Questions tagged [positivity]
The positivity tag has no usage guidance.
146
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47
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Is this proof of Perron's theorem correct, and if so is it original?
A few years ago, I came up with this proof of Perron's theorem for a class presentation:
https://pi.math.cornell.edu/~web6720/Perron-Frobenius_Hannah%20Cairns.pdf
I've written an outline of it below ...
37
votes
2
answers
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When can a function be made positive by averaging?
Let $f: {\bf Z} \to {\bf R}$ be a finitely supported function on the integers ${\bf Z}$. I am interested in knowing when there exists a finitely supported non-negative function $g: {\bf Z} \to [0,+\...
29
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3
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Wanted: Positivity certificate for the AM-GM inequality in low dimension
I'm seeking for a Certificate of Positivity for the AM-GM inequality in five variables
$$a^5+b^5+c^5+d^5+e^5-5abcde\;\ge 0\qquad\forall\,a,b,c,d,e\ge 0\,.$$
Can one write the LHS as a sum
$\,\...
29
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7
answers
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When is a monic integer polynomial the characteristic polynomial of a non-negative integer matrix?
Suppose $P(x)$ is a monic integer polynomial with roots $r_1, ... r_n$ such that $p_k = r_1^k + ... + r_n^k$ is a non-negative integer for all positive integers $k$. Is $P(x)$ necessarily the ...
20
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4
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Why are quantum groups so called?
I've recently been to a seminar on quantum matrices. In particular the speaker introduced these objects as the coordinate ring of $2$ by $2$ matrices modulo some odd looking relations (see start of ...
19
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3
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4k
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sum of squares in ring of integers
Lagrange proved that every positive integer is a sum of 4 squares.
Are there general results like this for rings of integers of number fields? Is this class field theory?
Explicitly, suppose a ...
17
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3
answers
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Varieties with an ample vector bundle mapping to their tangent bundle
A well-known result of Andreatta and Wisniewski says: Let $X$ be a projective complex manifold whose tangent bundle $T_X$ contains an ample sub-bundle $\mathscr{E}$. Then $X$ is isomorphic to ...
16
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1
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positive not completely positive maps
In extension to this question
Positive but not completely positive?
I'd like to know, for $k>1$, examples of $k$-positive linear maps of a matrix algebra into itself that are not $k+1$-positive. (...
16
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0
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Polynomials with presumably positive coefficients
After seeing that some positivity problems get their solutions on MO,
I am quite enthusiastic of posing my (and not only) problem of positive flavour.
In order to state it, I have to introduce the ...
15
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2
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Square root of doubly positive symmetric matrices
I wonder whether the following property holds true: For every real symmetric matrix $S$, which is positive in both senses:
$$\forall x\in{\mathbb R}^n,\,x^TSx\ge0,\qquad\forall 1\le i,j\le n,\,s_{ij}\...
15
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1
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Is there a Galois theory for $\mathbb R_{\geq 0}$?
The broadest version of my question is the following:
Where can I find algebrogeometric abstract nonsense that handles "rings" and "fields" like $\mathbb R_{\geq 0}$ in which ...
13
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1
answer
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Why do we care about Schur Positivity
Some of the most important open problems in Algebraic Combinatorics concern the Schur positivity of classes of symmetric functions. Why is this an important property to have?
13
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3
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Effective algorithm to test positivity
Let $f(x_1,\ldots, x_n)$ be a real polynomial in several variables. Is there an effective algorithm to test whether $f$ is positive (or nonnegative) on the whole of ${\mathbb{R}}^n$?
12
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3
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Matrices whose inverse is positive
I have recently come across some examples of matrices with a special structure.
I will describe these matrices here and I hope that somebody will be able
to point out a source where I can find more ...
12
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2
answers
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Polynomials that preserve nonnegativity
A polynomial $p \in \mathbb{R}[x_1,\dots,x_n]$ is said to be positive on a subset $S$ of $\mathbb{R}^n$ if $p(x) > 0$ for every $x \in S$. The polynomial $p$ is called nonnegative if $p(x) \ge 0$ ...
12
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Signed factors of harmonic polynomials
Let ${\rm Harm}_n^d$ be the space of real harmonic polynomials in $n$ variables, homogeneous of degree $d$. If $P\in{\rm Harm}_n^d$, then
$$\left(\frac{\partial^2}{\partial x_1^2}+\cdots+\frac{\...
12
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3
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What techniques are there to prove Schur positivity?
As the title says, what methods exists for proving that a symmetric polynomial (or function) is Schur positive, perhaps involving extra parameters, in which case coefficients should be polynomials in ...
12
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1
answer
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Is there a straightforward generalization of min(x,y) to positive-semidefinite Hermitian matrices?
This is an open-ended question I have. Is there a function of two positive-semidefinite hermitian operators $\min(A,B)$ returning another positive-semidefinite Hermitian operator such that:
If A and ...
