Solution by step functions of a minimum problem in L2[0,T], using generalized h- and g-indices

Abstract In this article we solve a minimum problem involving step functions. The solution of this problem leads to an investigation into generalized h- and g-indices. This minimum problem and the related generalized h- and g-indices are studied in a general context of decreasing differentiable functions as well as in the specific case of Lotkaian informetrics. The study illustrates the use of h-and g-indices and their generalizations in a context which bears no relation to the research evaluation context in which these indices were originally introduced.