Anisotropic symmetrization, convex bodies, and isoperimetric inequalities

This work is concerned with a Pólya-Szegö type inequality for anisotropic functionals of Sobolev functions. The relevant inequality entails a double-symmetrization involving both trial functions and functionals. A new approach that uncovers geometric aspects of the inequality is proposed. It relies upon anisotropic isoperimetric inequalities, fine properties of Sobolev functions, and results from the Brunn-Minkowski theory of convex bodies. Importantly, unlike previously available proofs, the one offered in this paper does not require approximation arguments and hence allows for a characterization of extremal functions.