12
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0
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Product of a Schubert polynomial and a double Schubert polynomial
Let $S_u(x)$ be a Schubert polynomial and let $S_v(x;y)$ be a double Schubert polynomial. Then their product can be expressed in terms of the double Schubert polynomials as
$$S_u(x)S_v(x;y)=\sum_w{c_{...
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Positivity of polynomial sequences via generating series
In this question I address
the problem of proving the nonnegativity of a numerical sequence
$a_0,a_1,a_2,\dots$ via generating series technique. In the notation
$A(x)=\sum_{n=0}^\infty a_nx^n\ge0$ ...
10
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1
answer
380
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Symmetric polynomials that detect positivity
Imagine there are numbers $a_1,\ldots,a_n \in \mathbb R$ and you want to know whether they are all positive. You cannot access the numbers themselves, but you can choose any symmetric polynomials you ...
10
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3
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Positivity of Iwahori–Hecke algebra characters on the Kazhdan-Lusztig basis
$\DeclareMathOperator\tr{tr}$I'm interested in the irreducible characters of a finite Iwahori–Hecke algebra evaluated at the Kazhdan–Lusztig basis. These are Laurent polynomials.
Are the coefficients ...
10
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2
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What is the physical difference between states and unital completely positive maps?
Mathematically, completely positive maps on C*-algebras generalize positive linear functionals in that every positive linear functional on a C*-algebra $A$ is a completely positive map of $A$ into $\...
10
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1
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491
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Conditions for a power of a polynomial to have no negative coefficients
Consider a polynomial in one variable $p(x)$ with $p(0)>0$, and that is not a polynomial in $x^m$ for any $m>1$ (that is, the $gcd$ of the exponents appearing in $p(x)$ is 1). I would like to ...
10
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1
answer
855
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Numerically equivalent effective divisors and semiampleness
Recall that a divisor $M$ on a variety $X$ is said to be semiample if $kM$ is base point free for a certain $k > 0$.
Being semiample is not a numerical property (take for example torsion and a non-...
10
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1
answer
497
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Positivity of power of positive PSD matrices
Background: Let $M$ be an $n\times n$ matrix with nonnegative entries. It is immediate that for any integer $k$, $M^k$ has nonnegative entries.
Suppose now that, on top of having nonnegative entries, ...
9
votes
2
answers
439
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Polynomial-time algorithm for determining whether a polynomial is positive on $\mathbb{N}$
Does there exist a polynomial-time algorithm to determine whether a given polynomial $p(n)$ with integer coefficients is positive on $\mathbb{N}$, in the sense that $p(n) \geq 0$ for all $n\in\mathbb{...
9
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2
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Solving systems of linear equations without introducing negative numbers
Consider a system of $n$ linear equations with $n$ unknowns, all of whose coefficients and right hand sides are nonnegative integers, with a unique solution consisting of nonnegative rational numbers. ...
9
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1
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Hahn's approach to Hilbert's 17th problem?
The Wikipedia article on Hahn Series mentions mentioned that these were studied by Hahn "in his approach to Hilbert's seventeenth problem".
Is this correct? If so, what was this approach, ...
9
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1
answer
293
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Nonnegative coefficients of a product of polynomials
Let $P(x_1,\dots,x_n)\in\mathbb{R}[x_1,\dots,x_n]$. Does there exist an algorithm to decide whether there is a nonzero polynomial $Q(x_1,\dots,x_n)\in\mathbb{R}[x_1,\dots,x_n]$ such that the product $...
9
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0
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254
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Can we extend c.p. normal maps on a finite von Neumann algebra $M$ to $L_0(M)_+$?
Suppose that $M$ is a von Neumann algebra with a finite, normal, faithful trace $\tau$. Let $T\colon M\to M$ be a completely positive, normal map.
Can $T$ be extended to a `positively linear map' ...
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When is the norm of all positive operators on an ordered Banach space determined by their values on the positive cone?
I'm trying to investigate the interplay between the norm and cone of positive elements in ordered Banach spaces. In particular, I would like a nice characterization of when the norm of a positive ...
8
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1
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Maps which are both completely positive and positive
Definition:A linear map $f:\mathbb C^n\to \mathbb C^n$ is called positive if $\langle fa,a\rangle\ge0$ for all $a\in \mathbb C^n$. Equivalently, $f\in M_{n}(\mathbb C)$ is positive if it can be ...
8
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1
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Positive solutions for semilinear parabolic equations
Let $X$ be a Banach lattice. Consider the system
$$y'(t)=Ay(t)+f(t,y(t)) \qquad \text{in } (0,T) , \qquad y(0)=y_0, \qquad (*)$$
where $T>0$, $A$ generates an analytic positive semigroup $S(t)$ on $...
