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Error function inequalities

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Abstract

We present various inequalities for the error function. One of our theorems states: Let α ≥ 1. For all x,y > 0 we have

$$ \delta_{\alpha} < \frac{ \mbox{erf} \left( x+ \mbox{erf}(y)^{\alpha}\right) +\mbox{erf}\left( y+ \mbox{erf}(x)^{\alpha}\right) } {\mbox{erf}\left( \mbox{erf}(x)+\mbox{erf}(y)\right) } < \Delta_{\alpha} $$

with the best possible bounds

$$ \delta_{\alpha}= \left\{ \begin{array}{ll} 1+\sqrt{\pi}/2, & \ \ \textrm{{if} $\alpha=1$,}\\ \sqrt{\pi}/2, & \ \ \textrm{{if} $\alpha>1$,}\\ \end{array}\right. \quad{\mbox{and} \,\,\,\,\, \Delta_{\alpha}=1+\frac{1}{\mbox{erf}(1)}.} $$

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Correspondence to Horst Alzer.

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Communicated by Juan Manuel Pena.

To my father—for light in deep darkness.

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Alzer, H. Error function inequalities. Adv Comput Math 33, 349–379 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10444-009-9139-2

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