A direct proof that $\ell_\infty^{(3)}$ has generalized roundness zero

Abstract

Metric spaces of generalized roundness zero have interesting non-embedding properties. For instance, we note that no metric space of generalized roundness zero is isometric to any metric subspace of any $L_{p}$-space for which $0 < p \leq 2$. Lennard, Tonge and Weston gave an indirect proof that $\ell_{\infty}^{(3)}$ has generalized roundness zero by appealing to highly non-trivial isometric embedding theorems of Bretagnolle Dacunha-Castelle and Krivine, and Misiewicz. In this paper we give a direct proof that $\ell_{\infty}^{(3)}$ has generalized roundness zero. This provides insight into the combinatorial geometry of $\ell_{\infty}^{(3)}$ that causes the generalized roundness inequalities to fail. We complete the paper by noting a characterization of real quasi-normed spaces of generalized roundness zero.