Questions tagged [ca.classical-analysis-and-odes]
Special functions, orthogonal polynomials, harmonic analysis, ordinary differential equations (ODE's), differential relations, calculus of variations, approximations, expansions, asymptotics.
466
questions
12
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3
answers
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Limit cycles as closed geodesics (in negatively or positively curved space)
Updated 1/25/2023 I just added a related post below:
Jacobi fields, Conjugate points and limit cycle theory
EDIT: Here is a related post which concern quadratic vector fields rather than Van ...
54
votes
8
answers
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Does the formal power series solution to $f(f(x))= \sin( x) $ converge?
I have spent some time using gp-pari. There is, of course, a formal power series solution to
$ f(f(x)) = \sin x.$ It is displayed below, identified by the symbol $g$ because I am not entirely sure ...
121
votes
12
answers
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How to solve $f(f(x)) = \cos(x)$?
I found the following equation on some web page I cannot remember, and found it interesting:
$$f(f(x))=\cos(x)$$
Out of curiosity I tried to solve it, but realized that I do not have a clue how to ...
48
votes
2
answers
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Geometric interpretation of the half-derivative?
For $f(x)=x$, the half-derivative of $f$ is
$$\frac{d^{\frac{1}{2}}}{dx^{\frac{1}{2}}} x = 2 \sqrt{\frac{x}{\pi}} \;.$$
Is there some geometric interpretation of (Q1) this specific derivative, and, (...
15
votes
2
answers
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Asymptotic approximation of $x^\alpha$ by entire functions
Given a non-integral real $\alpha$, is there an entire (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entire_function) function $h(x)$ such that $x^{-\alpha}h(x)\longrightarrow 1$
for $x\rightarrow+\infty$ (with $...
116
votes
4
answers
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Is the analysis as taught in universities in fact the analysis of definable numbers?
Ten years ago, when I studied in university, I had no idea about definable numbers, but I came to this concept myself. My thoughts were as follows:
All numbers are divided into two classes: those ...
93
votes
5
answers
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Note rejected from arXiv: what to do next?
Short version: A note of mine was rejected by the arXiv moderation (something I didn't even know was possible) on account of being “unrefereeable”. The moderation process provides absolutely no ...
67
votes
2
answers
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Is there a category structure one can place on measure spaces so that category-theoretic products exist?
The usual category of measure spaces consists of objects $(X, \mathcal{B}_X, \mu_X)$, where $X$ is a space, $\mathcal{B}_X$ is a $\sigma$-algebra on $X$, and $\mu_X$ is a measure on $X$, and measure ...
10
votes
1
answer
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Solution of linear ODE
Let $A=A(t)$ be a smooth one parameter family of $n\times n$-matrices, $n\ge 2$.
It seems that the solution of linear ODE
$$\dot x= Ax$$
can not be written in a closed form using $\int$, $A$, $x(0)$ ...
52
votes
11
answers
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Does the exponential function have a (compositional) square root?
(asked by Nathaniel Hellerstein on the Q&A board at JMM)
Is there a "half-exponential" function $h(x)$ such that $h(h(x))=e^x$? Is it unique? Is it analytic?
Related question: Is there an ...
25
votes
9
answers
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Function with range equal to whole reals on every open set
There is an example of a function that is unbounded on every open set. Just take $f(n/m) = m$ for coprime $n$ and $m$ and $f(irrational) = 0$.
I want to generalize this in a way to get a function ...
6
votes
3
answers
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functions with orthogonal Jacobian
I'm working on a model that would require to use vectorial functions of $\mathbb{R}^n \rightarrow \mathbb{R}^n$, such that $\forall x, y \in \mathbb{R}^n$, $\lVert \frac{df(x)}{dx}(y) \lVert_2 = \...
52
votes
7
answers
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On an example of an eventually oscillating function
For $x\in(0,1)$, put
$$f(x):=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}(-1)^{n}x^{2^{n}}.$$
This function possesses interesting properties. It grows monotonically from $0$ up to certain point. Then it starts to oscillate ...
38
votes
4
answers
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Binomial again, and again
Let $\lceil a\rceil=$ the smallest integer $\geq a$, otherwise known as the ceiling function. When the arguments are real, interpret $\binom{a}b$ using the Euler's gamma function, $\Gamma$.
Recently, ...
37
votes
3
answers
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Do these properties characterize differentiation?
Let $L: C^\infty(\mathbb{R}) \to C^\infty(\mathbb{R})$ be a linear operator which satisfies:
$L(1) = 0$
$L(x) = 1$
$L(f \cdot g) = f \cdot L(g) + g \cdot L(f)$
Is $L$ necessarily the derivative? ...
36
votes
5
answers
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Criteria to determine whether a real-coefficient polynomial has real root?
Given a polynomial equation $x^n+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+\cdots+a_1x+a_0=0$, where $n$ is even and all the coefficients $a_i$ are real, what is the best way to determine whether it has a real root or not?
I ...
29
votes
3
answers
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An explicit series representation for the analytic tetration with complex height
Tetration is the next hyperoperation after more familiar addition, multiplication and exponentiation. It can be seen as a repeated exponentiation, similar to how exponentiation can be seen as a ...
