Questions tagged [counterexamples]
A counterexample is an example that disproves a mathematical conjecture or a purported theorem. For example, the Peterson graph is a counterexample to many seemingly plausible conjectures in Graph Theory.
247
questions
5
votes
0
answers
110
views
If chromatic polynomials for two graphs agree, can I always find an edge such that the two deletion-contraction minors have same chromatic polynomial?
Suppose I have non-isomorphic graphs $G$ and $H$ (which have at least one edge), but such that their chromatic polynomials are the same. Can I then always find an edge $e$ in $G$ and $f$ in $H$ such ...
5
votes
0
answers
87
views
Example of a pseudomonad on Cat whose pseudoalgebras are not the pseudoalgebras for a 2-monad
For every pseudomonad $T$ on the 2-category of (locally small) categories $\mathbf{Cat}$, we can consider the 2-category of $T$-pseudoalgebras and pseudomorphisms $T\text{-PsAlg}_p$, which is equipped ...
5
votes
1
answer
236
views
Pairwise orthogonality for partitions of unity in a *-algebra
Let $\mathcal{A}$ be a $*$-algebra with unit $1_{\mathcal{A}}$. As in the $\mathrm{C}^*$-setting, a projection is an element $p\in\mathcal{A}$ such that $p=p^2=p^*$. A partition of unity is a finite ...
20
votes
1
answer
902
views
Conjecture: Given any five points, we can always draw a pair of non-intersecting circles whose diameter endpoints are four of those points
The following question resisted attacks at Math SE, so I thought I would try posting it here.
Is the following conjecture true or false:
Given any five coplanar points, we can always draw at least ...
2
votes
2
answers
187
views
Isometric embeddings of metric $K_{n+1}$ in $\mathbb{R}^n$
Question:
is it always possible to embed a complete, symmetric and metric graph $G$ with $n+1$ vertices isometrically in $\mathbb{R}^n$?
I'm convinced it must be true, but can't remember having seen ...
1
vote
0
answers
17
views
Are the categories of definable dinatural transformations freely generated from discrete graphs?
It is well known that the dinatural transformations between multivariant functors defined in Functorial polymorphism don't form a category, because they do not compose in general, but some do. For any ...
7
votes
1
answer
342
views
An example of radical ideal which is irreducible but not prime
$\DeclareMathOperator\rad{rad}$I am searching an example of ideal $I$ of a ring $R$ such that $\rad(I)$ is irreducible but not prime ideal.
In case $R$ is Noetherian, the radical of $I$ being ...
3
votes
2
answers
271
views
Cut a homotopy in two via a "frontier"
Consider a space $G$ obtained by glueing two disjoint cobordisms (the fact that they are might be irrelevant, assume they are topological spaces at first) $L$ and $R$ on a common boundary $C$.
(...
11
votes
2
answers
785
views
Does $\mathbf{Cat}$ have the Cantor–Schröder–Bernstein property?
I am wondering if the category of small categories $\mathbf{Cat}$ is known to (not) have the Cantor–Schröder–Bernstein property? That is, for any two categories $\mathcal{C}$ and $\mathcal{D}$, does ...
7
votes
1
answer
509
views
Composition of power series is power series?
$\DeclareMathOperator\dom{dom}$Sorry to bother the community again with these type of questions about power series, I am ready to delete the question if it is not suitable.
Definition: I say a ...
2
votes
1
answer
183
views
Local equality of functions implies global equality?
The following question arised in my research, and I was unable to settle it after playing with it for sometime. Let $\{a^k_i\}_{i\geq 1}$ (for $k\in \{1,2,3,4\}$) be four sequences of real numbers. ...
0
votes
2
answers
129
views
Examples of isomorphic non-equivalent twisted group algebras
Let $F$ be a field, $G$ be a finite group and $\alpha \in Z^2(G, F^*)$ . The twisted group algebra $F^{\alpha}G$ is a $F$-algebra with $F$ vector basis, $\{\bar g : g \in G \},$ and multiplication ...
