A characterization of inner product spaces

Abstract

In this paper we present a new criterion on characterization of real inner product spaces. We conclude that a real normed space $(X, \|...\|)$ is an inner product space if $$\sum_{\epsilon_i \in \{-1,1\}} \|x_1 + \sum_{i=2}^k\epsilon_ix_i\|^2=\sum_{\epsilon_i \in \{-1,1\}} (\|x_1\| + \sum_{i=2}^k\epsilon_i\|x_i\|)^2,$$ for some positive integer $k\geq 2$ and all $x_1, ..., x_k \in X$. Conversely, if $(X, \|...\|)$ is an inner product space, then the equality above holds for all $k\geq 2$ and all $x_1, ..., x_k \in X$.