All Questions
2,027 questions
6
votes
1
answer
283
views
If number of points on a manifold is $q^n ( [n+1]_q )$ does it imply a geometric relation to $A^n (P^n)$?
Consider an algebraic manifold whose number of points is $q^n ([n+1]_q)$. Is there a geometric relation to $A^n (P^n)$? In particular, is there an equivalence in the Grothendieck ring of varieties ...
- 24.9k
6
votes
1
answer
472
views
Existence of elements in an Eichler order whose norm is minus one
Let $B$ be an indefinite quaternion algebra over $\mathbb{Q}$ of discriminant $D$, and $\mathcal{O}_N$ be an Eichler order of level $N$. Is there an element $x\in \mathcal{O}_N$ such that its reduced ...
- 570
4
votes
2
answers
296
views
Boundedness of the preimage of sphere via homogeneous polynomials
I am stuck with the following question. Any help or reference would be greatly appreciated.
Assume $F:\mathbb R^n\to \mathbb R^m$ to be a homogeneous polynomial of degree $d$, and assume $F$ to be ...
- 311
4
votes
0
answers
762
views
Rewrite sum of radicals equation as polynomial equation
My question is about a method described in [Dr.Math forum][1] for simplifying equations involving sums of radical functions.
(The following is a transcription of the example given by Dr. Vogler):
--- ...
- 153
4
votes
1
answer
496
views
Generalizations of Abhyankar-Moh theorem (embeddings of the line in the plane)
Abhyankar-Moh theorem says that if $L$ is a complex line in the complex affine plane $\mathbb{C}^2$, then every embedding of $L$ into $\mathbb{C}^2$ extends to an automorphism of the plane.
It seems ...
- 2,837
4
votes
2
answers
758
views
Non-projective smooth complete threefolds with a pair of points intersecting every surface
I've been learning about non-projective complete varieties and I am trying to get a handle on how crazy they can get.
$\textbf{Question:}$ Let $V$ be a complete threefold over $\mathbb{C}$. Given ...
- 2,824
3
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Diagonal is representable then any morphism is representable
Ariyan Javanpeykar said here in comments that,
If the diagonal is representable, then isn't any morphism $S\rightarrow \mathcal{X}$ with $S$ a scheme representable?
I could not find the statement (...
- 6,023
2
votes
0
answers
308
views
An example of threefold with $K3$ fibration
I am looking for an example of a smooth projective threefold $X$ with fibration
$ \pi : X \rightarrow \mathbb P^1$ such that
a generic fiber $F$ of $\pi$ is a smooth $K3$ surface,
$K_X$ is linearly ...
- 1,841
0
votes
1
answer
429
views
Separability of $\mathbb{C}[x]$ over its $\mathbb{C}$-subalgebras
For commutative rings $R \subseteq S$,
recall that $S$ is separable over $R$, if $S$ is a projective $S \otimes_R S$-module, via $f: S \otimes_R S \to S$ given by: $f(s_1 \otimes_R s_2)=s_1s_2$.
...
- 2,837
54
votes
8
answers
58k
views
Modern algebraic geometry vs. classical algebraic geometry
Can anyone offer advice on roughly how much commutative algebra, homological algebra etc. one needs to know to do research in (or to learn) modern algebraic geometry. Would you need to be familiar ...
4
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Cohen-Macaulay sheaves which are not locally free
A coherent sheaf $\mathcal{F}$ over a Noetherian scheme $X$ is called (maximal) Cohen-Macaulay if $depth_{\mathcal{O}_x}(\mathcal{F}_x) = \dim\mathcal{O}_x$ for any $x\in X$, where $\mathcal{O}_x$ is ...
- 2,444
156
votes
4
answers
12k
views
Analytic tools in algebraic geometry
This is not a very precise question, but I hope it will get some good answers.
As someone with a background in smooth manifold theory, I have experienced algebraic geometry as a beautiful but foreign ...
- 55.9k
123
votes
25
answers
18k
views
"Mathematics talk" for five year olds
I am trying to prepare a "mathematics talk" for five year olds from my daughter's elementary school. I have given many mathematics talks in my life but this one feels
very tough to prepare. Could the ...
116
votes
2
answers
31k
views
Why is the Hodge Conjecture so important?
The Hodge Conjecture states that every Hodge class of a non singular projective variety over $\mathbf{C}$ is a rational linear combination of cohomology classes of algebraic cycles: Even though I'm ...
- 1,263
109
votes
28
answers
41k
views
Why should one still teach Riemann integration?
In the introduction to chapter VIII of Dieudonné's Foundations of Modern Analysis (Volume 1 of his 13-volume Treatise on Analysis), he makes the following argument:
Finally, the reader will ...