2
votes
1
answer
157
views
Lie algebras for which all one-dimensional extensions split
I was recently trying to prove the following "well-known" theorem for myself, given that I could not find a proof in the literature that I could understand. In what that follows, I will ...
2
votes
0
answers
99
views
Real analytic periodic function whose critical points are fully denegerated
I have asked this question on MathStackExchange. My question: is there any non-constant real analytic function $f:\mathbb{R}^n\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$ such that, $$\nabla f(x_0)=0 \Rightarrow \nabla^2 f(...
0
votes
1
answer
83
views
Must a surjective infinitesmal isometry between simply connected spaces be injective? [duplicate]
Let $f:M\rightarrow N$ be a smooth map between two simply connected Riemannian manifolds of the same dimension. It is also given that for every $x\in M$ we have that $Df|_x:T_xM\rightarrow T_{f(x)}N$ ...
2
votes
1
answer
210
views
Hodge decomposition for non-elliptic complexes
It is a well-known result that there is a bijective correspondence between harmonic sections and cohomology classes of an elliptic complex in a Riemannian/Hermitian manifold. Now consider Riemannian/...
2
votes
2
answers
518
views
Can a category be enriched over abelian groups in more than one way?
An $\mathbf{Ab}$-category is a category enriched over the category of abelian groups. What is an example of a category that can be enriched over abelian groups in more than one way?
An abelian ...
5
votes
0
answers
153
views
The fundamental group of the complement of badly embedded open $n$-ball in $\Bbb R^n$
Let $\mathcal D^n$ be an open subset of $\Bbb R^n$ such that $\mathcal
D^n$ is homeomorphic to $\{x\in \Bbb R^n:|x|<1\}$. Suppose $\Bbb R^n\setminus \mathcal D^n$ is path-connected. How bad can
$\...
5
votes
1
answer
308
views
Simple component that is not a two-sided ideal
Suppose $R$ is a semisimple ring and if $L$ is a minimal left ideal. Let $B$ be the direct sum of all minimal left ideals isomorphic to $L$ ($B$ is called a simple component corresponding to $L$). It ...
2
votes
1
answer
97
views
Fix positive $t$. Construct $a_n \in \mathbb R^n$ such that $(\inf_x \|x-a_n\|_2 + t\|x\|_1 )/\min(\|a_n\|_2,t\|a_n\|_1) \to 0$
For any positive number $t$, nonnegative integer $n$, and nonzero vector $a \in \mathbb R^n$, define
$$
\begin{split}
K_n(a,t) &:= \inf_{x \in \mathbb R^n} \|x-a\|_2 + t\|x\|_1,\\
M_n(a,t) &:= ...
4
votes
1
answer
146
views
When does the refinement of a paracompact topology remain paracompact?
Let $(X,\tau)$ be a Hausdorff paracompact space. Let $\tau'$ be the smallest $P$-topology refining $(X,\tau)$, i.e. the topology which has for base the $G_\delta$-subsets of $(X,\tau)$.
Is it true ...
2
votes
1
answer
154
views
Example of a compact operator that is not uniformly continuous
I want to find a Banach space $E$ and a compact operator $K:[0,1]\times E \rightarrow E$ (that is, $K$ maps every bounded sequence onto a sequence that converges up to a subsequence) satisfying the ...
1
vote
0
answers
143
views
What can be said about cluster sets for power series of two variables?
I'm still trying to prove the continuity of a function $u$ which can be interpreted as the restriction of a power series of two variables, which I haven't managed to approach the right way yet. To ...
3
votes
1
answer
301
views
Can a power series of several variables be discontinuous on a compact set if it converges in every point of this set?
Say we have a power series of two variables, with an associated function $f$ defined as
$$
\begin{split}
f(x, y) =\, & \sum_{n,m} a_{n,m}x^ny^m,\\
& a_{n,m} \geq 0 \quad \forall n, m \in\...