8
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0
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Hilbert spaces over the semi-field $\mathbb R_+$
Let $\mathbb R_+$ be the semi-field of non-negative real numbers.
Definition (preliminary): A Hilbert space over $\mathbb R_+$ is a pair $(H,P)$, where $H$ is a complex Hilbert space, and $P\subset H$...
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2
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Polynomials such that $|p(z)|\leq p(|z|)$
Let $p(x)=1+p_1x+p_2x^2+\cdots+p_nx^n$ be a polynomial with real coefficients and no positive zeros. Define
$$\mu(x)=\frac{xp'(x)}{p(x)}, \hspace{3ex} \sigma(x)=x \mu'(x).$$
Many years ago, as part of ...
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2
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Higher degree generalizations of the Hard Lefschetz Theorem
Let $M$ be a $2d$-dimensional manifold. We say that $\omega \in H^2(M)$ has the Hard Lefschetz Property (HLP) if multiplication with $\omega^j$ is an isomorphism $H^{d-j} \to H^{d+j}$. This holds for ...
7
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1
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volume of big line bundles under finite morphisms
Let $X$, $Y$ be complex projective varieties of dimension $n$, let $f:X \rightarrow Y$ be a surjective finite morphism of degree $d$ and let $B$ be a big line bundle on $Y$.
Is that true that vol($f^*...
7
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1
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nef vs. 1-nef vector bundles
Let $X$ be a compact, connected, Kähler manifold, of dimension $d$, with Hermitian metric $\omega$; let $E$ be a vector bundle on $X$ of rank $r\geq2$.
By [1] definition 3.1.2:
A line bundle $L$ ...
7
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0
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Ample divisors on $T$-varieties
Question: how does one use a torus action to help decide whether a divisor or line bundle is ample?
In more detail: I have a (normal, but usually rather singular) $T$-variety $X$, where $T$ is an ...
7
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Positivity of certain polynomial coefficients
Consider the rational functions (in fact, polynomials)
$$F_n(q)=\frac1{(1-q)^{2n}}\sum_{k=0}^n(-q)^k\frac{2k+1}{n+k+1}\binom{2n}{n-k}
\prod_{j=0,\,j\neq k}^n\frac{1+q^{2j+1}}{1+q}.$$
The numbers $\...
6
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7
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Nef divisors with few global sections
Are there nef divisors D on a complex projective manifold X such that $h^0(X,D)$ is less than or equal to $\dim X$?
Edit: In fact I'm interested in nef line bundles D, not just divisors.
6
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Positive Elements of a $\ast$-Algebra
In a $C^*$-algebra ${\cal A}$, a positive element is a one of the form $aa^*$, for some $a \in {\cal A}$. It is known that the set of positive elements is a cone, and that for $a,b$ two non-zero ...
6
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On a trace condition for positive definite $2\times 2$ block matrices
Consider the following block matrix
$$
X = \begin{bmatrix} A & C \\ C^\top & B\end{bmatrix},
$$
where $A\in\mathbb{R}^{n\times n}$, $B\in\mathbb{R}^{m\times m}$, and $C\in\mathbb{R}^{n\times m}...
6
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1
answer
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A sufficient condition (or not) for positive semidefiniteness of a matrix?
Let $A\in M_{n}(\mathbb{C})$ be a Hermitian matrix. If for all $z_1,...,z_n\in\mathbb{C}$, $$\sum_{i,j=1}^{n}A_{ij}z_{i}\overline{z_{j}}\ge 0$$ then A is positive semidefinite.
I do not think the ...
6
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1
answer
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Positive-definiteness of radial sinc function in three dimensions
In dimension one, it is well known that $\mathcal{F}\chi_{(-1,1)}=\frac{\sin{x}}{x}$. This implies, in particular, that $\frac{\sin{x}}{x}$ is a definite positive function. I wonder if a similar ...
6
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2
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Minimal injective extension is rigid
Let $V$ be an operator system.
Definition 1: A pair $(W, \kappa)$ is called extension of $V$ if $W$ is an operator system and $\kappa: V \to W$ is a unital complete isometry.
Definition 2: An ...
6
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1
answer
290
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Restricting a continuous positive-semidefinite function to a finite subset
The following is a toy version of something I've been fiddling with and I thought it might be more efficient to post it as a question here.
Just to fix definitions: for me, a complex-valued function $...
6
votes
1
answer
308
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On strict positivity and Schmüdgen's Positivstellensatz
Schmüdgen's Positivstellensatz requires the polynomial to be strictly positive on a semialgebraic set. While trying to understand it, I am just wondering if the strictly positive condition can be ...
6
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0
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189
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Extension of positive functionals
Let $X$ be a function space as $C(K)$ or $L^p$, with its usual norm and order, that is $f \le g$ if and only if $f(x) \le g(x)$ for a.e. $x$. If $M$ is a subspace of $X$ and $L:M \to \bf R$ is a ...