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Questions tagged [definitions]

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Measure without measurable sets

This question is a little on the softer and speculative side, so bear with me. Usually a measurable space is $(\Omega, \Sigma)$, a set $\Omega$ and sigma algebra $\Sigma$ of subsets. A measurable ...
Amir Sagiv's user avatar
  • 3,366
6 votes
1 answer
347 views

Definition of locally symmetric space of reductive groups

This might seems like a bit of philosophical question and so maybe if I keep reading a bit more, I might get my answer. But, I ask nonetheless. In my attempt to study Shimura varieties, I came across ...
Coherent Sheaf's user avatar
12 votes
2 answers
1k views

Would it be possible to propose a satisfying categorical definition for the notion of basis?

I once came across a definition for the notion of basis that was independent of the type of the algebraic structure considered (although I cannot find where). Translated into category terminology, it ...
Contactomorph's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
189 views

What is a definition of $A(P_v)$ in the definition of Brauer-Manin obstruction?

This is a question related to the definition of Brauer-Manin obstruction. Let $K$ be a number field. $X/K$ be an algebraic variety over $K$. Let $O_{X,P}$ be a local ring of $X$ at $P$. Let $Br(X)=\...
BrauerManinobstruction's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
270 views

What is the correct definition of semisimple linear category?

I have been using the notion of "semisimple linear category" for a while now, but I never bothered to write down a definition. I've always just waved my hands and said "Schur's lemma ...
Milo Moses's user avatar
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4 votes
0 answers
144 views

Definitions of torch ring

Well, I find myself in a tangled web of references, definitions and doubt. How do I get myself into these things? Get ready for a rollercoaster of definitions. An FGC ring is a commutative ring whose ...
rschwieb's user avatar
  • 1,458
3 votes
1 answer
98 views

References on coefficient quivers

I would like to study about coefficient quivers, but I cannot find a good reference, as book for example. I could find many papers working with coefficient quivers, but none of them give a book or a &...
EduardoVital's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
53 views

The most general (but useful) definition of "attractor" for dynamical systems

Consider J. Milnor's paper: On the concept of attractor. There he writes: "A less restrictive definition" [than some of the previous ones he had considered] of the concept of an attract is &...
alhal's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
191 views

On the correct definition of attractors

It is well-known in dynamical systems that the concept of "attractor" differs in the literature. My question is whether attractors need to be defined as subsets of $\omega$-limit sets of ...
alhal's user avatar
  • 387
2 votes
0 answers
84 views

Which definitions of "local module" have gotten traction?

It seems like "local module" has been defined a lot of ways: if 𝑀 has a largest proper submodule. (This math.se post) if it is hollow and has a unique maximal submodule (Singh, Surjeet, ...
rschwieb's user avatar
  • 1,458
4 votes
1 answer
381 views

On the definition of a continuous function

I remember once reading that "a continuous function can be loosely described as a function whose graph can be drawn without lifting the pen from the paper". We all know that this is not true....
mamediz's user avatar
  • 113
3 votes
0 answers
56 views

Characterizing image of integral transform applied to sections of a fiber bundle

Geometry is not my area, and so, I am not sure the title accurately captures what I am interested in exactly... I hope the tags are appropriate. For any vector $v$, denote it's $i$-th component by $v_{...
Atom Vayalinkal's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
110 views

Extending the class of primitive recursive functions with higher order recursion schema

I'm trying to extend the class of primitive recursive functions by extending the recursion schema over higher types. We usually define the class of primitive recursive functions by using zero function,...
Jii's user avatar
  • 191
0 votes
0 answers
32 views

Orientation-compatible intersections

(Note: Cross-posted from MSE in https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/4490846/orientation-compatible-intersections since it isn't clear if this is well-known and couldn't find MO questions on ...
modnar's user avatar
  • 501
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0 answers
85 views

definition of level-preserving diffeomorphism

In Hatcher, Allen; Lochak, Pierre; Schneps, Leila, On the Teichmüller tower of mapping class groups, J. Reine Angew. Math. 521, 1-24 (2000). ZBL0953.20030) page 10 we have : Up to level-preserving ...
Usa's user avatar
  • 119
2 votes
0 answers
146 views

A question on terminology for sequences satisfying $\gcd(a_m,a_n)=a_{\gcd(m,n)}$

How do you refer to those sequences $\{a_{n}\}_{n \in \mathbb{Z}^{+}}$ of integers that satisfy the condition $\text{gcd}(a_{m}, a_{n}) = a_{\text{gcd}(m,n)}$ for every $(m,n) \in \mathbb{Z}^{+} \...
Jamai-Con's user avatar
-4 votes
1 answer
125 views

Hilbert’s third problem and what a polyhedron is [closed]

What is the definition of a polyhedron used by Hilbert’s third problem?
Daniel Sebald's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
217 views

A formal definition of a useful theorem?