13
votes
0
answers
203
views
Examples and counterexamples to Lack's coherence observation
In Lack's A 2-categories companion, he states
There are general results asserting that any bicategory is biequivalent to
a 2-category, but in fact naturally occurring bicategories tend to be ...
7
votes
2
answers
530
views
A counterexample to: $\frac{1-f(x)^2}{1-x^2}\le f'(x)$ — revisited
Can we find a counterexample to the following assertion?
Assume that $f:[-1,1]\to [-1,1]$ an odd function of class $C^3$, and assume thaht $f$ is a concave increasing diffeomorphism of $[0,1]$ onto ...
7
votes
2
answers
628
views
Existence of nontrivial categories in which every object is atomic
An object $X$ of a cartesian closed category $\mathbf C$ is atomic if $({-})^X \colon \mathbf C \to \mathbf C$ has a right adjoint (hence is also internally tiny). Intuitively, atomic objects are &...
4
votes
0
answers
128
views
Separable metrizable spaces far from being completely metrizable
I came across a kind of separable metrizable space that is "far" from being completely metrizable. Before specifying what I mean with "far", I recall that a space is said to be ...
6
votes
0
answers
206
views
Failure of Baire's grand theorem when the hypothesis is weakened to separable metric space
The statement of Baire grand theorem gives a characterization of Baire class 1 functions between a completely metrizable separable space (aka Polish space) and a separable metrizable space. The ...
2
votes
2
answers
118
views
Odd partition with extra properties
Can such a set $A=$ {$a_1,.. a_k$} exist, such that:
$\sum_i a_i = 1$ and $a_i $ are rational positive numbers
$k$ is and odd number, and is at least $3$.
We can partition $A$ in two parts of value $...
4
votes
2
answers
273
views
$\lim\inf_{t\to \infty} f(x(t))=0\Longrightarrow \lim\inf_{t\to\infty} \|x(t)\|=0$
I am a PhD student and during my research I was presented to the claim that
For a positive definite function $f:\mathbb{R}\to \mathbb{R}$ continuous in $0$, with $0$ a stable point at $t=0$ for $x$, ...
1
vote
0
answers
69
views
Prove or disprove the positivity of the ess inf of a singular function
Consider a measurable radial function $u:\Bbb R^d\to(0,\infty)$ such that
$$\int_{B_\delta(0)} u(x) d x=\infty\quad\forall\,\, \delta>0.$$
I would like to prove or to disprove that there exists $r&...
1
vote
1
answer
116
views
Lebesgue Hausdorff Banach theorem for Baire class $1$ functions on $\mathbb{R}^\omega$
A theorem by Lebesgue, Hausdorff and Banach says the following (Kechris' Classical Descriptive Set Theory, p. 192):
Let $X$ be a separable metrizable space and $f: X \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ be a $\...
5
votes
1
answer
156
views
Finding non-inner derivations of simple $\mathbb Q$-algebras
What's a good example of a simple algebra over a field of characteristic $0$ which has a non-inner derivation but also has the invariant basis number property (IBN)?
I'm under the impression that when ...
6
votes
1
answer
156
views
Mañé's example of an attractor with no natural measure
I'm reading Milnor's notes on dynamical systems and in Lecture 3 he gives an example of an attractor with no natural measure, which he attributes to Mañé. I can find no other reference in which this ...
1
vote
1
answer
107
views
Hoeffing inequality is not true for stopping time
Let $X_k$ be a sequence of iid Bernoulli random variables of parameter $p$ and let $\hat{X}_n=\frac1n\sum_{k=1}^nX_k$. Hoeffding's inequality states that for any $n$:
$$\mathbb{P}(\hat{X}_n - p \ge \...
1
vote
1
answer
144
views
Find a Borel measure such that the closed sets aren't arbitrarily close to the Borel sets with finite measure
I would like example of measures which shows that the following propositions are false:
Proposition 1: Let $\mathfrak{B}$ be the Borel $\sigma$-algebra of a topological space $X$ and $\mu:\mathfrak{B}...