23
votes
3
answers
6k
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Density of smooth functions under "Hölder metric"
This question came up when I was doing some reading into convolution squares of singular measures. Recall a function $f$ on the torus $T = [-1/2,1/2]$ is said to be $\alpha$-Hölder (for $0 < \alpha ...
22
votes
10
answers
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If d/dx is an operator, on what does it operate?
If $\frac{d}{dx}$ is a differential operator, what are its inputs? If the answer is "(differentiable) functions" (i.e., variable-agnostic sets of ordered pairs), we have difficulty distinguishing ...
19
votes
6
answers
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Does the derivative of log have a Dirac delta term?
Dirac writes down the following formula on page 61 of his "Principles of quantum mechanics":
$\frac{d}{dx}\log x = \frac{1}{x} -i\pi\delta(x)$, see http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1947pqm..book.....D ...
19
votes
2
answers
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Conditions for smooth dependence of the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a matrix on a set of parameters
Let $A\in\mathcal M_n$ be an $n\times n$ real [symmetric] matrix which depends smoothly on a [finite] set of parameters, $A=A(\xi_1,\ldots,\xi_k)$. We can view it as a smooth function $A:\mathbb R^k\...
18
votes
2
answers
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Solutions-set first order ODE's without uniqueness
In short: What can we say about the set of all solutions of an ordinary differential equation (ODE) when we there is no uniqueness?
Consider the ODE
$f:D\to \mathbb{R}, \quad D\subseteq \mathbb{R}^2,$
...
9
votes
2
answers
4k
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On the behaviour of $\sin(n!\pi x)$ when $x$ is irrational.
Hi,
I'm interested in the behaviour of the sequence $(\sin(n!\pi x))$, when $x$ is irrational, as $n$ tends to infinity.
1) Is the sequence dense in $(-1,1)$?
or
2) Is it possible that for some ...
6
votes
1
answer
686
views
An operation is defined on polynomials. How do I generalize it to other classes of functions?
I am currently researching divergent integrals.
Definition. An extended number is an expression of the form $\int_a^b f(x)\,dx$, where $a,b\in \overline{\mathbb{R}}$ and function $f(x)$ is defined ...
2
votes
0
answers
171
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Role of absolute continuity of divergence of BV function in proof of renormalization property
In the paper http://cvgmt.sns.it/paper/436/, the author proves the renormalization property for the flow generated by a vector field $a(t,\cdot) \in BV(\mathbb{R}^N; \mathbb{R}^N)$.
Heuristically, ...
191
votes
34
answers
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What is convolution intuitively?
If random variable $X$ has a probability distribution of $f(x)$ and random variable $Y$ has a probability distribution $g(x)$ then $(f*g)(x)$, the convolution of $f$ and $g$, is the probability ...
182
votes
19
answers
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How do I make the conceptual transition from multivariable calculus to differential forms?
One way to define the algebra of differential forms $\Omega(M)$ on a smooth manifold $M$ (as explained by John Baez's week287) is as the exterior algebra of the dual of the module of derivations on ...
142
votes
7
answers
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Source and context of $\frac{22}{7} - \pi = \int_0^1 (x-x^2)^4 dx/(1+x^2)$?
Possibly the most striking proof of Archimedes's inequality $\pi < 22/7$ is an integral formula for the difference:
$$
\frac{22}{7} - \pi = \int_0^1 (x-x^2)^4 \frac{dx}{1+x^2},
$$
where the ...
133
votes
5
answers
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Does the inverse function theorem hold for everywhere differentiable maps?
(This question was posed to me by a colleague; I was unable to answer it, so am posing it here instead.)
Let $f: {\bf R}^n \to {\bf R}^n$ be an everywhere differentiable map, and suppose that at each ...
100
votes
8
answers
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Is $ \sum\limits_{n=0}^\infty x^n / \sqrt{n!} $ positive?
Is $$ \sum_{n=0}^\infty {x^n \over \sqrt{n!}} > 0 $$ for all real $x$?
(I think it is.) If so, how would one prove this? (To confirm: This is the power
series for $e^x$, except with the ...
96
votes
17
answers
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What's a nice argument that shows the volume of the unit ball in $\mathbb R^n$ approaches 0?
Before you close for "homework problem", please note the tags.
Last week, I gave my calculus 1 class the assignment to calculate the $n$-volume of the $n$-ball. They had finished up talking about ...
57
votes
1
answer
5k
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Every real function has a dense set on which its restriction is continuous
The title says it all: if $f\colon \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ is any real function, there exists a dense subset $D$ of $\mathbb{R}$ such that $f|_D$ is continuous.
Or so I'm told, but this leaves me ...
53
votes
3
answers
5k
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On which regions can Green's theorem not be applied?
In elementary calculus texts, Green's theorem is proved for regions enclosed by piecewise smooth, simple closed curves (and by extension, finite unions of such regions), including regions that are not ...