96
votes
4
answers
5k
views
A curious relation between angles and lengths of edges of a tetrahedron
Consider a Euclidean tetrahedron with lengths of edges
$$
l_{12}, l_{13}, l_{14}, l_{23}, l_{24}, l_{34}
$$
and dihedral angles
$$
\alpha_{12}, \alpha_{13}, \alpha_{14},
\alpha_{23}, \alpha_{24}, \...
- 4,316
87
votes
2
answers
4k
views
History of $\frac d{dt}\tan^{-1}(t)=\frac 1{1+t^2}$
Let $\theta = \tan^{-1}(t)$. Nowadays it is taught:
1º that
$$
\frac{d\theta}{dt} = \frac 1{dt\,/\,d\theta} = \frac 1{1+t^2},
\tag1
$$
2º that, via the fundamental theorem of calculus, this is ...
- 31.5k
86
votes
16
answers
9k
views
Teaching homology via everyday examples
What stories, puzzles, games, paradoxes, toys, etc from everyday life are better understood after learning homology theory?
To be more precise, I am teaching a short course on homology, from ...
81
votes
4
answers
8k
views
Did Gelfand's theory of commutative Banach algebras influence algebraic geometers?
Guillemin and Sternberg wrote the following in 1987 in a short article called "Some remarks on I.M. Gelfand's works" accompanying Gelfand's Collected Papers, Volume I:
The theory of commutative ...
- 7,329
80
votes
23
answers
19k
views
Algebraic geometry examples
What are some surprising or memorable examples in algebraic geometry, suitable for a course I'll be teaching on chapters 1-2 of Hartshorne (varieties, introductory schemes)?
I'd prefer examples that ...
80
votes
15
answers
15k
views
Why torsion is important in (co)homology ?
I've once been told that "torsion in homology and cohomology is regarded by topologists as a very deep and important phenomenon". I presume an analogous statement could be said in the context of ...
74
votes
51
answers
28k
views
An example of a beautiful proof that would be accessible at the high school level?
The background of my question comes from an observation that what we teach in schools does not always reflect what we practice. Beauty is part of what drives mathematicians, but we rarely talk about ...
74
votes
1
answer
6k
views
$R$ is isomorphic to $R[X,Y]$, but not to $R[X]$
Is there a commutative ring $R$ with $R \cong R[X,Y]$ and $R \not\cong R[X]$?
This is a ring-theoretic analog of my previous question about abelian groups: In fact, in any algebraic category we may ...
- 63.1k
73
votes
1
answer
8k
views
Derived Functors Versus Spectral Sequences
Let $A{\buildrel F\over\rightarrow}B{\buildrel G\over\rightarrow}C$ be additive functors between abelian categories.
Hartshorne, in Proposition 5.4 of Residues and Duality, constructs the obvious ...
- 23k
70
votes
28
answers
7k
views
Examples where it's useful to know that a mathematical object belongs to some family of objects
For an expository piece I'm writing, it would be useful to have good examples of the following phenomenon:
(1) ${\cal X}$ is a parameterized family of somethings. (Varieties, schemes, manifolds, ...
70
votes
3
answers
22k
views
Derived algebraic geometry: how to reach research level math?
I know the question "how to study math" has been asked dozens of times before in many variations, but (I hope) this one is different.
My goal is to study derived algebraic geometry, where derived ...
65
votes
2
answers
14k
views
What is descent theory?
I read the article in wikipedia, but I didn't find it totally illuminating. As far as I've understood, essentially you have a morphism (in some probably geometrical category) $Y \rightarrow X$, where ...
64
votes
5
answers
9k
views
Intuition about the cotangent complex?
Does anyone have an answer to the question "What does the cotangent complex measure?"
Algebraic intuitions (like "homology measures how far a sequence is from being exact") are as welcome as ...
- 12.3k
63
votes
1
answer
7k
views
Smooth proper scheme over Z
Does every smooth proper morphism $X \to \operatorname{Spec} \mathbf{Z}$ with $X$ nonempty have a section?
EDIT [Bjorn gave additional information in a comment below, which I am recopying here. -- ...
- 23.8k
60
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Why do Todd classes appear in Grothendieck-Riemann-Roch formula?
Suppose for some reason one would be expecting a formula of the kind
$$\mathop{\text{ch}}(f_!\mathcal F)\ =\ f_*(\mathop{\text{ch}}(\mathcal F)\cdot t_f)$$
valid in $H^*(Y)$ where
$f:X\to Y$ is a ...
- 15.1k
58
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Is "semisimple" a dense condition among Lie algebras?
The "Motivation" section is a cute story, and may be skipped; the "Definitions" section establishes notation and background results; my question is in "My Question", and in brief in the title. Some ...
- 54.6k
58
votes
10
answers
11k
views
What are dessins d'enfants?
There was an observation that any algebraic curve over Q can be rationally mapped to P^1 without three points and this led ...
