - λ 1 p - 1 n ln α x n λ ln α n 1 - λ 2 f p x d x .

Then by Beppo Levi's theorem (cf. [19]), we have

J B λ 1 , λ 2 1 q n = 2 1 α x p - 1 ln α x 1 - λ 1 p - 1 n ln α x n λ ln α n 1 - λ 2 f p x d x 1 p = B λ 1 , λ 2 1 q 1 α n = 2 x p - 1 ln α x 1 - λ 1 p - 1 n ln α x n λ ln α n 1 - λ 2 f p x d x 1 p = B λ 1 , λ 2 1 q 1 α ϖ x x p - 1 ln α x p 1 - λ 1 - 1 f p x d x 1 p ,

that is, (11) follows. Still by Hölder's inequality, we have

n = 2 a ln α x n λ q = n = 2 1 ln α x n λ ln α x 1 - λ 1 / q x 1 / q ln α n 1 - λ 2 / p n 1 / p × ln α n 1 - λ 2 / p n 1 / p ln α x 1 - λ 1 / q x 1 / p a n q n = 2 x p - 1 ln α x n λ ln α x 1 - λ 1 p - 1 n ln α n 1 - λ 2 q - 1 × n = 2 1 ln α x n λ n q - 1 ln α n 1 - λ 2 q - 1 x ln α x 1 - λ 1 a n q = x ϖ x q - 1 ln α x q λ 1 - 1 n = 2 ln α x λ 1 - 1 x ln α x n λ n q - 1 ln α n q - 1 1 - λ 2 a n q .

Then by Beppo Levi's theorem, we have

L 1 1 α n = 2 ln α x λ 1 - 1 x ln α x n λ n q - 1 ln α n q - 1 1 - λ 2 a n q d x 1 q = n = 2 ln α n λ 2 1 α ln α x λ 1 - 1 x ln α x n λ d x n q - 1 ln α n q 1 - λ 2 - 1 a n q 1 q = n = 2 ω n n q - 1 ln α n q 1 - λ 2 - 1 a n q 1 q ,

and then in view of (10), inequality (12) follows. □ ▪

3 Main results

We introduce two functions

Φ x : = x p - 1 ln α x p 1 - λ 1 - 1 x 1 α , , and Ψ n : = n q - 1 ln α n q 1 - λ 2 - 1 n N \ 1 ,

wherefrom, Φ x 1 - q = 1 x ln α x q λ 1 - 1 , and Ψ n 1 - p = 1 n ln α n p λ 2 - 1 .

Theorem 3 If p > 1 , 1 p + 1 q = 1 , λ 1 > 0 , 0 < λ 2 1 , λ 1 + λ 2 = λ , α 4 9 , f x , a n 0 , f L p , Φ 1 α , , a = a n n = 2 l q , Ψ , f p , Φ > 0 , then we have the following equivalent inequalities:

I : = n = 2 1 α a n f x d x ln α x n λ = 1 α n = 2 f x a n d x ln α x n λ < B λ 1 , λ 2 f p , Φ a q , Ψ ,
(13)
J = n = 2 Ψ n 1 - p 1 α f x d x ln α x n λ p 1 p < B λ 1 , λ 2 f p , Φ ,
(14)
L : = 1 α Φ x 1 - q n = 2 a n ln α x n λ q d x 1 q < B λ 1 , λ 2 a q , Ψ ,
(15)

where the constant B(λ1, λ2) is the best possible in the above inequalities.

Proof. By Beppo Levi's theorem (cf. [19]), there are two expressions for I in (13). In view of (11), for ϖ(x) < B(λ1, λ2), we have (14). By Hälder's inequality, we have

I = n = 2 Ψ - 1 q n 1 α 1 ln α x n λ f x d x Ψ 1 q n a n J a q , Ψ .
(16)

Then by (14), we have (13). On the other-hand, assuming that (13) is valid, setting

a n : = Ψ n 1 - p 1 α 1 ln α x n λ f x d x p - 1 , n N \ 1 ,

then Jp-1 = ||a|| q , Ψ. By (11), we find J < ∝. If J = 0, then (14) is valid trivially; if J > 0, then by (13), we have

a q , Ψ q = J p = I < B λ 1 , λ 2 f p , Ψ a q , Ψ , i .e . a q , Ψ q - 1 = J < B λ 1 , λ 2 f p , Φ ,

that is, (14) is equivalent to (13). By (12), since [ϖ(x)]1-q>[B(λ1, λ2)]1-q, we have (15). By Hälder's inequality, we find

I = 1 α Φ 1 p x f x Φ - 1 p x n = 2 a n ln α x n λ d x f p , Φ L .
(17)

Then by (15), we have (13). On the other-hand, assuming that (13) is valid, setting

f x : = Φ x 1 - q n = 2 a n ln α x n λ q - 1 , x 1 α , ,

then Lq-1 = ║f║ p , Φ.. By (12), we find L < ∝. If L = 0, then (15) is valid trivially; if L > 0, then by (13), we have

f p , Φ p = L q = I < B λ 1 , λ 2 f p , Φ a q , Ψ , i .e . f p , Φ p - 1 = L < B λ 1 , λ 2 a q , Ψ ,

That is, (15) is equivalent to (13). Hence inequalities (13), (14) and (15) are equivalent.

