 Lipschitz constant

The Lipschitz constant is the least nonnegative number that works in the defining Lipschitz bound, equivalently the displayed supremum of distance ratios. A constant function has constant zero; for a domain with at most one point we also set it to zero. An infinite supremum means there is no finite Lipschitz bound. The least constant need not be attained by one pair of inputs.

For $f(x)=3x-2$ on the real line, every distinct pair has ratio $3$, so the Lipschitz constant is $3$. For $f(x)=x^2$ on $[-R,R]$, with $R>0$,Pairs $x=R$, $y=R-\epsilon$ have ratio $2R-\epsilon$, approaching $2R$. Thus the Lipschitz constant is $2R$, although no distinct pair realizes that exact value. Reporting the domain is essential: the same function has no finite global Lipschitz constant on $\mathbb{R}$.