- 15.1k
57
votes
11
answers
13k
views
Interesting results in algebraic geometry accessible to 3rd year undergraduates
On another thread I asked how I could encourage my final year undergraduate colleagues to take an algebraic geometry or complex analysis courses during their graduate studies.
Willie Wong proposed me ...
- 1,042
56
votes
8
answers
8k
views
Questions about analogy between Spec Z and 3-manifolds
I'm not sure if the questions make sense:
Conc. primes as knots and Spec Z as 3-manifold - fits that to the Poincare conjecture? Topologists view 3-manifolds as Kirby-equivalence classes of framed ...
55
votes
3
answers
11k
views
What is precisely still missing in Connes' approach to RH?
I have read Connes' survey article http://www.alainconnes.org/docs/rhfinal.pdf
and I am somewhat familiar with his classic paper on the trace formula: http://www.alainconnes.org/docs/selecta.ps
Very ...
- 1,338
55
votes
3
answers
5k
views
What are the higher homotopy groups of Spec Z ?
The homotopy groups of the étale topos of a scheme were defined by Artin and Mazur. Are these known for Spec Z? Certainly π1 is trivial because Spec Z has no unramified étale covers,...
- 8,004
52
votes
6
answers
10k
views
Which nonlinear PDEs are of interest to algebraic geometers and why?
Motivation
I have recently started thinking about the interrelations among algebraic geometry and nonlinear PDEs. It is well known that the methods and ideas of algebraic geometry have lead to a ...
- 5,293
50
votes
1
answer
15k
views
Consequences of Geometric Langlands
So, lots of people work on the Geometric Langlands Conjecture, and there have been a few questions around here on it (admittedly, several of them mine). So here's another one, tagged community wiki ...
48
votes
6
answers
5k
views
Smooth linear algebraic groups over the dual numbers
It is a standard and important fact that any smooth affine group scheme $G$ over a field $k$ is a closed $k$-subgroup of ${\rm{GL}}_n$ for some $n > 0$. (Smoothness can be relaxed to finite type, ...
48
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Fermat's last theorem over larger fields
Fermat's last theorem implies that the number of solutions of $x^5 + y^5 = 1$ over $\mathbb{Q}$ is finite.
Is the number of solutions of $x^5 + y^5 = 1$ over $\mathbb{Q}^{\text{ab}}$ finite?
Here $\...
- 11.3k
47
votes
4
answers
7k
views
Using linear algebra to classify vector bundles over ℙ¹
There is a theorem of Grothendieck stating that a vector bundle of rank $r$ over the projective line $\mathbb{P}^1$ can be decomposed into $r$ line bundles uniquely up to isomorphism. If we let $\...
- 533
47
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Local structure of rational varieties
I've been asked this question by a colleague who's not an algebraic geometer; we both feel that the answer should be "no", but I don't have a clue how to prove it.
Here's the question:
let $X$ be a ...
- 6,253
44
votes
4
answers
7k
views
What motivates modern algebraic geometry for a combinatorial/constructive algebraist?
This is, basically, me trying to generalize "Why should I care for sheaves and schemes?" into a reasonable question. Whether successfully, time will tell, but let me hope that if not the question, ...
- 33.8k
43
votes
9
answers
29k
views
Applications of knot theory
An answer of André Henriques' inspired the following closely related CW question. Parts of the following is extracted from his answer and my comments.
I regularly teach a knot theory class. ...
42
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Complex vector bundles that are not holomorphic
Is there an example of a complex bundle on $\mathbb CP^n$ or on a Fano variety (defined over complex numbers), that does not admit a holomorphic structure? We require that the Chern classes of the ...
- 28.9k
42
votes
11
answers
17k
views
Blackboard rendering of math fonts
I learned most of my math font rendering from watching others (for example, I draw ζ terribly). In most cases it is passable, but I'm often uncomfortable using fonts like Fraktur on the board. ...
- 52.7k
41
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Connes–Consani's absolute geometry and Lurie's spectral algebraic geometry
Alain Connes and Caterina Consani seem to be currently working on "absolute algebraic geometry", which is a kind of "algebraic geometry over the sphere spectrum" (https://arxiv.org/...
- 511
41
votes
9
answers
8k
views
Why must nilpotent elements be allowed in modern algebraic geometry?
On the Wikipedia page1 about algebraic varieties https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algebraic_variety, a sentence reads as follows:
[[A more significant modification is to allow nilpotents in the sheaf of ...
- 1,157
39
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Flatness in Algebraic Geometry vs. Fibration in Topology
I am currently trying to get my head around flatness in algebraic geometry. In particular, I'm trying to relate the notion of flatness in algebraic geometry to the notion of fibration in algebraic ...
- 21.4k
38
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Why is there no Brauer scheme?
Let $X$ be a proper scheme over a base field $k$ (one could consider more general settings, but I am primarly interested in a "geometric" situation with $k$ being algebraically closed).
Then the ...
- 6,920