For 0 < ε <pλ1, setting ã n = 1 n ln α n λ 2 - q - 1 ,n N \ { 1 } , and

f ̃ x : = 0 , x 1 α , e α 1 x ln α x λ 1 - p - 1 , x e α , ,

if there exists a positive number k(≤ B(λ1, λ2)), such that (13) is valid as we replace B(λ1, λ2) with k, then in particular, it follows

Ĩ : = n = 2 1 α 1 ln α x n λ ã n f ̃ x d x < k f ̃ p , Φ ã q , Ψ = k e α d x x ln α x ε + 1 1 p 1 2 ln 2 α ε + 1 + n = 3 1 n ln α n ε + 1 1 q < k 1 ε 1 p 1 2 ln 2 α ε + 1 + 2 1 x ln α x ε + 1 d x 1 q = k ε ε 2 ln 2 α ε + 1 + 1 ln 2 α ε 1 q ,
(18)
Ĩ = n = 2 ln α n λ 2 - ε q - 1 1 n e α 1 x ln α x n λ ln α x λ 1 - ε p - 1 d x t = ln α x / ln α n = n = 2 1 n ln α n ε + 1 1 / ln α n t λ 1 - ε p - 1 t + 1 λ d t = B λ 1 - ε p , λ 2 + ε p n = 2 1 n ln α n ε + 1 - A ε > B λ 1 - ε p , λ 2 + ε p 2 1 y ln α y ε + 1 d y - A ε = 1 ε ln 2 α ε B λ 1 - ε p , λ 2 + ε p - A ε , A ε : = n = 2 1 n ln α n ε + 1 0 1 / ln α n 1 t + 1 λ t λ 1 - ε p - 1 d t .
(19)

W find

0 < A ε n = 2 1 n ln α n ε + 1 0 1 / ln α n t λ 1 - ε p - 1 d t = 1 λ 1 - ε p n = 2 1 n ln α n λ 1 + ε q + 1 < ,

that is, A(ε) = O(1) (ε → 0+). Hence by (18) and (19), it follows

B λ 1 - ε p , λ 2 + ε p ln 2 α ε - ε O 1 < k ε 2 ln 2 α ε + 1 + 1 ln 2 α ε 1 q ,
(20)

and B(λ1, λ2) ≤ k(ε → 0+). Hence, k = B(λ1, λ2) is the best value of (13).

Due to the equivalence, the constant factor B(λ1, λ2) in (14) and (15) is the best possible. Otherwise, we can imply a contradiction by (16) and (17) that the constant factor in (13) is not the best possible. □

Remark 1 (i) Define the first type half-discrete Mulholland's operator T: L p , Φ 1 α , l p , Ψ 1 - p as follows: for f L p , Φ 1 α , , we define Tf l p , Ψ 1 - p as

T f ( n ) = 1 α 1 ( ln α x n ) λ f ( x ) d x , n N \ { 1 } .

Then by (14), it follows T f p , Ψ 1 - p B ( λ 1 , λ 2 ) f p , Φ and then T is a bounded operator with ║T║ ≤ B(λ1, λ2). Since by Theorem 1, the constant factor in (14) is the best possible, we have ║T║ = B(λ1, λ2).

(ii) Define the second type half-discrete Mulholland's operator T ̃ : l q , Ψ L q , Φ 1 - q 1 α , as follows: For a ∈ l q, ψ, define T ̃ a L q , Φ 1 - q 1 α , as

T ̃ a ( x ) = n = 2 1 ( ln α x n ) λ a n , x 1 α , .

Then by (15), it follows T ̃ a q . Φ 1 - q B ( λ 1 , λ 2 ) a q , Ψ and then T ̃ is a bounded operator with T ̃ B ( λ 1 , λ 2 ) . Since by Theorem 1, the constant factor in (15) is the best possible, we have T ̃ =B ( λ 1 , λ 2 ) .

Remark 2 We set p=q=2,λ=1, λ 1 = λ 2 = 1 2 in (13), (14) and (15). (i) if α= 4 9 , then we deduce (7) and the following equivalent inequalities:

n = 2 1 n 3 2 f ( x ) ln 4 9 x n d x 2 < π 2 3 2 x f 2 ( x ) d x ,
(21)
3 2 1 x n = 2 a n ln 4 9 x n 2 d x < π 2 n = 2 n a n 2 ;
(22)

(ii) if α = 1, then we have the following half-discrete Mulholland's inequality and its equivalent forms:

1 f ( x ) n = 2 a n ln x n d x < π 1 x f 2 ( x ) d x n = 2 n a n 2 1 2 ,
(23)
n = 2 1 n 1 f ( x ) ln x n d x 2 < π 2 1 x f 2 ( x ) d x ,
(24)
1 1 x n = 2 a n ln x n 2 d x < π 2 n = 2 n a n 2 .
(25)