2
votes
1
answer
235
views
What is wrong with the experimental evidence against the semi strong perfect graph theorem?
We got experimental evidence against the semi strong perfect graph theorem
and would like to learn what is wrong with it.
From Recognizing the P4-structure of bipartite graph
The P4-structure of a ...
7
votes
3
answers
310
views
Hausdorff quasi-Polish spaces
A topological space is said to be quasi-Polish if it is second-countable and completely quasi-metrizable (see for an introduction de Brecht's article: de Brecht, Matthew, Quasi-Polish spaces, Ann. ...
7
votes
1
answer
1k
views
$\sum a_n = 0$ but $\sum \frac{a_n}{n} = \infty$
I'm hoping to find an explicit construction for a sequence such that $\sum a_n = 0$ but $\sum \frac{a_n}{n} = \infty$, or a proof that one cannot exist. So far, I have a good idea of how we can ...
7
votes
2
answers
210
views
Examples of 2-categories with multiple interesting proarrow equipment structures
Proarrow equipments (also known as framed bicategories) are identity-on-objects locally fully faithful pseudofunctors $({-})_* \colon \mathcal K \to \mathcal M$ for which every 1-cell $f_*$ in the ...
-1
votes
1
answer
72
views
Example(s) where replacing a multivariate, discrete RV with a single, univariate RV fail
Let $X_1,\ldots,X_n,Y,Z$ be $n+2$ binary random variables and define $X=(X_1,\ldots,X_n)$. In most problems, instead of treating $X$ as $n$ distinct binary random variables, there is no loss of ...
3
votes
1
answer
143
views
Are there infinite abelian real reflection groups?
Lately I have been studying reflection groups, and there is a particular example of a complex reflection group that has been very good for guiding my intuition. I would like to know if there is an ...
2
votes
1
answer
103
views
Lower bounds on translates of a function over a compact set
Let $f\in L^p(\mathbb{R})$ and define $f_\theta(x)=f(x-\theta)$. Let $K\subset\mathbb{R}$ be a compact set. I would like to compute (or at least lower bound) the following:
$$
\inf_{\theta\ne\theta'\...
2
votes
1
answer
68
views
Lower bounds on translates of a function
Let $f\in L^p(\mathbb{R})$ and define $f_\theta(x)=f(x-\theta)$. I would like to compute (or at least lower bound) the following:
$$
\inf_{\theta\ne\theta'}\frac{\Vert f_\theta - f_{\theta'}\Vert_p}{|\...
2
votes
1
answer
301
views
Good prime ideals in tensor products of local rings
Let $L/K$ be a field extension.
Let $R,S$ be two local commutative $K$-algebras and let $\varphi : R \to S$ be a homomorphism of $K$-algebras, not assumed to be local. Let's call a prime ideal $\...
3
votes
1
answer
334
views
Does the difference of solutions of two unrelated PDE solve an 'intermediate' equation?
I should preface this question by saying that I strongly suspect the answer is negative, but I couldn't find the counterexample myself.
Say we are working on the unit disc $D \subset \mathbf{R}^n$, ...
0
votes
3
answers
159
views
Hausdorff convergence in bounded set preserves the volume
I was wondering if Hausdorff convergence relates to the volume of the converging sets. In particular, let $(C_n)$ be a sequence of closed sets contained in a bounded, closed set $Q$. Assume that $|C_n|...
1
vote
1
answer
234
views
Examples of $C^{k,1}$ functions which are not $C^{k+1}$?
I'm currently reading this paper and the authors define the set $C^{k,1}(\mathbb{R}^n)$ as consisting of all functions $f:\mathbb{R}^n\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ having $k$ derivatives and for which:
$$
\|...
6
votes
3
answers
548
views
Anomalous phenomena [closed]
What are examples of strikingly anomalous phenomena in mathematics, where just one or a rather small number of cases stand out because they don't fit a general pattern?
This is most interesting when ...