Sorry if this feels a bit squishy, but I'm wondering if there is any published work trying to give a fully formal definition of the notion of a useful theorem. I mean, in mathematics we all know that ...
Peter Gerdes's user avatar
  • 2,261
4 votes
0 answers
150 views

What is a finitely connected domain?

(Cross-posted from MSE.) The paper Chang, S.-Y. A. and Yang, P. C.: Conformal deformation of metrics on S 2 . J. Differential Geom., 27(2), 1988 (DOI, MathSciNet) states in Proposition 2.3 that Moser'...
Keba's user avatar
  • 243
0 votes
0 answers
82 views

What is the average degree of a d-simplex?

I am a beginner in network topology topics and while I was reading an article about simplicial complexes where the authors had used random simplicial complexes, I came across a formula using "...
Lina's user avatar
  • 1
0 votes
0 answers
104 views

Definition of union of simplicial complex and a subset

(Cross-posted from MSE: https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/4425225/definition-of-union-of-simplicial-complex-and-a-subset) Consider a simplicial complex $\Delta$ with vertex set equal to some ...
modnar's user avatar
  • 501
5 votes
2 answers
979 views

Mapping class group and pure mapping class group

"A Primer on Mapping Class Groups" wrote Let $\mathrm{Homeo}_+(S, \partial S)$ denote the group of orientation-preserving homeomorphisms of $S$ that restrict to the identity on $\partial S$....
user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
94 views

What are semipositone functions? [closed]

I am reading a paper on multiple solutions for boundary value problems of fourth-order differential systems. In the paper, there is a nonlinear term $f\in C\left[(0,1)\times \mathbb{R}^+\times \mathbb{...
Devashish Sonowal's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
119 views

Confusion in definition of class of structures and combinatorial class [closed]

I understand that a combinatorial class $\mathcal{A}$ is a set of objects, with a function of size $\lvert\cdot\rvert_{\mathcal{A}}:\mathcal{A}\to \mathbb{N}$. With objects of size $n$: $\mathcal{A}_n=...
Luis Alexandher's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
91 views

what are definitions of born or die (birth-death point) and crossing point?

in this paper we have : A presentation for the mapping class group of a closed orientable surface.by Hatcher.W.Thurston ...(a) $f_{t_{0}}$ has exactly one degenerate critical point, of the form $f_{t}(...
Usa's user avatar
  • 119
2 votes
0 answers
134 views

Involutory vs Involutary: Are both terms correct?

I have seen references for both terms, apparently referring to the same notion of a "self-inverse function". Do both of these terms really mean the same thing? Is one a misspelling of the ...
Eduardo Reis's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
318 views

Group presentation in the category of finite group

Context: I'm trying to deal with presentations in the framework of Gonthier et al. formalization of the group theory in the proof assistant Coq. It was used to machine check the Feit-Thompson odd ...
hivert's user avatar
  • 253
2 votes
0 answers
95 views

Potential on a quiver

I found two definitions of potential on a quiver. Selfinjective quivers with potential and 2-representation-finite algebras, Martin Herschend and Osamu Iyama 2.1 Quivers with potential. Let $Q$ be a ...
Ryze's user avatar
  • 593
8 votes
2 answers
767 views

Analytic/synthetic distinction in mathematics besides geometry?

In a recent answer to an old MO question, I made a distinction between a "definition" of a mathematical object in the sense of axioms that characterize it, and a "definition" that ...
Timothy Chow's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
35 views

Precise definition of locally closed complex curve

In Stein Manifold and Holomorphic Mappings, by Forstnerič, I refer to Definition 8.9.9: An exposed point is a point belonging to a certain subset $\Sigma$ of $\Bbb C^2$, enjoying certain properties. ...
Joe's user avatar
  • 759
1 vote
1 answer
59 views

Conditions such that split coequalizers are a symmetric notion

Consider the notion of a split coequalizer (see the nLab for the definition). Note that the definition seems to be non-symmetric. Are there any conditions on the ambient category such that it becomes ...
Bixxli's user avatar
  • 291
1 vote
0 answers
86 views

Definition of a unit ball in an Euclidean subspace? [closed]

Suppose $\Lambda$ is a $3$ dimensional lattice inside $\mathbb{R}^4$ and let $E$ be the subspace $\mathbb{R}$-spanned by $\Lambda$. What exactly is meant by the unit ball in $E$? This is something ...
Johnny T.'s user avatar
  • 3,373
2 votes
0 answers
120 views

Definition of trace in topological BF-theories

I very important example of topological field theories are "BF-theories", which are usually defined as follows: Let $G$ be a Lie group with Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}$ and let $\pi:P\to\...
G. Blaickner's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
130 views

Should mixed strategies in normal form games be interpreted as measurable functions or probability vectors?

