Kinematic constraints to the key inflationary observables

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The observables $T/S$ and $n\ensuremath{-}1$ are key to testing and understanding inflation. $(T,$ S, and $n\ensuremath{-}1$ respectively quantify the gravity-wave and density-perturbation contributions to CMB anisotropy and the deviation of the density perturbations from the scale-invariant form.) Absent a standard model, there is no definite prediction for, or relation between, $T/S$ and $n\ensuremath{-}1.$ By reformulating the equations for slow-roll inflation, we show that in the $T/S\ensuremath{-}(n\ensuremath{-}1)$ plane there are excluded regions, regions in which the density perturbations are not well approximated by a power law, and regions in which models with a ``featureless'' potential must lie.