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.
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Are isomorphic maximal tori stably conjugate?
Let $F$ be a field and $G$ a reductive $F$-group. For various applications it is important to understand the "classes" of maximal ($F$-)tori of $G$. Here "class" can mean the ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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. ...
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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 ...
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2
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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 ...
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0
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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 ...
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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 ...
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2
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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 $C$.
(...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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. ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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, $$\nabla f(x_0)=0 \Rightarrow \nabla^2 f(...
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Must a surjective infinitesmal isometry between simply connected spaces be injective? [duplicate]
Let $f:M\rightarrow N$ be a smooth map between two simply connected Riemannian manifolds of the same dimension. It is also given that for every $x\in M$ we have that $Df|_x:T_xM\rightarrow T_{f(x)}N$ ...
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Hodge decomposition for non-elliptic complexes
It is a well-known result that there is a bijective correspondence between harmonic sections and cohomology classes of an elliptic complex in a Riemannian/Hermitian manifold. Now consider Riemannian/...
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Counterexample on completely distributive lattices
I would like to see an example of a complete lattice $C$ which is both a frame and a dual-frame, i.e. finite meets distribute over arbitrary joins and finite joins distribute over arbitrary meets (...
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Can a category be enriched over abelian groups in more than one way?
An $\mathbf{Ab}$-category is a category enriched over the category of abelian groups. What is an example of a category that can be enriched over abelian groups in more than one way?
An abelian ...
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Existence of more distributive Boolean lattices
Is there a Boolean lattice $(X,\le)$ and a nonempty collection $(a_{ij})_{i\in I,j\in J}\subseteq X$ such that
$$\bigvee_{i\in I}\bigwedge_{j\in J}{a_{ij}}\ne \bigwedge_{f:I\to J}\bigvee_{i\in I}a_{if(...
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A complex limit cycle not intersecting the real plane(2)
Inspired by this question and the counter example provided in its answer we ask:
Is there a polynomial vector field on $\mathbb{R}^2$ such that after complexification of the equation, the ...
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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
$\...
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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) &:= ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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Counterexamples in PDE
Let us compile a list of counterexamples in PDE, similar in spirit to the books Counterexamples in topology and Counterexamples in analysis. Eventually I plan to type up the examples with their ...
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Counterexamples in algebra?
This is certainly related to "What are your favorite instructional counterexamples?", but I thought I would ask a more focused question. We've all seen Counterexamples in analysis and ...
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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 ...
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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\...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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2
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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 &...
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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 ...
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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 $...
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0
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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 ...
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Non-uniqueness of $C$ with $f_!(C) = f_*(1_{\mathcal{C}})$
$\newcommand{\Cc}{\mathcal{C}}$
$\newcommand{\Dd}{\mathcal{D}}$
$\newcommand{\Z}{\mathbb{Z}}$
$\newcommand{\Q}{\mathbb{Q}}$
$\newcommand{\tensor}{\otimes}$
$\newcommand{\colim}{\rm colim}$
$\...
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$\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 $x$, ...
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0
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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&...
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1
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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 $\...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 \...
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Chebyshev polynomials of the first kind and primality testing
Can you provide a proof or a counterexample for the claim given below ?
Inspired by Agrawal's conjecture in this paper and by Theorem 4 in this paper I have formulated the following claim :
Let $...
-1
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1
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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 ...
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Counterexamples in universal algebra
Universal algebra - roughly - is the study, construed broadly, of classes of algebraic structures (in a given language) defined by equations. Of course, it is really much more than that, but that's ...
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Primality test for specific class of Proth numbers
Can you provide a proof or a counterexample for the following claim :
Let $P_m(x)=2^{-m}\cdot \left(\left(x-\sqrt{x^2-4}\right)^{m}+\left(x+\sqrt{x^2-4}\right)^{m}\right)$
Let $N=k\cdot 2^n+1$ such ...
1
vote
1
answer
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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
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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 ...