Improving the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality

Abstract: We highlight overlap as one of the simplest inequalities in linear space that yields a number of useful results. One obtains the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality as a special case. More importantly, a variant of it is seen to work desirably in certain singular situations where the celebrated inequality appears to be useless. The basic tenet generates a few other interesting relations, including the improvements over certain common uncertainty bounds. Role of projection operators in modifying the Cauchy-Schwarz relation is noted. Selected applications reveal the efficacy.