43
votes
2
answers
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Alternating sum of square roots of binomial coefficients
Let
$$ c_n = \sum_{r=0}^n (-1)^r \sqrt{\binom{n}{r}}. $$
It is clear that $c_n = 0$ if $n$ is odd. Remarkably, it appears that despite the huge positive and negative contributions in the sum ...
39
votes
8
answers
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Can Cantor set be the zero set of a continuous function?
More generally, can the zero set $V(f)$ of a continuous function $f : \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ be nowhere dense and uncountable? What if $f$ is smooth?
Some days ago I discovered that in this proof ...
38
votes
26
answers
56k
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Text for an introductory Real Analysis course.
Any suggestions on a good text to use for teaching an introductory Real Analysis course? Specifically what have you found to be useful about the approach taken in specific texts?
30
votes
1
answer
1k
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Rearrangements that never change the value of a sum
I posted this question on math.stackexchange.com and so far the only answer posted (also mentioned in the comments under the question) shows that one of my rash initial guesses about the bottom-line ...
29
votes
1
answer
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Can a real quartic polynomial in two variables have more than 4 isolated local minima?
This question: "Can a real quartic polynomial in two variables have at most 4 isolated local minima?" came up in this post on Math SE but with no answer so far.
Finding examples of 4 ...
29
votes
2
answers
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Is there a closed form for $\int_0^\infty\frac{\tanh^3(x)}{x^2}dx$?
For $n\geqslant m>1$, the integral $$I_{n,m}:=\int\limits_0^\infty\dfrac{\tanh^n(x)}{x^m}dx$$ converges. If $m$ and $n$ are both even or both odd, we can use the residue theorem to easily evaluate ...
27
votes
1
answer
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Criteria for boundedness of power series
Consider a power series $\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} a_n x^n$ that is convergent for all real
x, thus defining a function $f: \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$.
Can one give necessary and sufficient criteria the ...
27
votes
4
answers
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"Converse" of Taylor's theorem
Let $f:(a,b)\to\mathbb{R}$. We are given $(k+1)$ continuous functions $a_0,a_1,\ldots,a_k:(a,b)\to\mathbb{R}$ such that for every $c\in(a,b)$ we can write $f(c+t)=\sum_{i=0}^k a_i(c)t^i+o(t^k)$ (for ...
20
votes
2
answers
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Ideals of the ring of smooth functions
The ring $C^\infty(M)$ of smooth functions on a smooth manifold $M$ is a topological ring with respect to the Whitney topology and the usual ring operations. Is it possible to describe, maybe under ...
18
votes
3
answers
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Does Peano's theorem apply to spaces with infinite dimension?
Does Peano's theorem apply to spaces with infinite dimension? Or is there a counterexample?
Here, Peano's theorem is:
Let $E$ be a space with finite dimension. Consider a point $(t_0,x_0) \in \Re \...
17
votes
5
answers
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Can always a family of symmetric real matrices depending smoothly on a real parameter be diagonalized by smooth similarity transformations?
This question is related to another question, but it is definitely not the same.
Is it always possible to diagonalize (at least locally around each point) a family of symmetric real matrices $A(t)$ ...
15
votes
5
answers
3k
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Are there any techniques for solving a differential equation of the form $f ' (x) = f( f( x ) )$?
I am trying to solve the following differential equation
$$f ' (x) = f( f( x ) ),$$
but I have no idea how. I don't think the chain rule is useful for this.
Although I don't think this differential ...
13
votes
5
answers
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Reference request: Oldest calculus, real analysis books with exercises?
Per the title, what are some of the oldest calculus, real analysis books out there with exercises? Maybe there are some hidden gems from before the 20th century out there.
Edit. Unsolved exercises ...
12
votes
0
answers
814
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Multiple Integral (American Mathematical Monthly problem 11621 and its generalization)
AMM problem 11621 asks to calculate the integral
$$I_2=\int\limits_{-\infty}^{\infty}ds_1\int\limits_{-\infty}^{s_1}ds_2
\int\limits_{-\infty}^{s_2}ds_3\int\limits_{-\infty}^{s_3}ds_4
\;\cos{(s_1^2-...
10
votes
1
answer
822
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This is not a dyadic cosine-product
The double-angle formula, $\sin2x=2\sin x\cos x$, turns the scary-looking integral
$$\int_0^{\infty}dz\prod_{k=1}^{\infty}\cos\frac{z}{2^k}$$
into fun once you realize $\prod_k\cos\frac{z}{2^k}=\frac{\...
8
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is the Fourier transform of $e^{-|x|^n}$ positive?
Let
$$\Phi(x) = \int_{\mathbf{R}^n} e^{-|y|^n +i (x,y)} dy.$$
Is $\Phi$ positive everywhere in $\mathbf{R}^n$?
Could someone helps me answer this question or gives a reference for it? Thanks.
8
votes
1
answer
360
views
Lavrentiev phenomenon between $C^1$ and Lipschitz
Does there exist a (onedimensional) integral functional of calculus of variations (with $f$ finite everywhere)
$$
F(y)=\int_a^b f(t,y(t),y'(t))\,dt
$$
such that
$$
\inf_{y\in Lip([a,b])}F(y)<\inf_{...