TITLE: How to prove that $e^x$ is convex?
QUESTION [9 upvotes]: I need a help with proving convexity  of $e^x$ function. $f(x)$ is a convex function, If it satisfies following condition.
$$f(c\cdot x_1+(1-c)\cdot x_2) ≤ c\cdot f(x_1)+(1-c)\cdot f(x_2), \quad    0 ≤ c ≤ 1$$

REPLY [25 votes]: A continuously differentiable function $\mathrm{f}$ is convex on an interval $I$ if, and only if
$$\mathrm{f}(x) \ge \mathrm{f}(y)+\mathrm{f}'(y)\cdot(x-y)$$
for all $x,y \in I$. In your case $\mathrm{f}(x) = \mathrm{e}^x$ and $I = \mathbb{R}$. Hence, we need to show that
$$\mathrm{e}^x \ge \mathrm{e}^y + \mathrm{e}^y \cdot(x-y)$$
for all $x,y\in \mathbb{R}$. This inequality can be rearranged to give
$$\mathrm{e}^{x-y} \ge 1+x-y$$
This is equivalent to $\mathrm{e}^z \ge 1+z$ for all $z \in \mathbb{R}$. Since $\mathrm{e}^z > 0$ for all $z \in \mathbb{R}$ it is clear that $\mathrm{e}^z \ge 1+z$ for all $z \le -1$. It remains to prove that $\mathrm{e}^z \ge 1+z$ for all $z \ge -1$. 
The Taylor Series of $\mathrm{e}^z$ is
$$\mathrm{e}^z = 1+z + \frac{z^2}{2!} + \frac{z^3}{3!} + \cdots$$
If $z > 0$ then all of the terms $\frac{z^k}{k!}$ are positive and hence
$$ \mathrm{e}^z = 1+z + \frac{z^2}{2!} + \frac{z^3}{3!} + \cdots \ge 1 + z$$
If $-1 \le z \le 0$ then $z^2+z^3 \ge 0$, $z^4 + z^5 \ge 0$ and, in fact, $z^{2k}+z^{2k+1} \ge 0$ for all positive integers $k$. It follows that $\frac{z^2}{2!}+\frac{z^3}{3!} \ge 0$, $\frac{z^4}{4!}+\frac{z^5}{5!} \ge 0$ and, in fact, 
$$\frac{z^{2k}}{(2k)!} + \frac{z^{2k+1}}{(2k+1)!} \ge 0$$
Since the Taylor Series for $\mathrm{e}^z$ is absolutely convergent for all $-1 \le z \le 0$ (the exponential function converges on the entire complex plane, and power series converge absolutely within their radius of convergence) it follows that
$$ \mathrm{e}^z = 1+z + \frac{z^2}{2!} + \frac{z^3}{3!} + \cdots \ge 1+z$$
for all $-1 \le z \le 0$.