I have recently been stuck trying to understand how game theorists extend a normal form game (matrix game) into a game with mixed strategies (so called mixed extension). I feel like I am missing ...
Norman's user avatar
  • 125
33 votes
5 answers
2k views

Shapes for category theory

Most texts on category theory define a (small) diagram in a category $\mathcal{A}$ as a functor $D : \mathcal{I} \to \mathcal{A}$ on a (small) category $\mathcal{I}$, called the shape of the diagram. ...
Martin Brandenburg's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
191 views

Temporal generalization of graphs: density vs $n$ and $m$?

In short: we generalize graphs to the temporal case, but fail to fully preserve the usual relation between density, number of vertices, and number of edges; how to make better? Context. We propose a ...
Matthieu Latapy's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
95 views

(Seeking Definition) What Does it Mean for a Space to have Rim-Type $\alpha$? Or the 'derivative' of a Countable Set?

I've encountered a definition in several papers, but literally none of them define the term. They all instead reference a book by Menger that has never been printed in English. The term is "rim-...
John Samples's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
259 views

How do "Galois-type" and "saturation" for AECs generalize "type" and "saturation" in first-order model theory?

As I'm not allowed to ask a new question due to limit reached matter, I still want to EDIT this one as communicated with @Alex Kruckman in the comments below. I would like to understand the ...
user2925716's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
122 views

Does the definition of limit correspond to the intuitive notion? [closed]

I have been pondering the question of whether the formal definition of limit captures well our intuitive notion of it now for the past few days, with no headway at all. Perhaps I could find some ...
Allawonder's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
44 views

definition of functions that "weakly vanishes as $y\to\infty$" and find a proof of Theorem 9 in the article

I'm reading "Extension problem and fractional operators: semigroups and wave equations" by P.R. Stinga, i have two questions: in Theorem 7 the author use the state "weakly vanishes as $...
inoc's user avatar
  • 339
0 votes
1 answer
737 views

Euler-Lagrange equation for a functional

What does it mean that the equation: $$ \text{div}_{x,y}(y^a\nabla_{x,y}u)=0,\quad \text{in }\mathbb{R}^n\times(0,\infty),$$ is the Euler-Lagrange equation for the functional: $$ J(u)=\int_{\mathbb{R}^...
inoc's user avatar
  • 339
6 votes
1 answer
453 views

Two definitions of automorphic forms on Lie groups

My question is the about the equivalence of two definitions of automorphic forms on a semisimple Lie group. The most common definition of automorphic forms on a semisimple Lie group $G$ with respect ...
Jun Yang's user avatar
  • 347
0 votes
2 answers
668 views

Why are isotropic random vectors called isotropic if they aren't? [closed]

A random vector $X \in \mathbb{R}^n$ is isotropic if $\mathbb{E}XX^T = I_n$. However isotropic random vectors don't have the property of isotropy. See 1. So why are they called isotropic? Similarly a ...
lamlame's user avatar
  • 153
2 votes
2 answers
333 views

What concept does covariance formalise?

So for me the definition the independence of two random variables $X,Y$ is intuitivly very clear. But what I have never seen motivated is why the heck one would be interested in the covariance $$\...
Jannik Pitt's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
272 views

"totally positive" elements in a field that is not totally real

In a number field that is not necessarily totally real, could it make sense to consider "totally positive" elements as elements that are positive in all real embeddings? (So in a totally ...
Christine McMeekin's user avatar
15 votes
2 answers
2k views

Formal definition of homotopy type theory

The HoTT community is quite friendly, and produces many motivational introductions to HoTT. The blog and the HoTT book are quite helpful. However, I want to get my hands directly onto that, and am ...
Student's user avatar
  • 4,560
3 votes
2 answers
341 views

What is the definition of brick product of graphs?

Can anyone help me with the exact definition of brick product of graphs, say path, cycle. I am not able to find a paper with a clear definition on the internet. Can anyone give me a URL to such a ...
sriram's user avatar
  • 101
0 votes
0 answers
129 views

Graph theory: Closed neighourhoods and generalized clustering coefficients

The neighbourhood of node $v$ in graph $G$ is the subgraph of $G$ induced by all vertices adjacent to $v$. The number of edges between neighbours divided by the number of pairs of neighbours is ...
Hans-Peter Stricker's user avatar
23 votes
0 answers
1k views

What, precisely, do we mean when we say that a f.d. vector space is canonically isomorphic to its double dual?

I've been reading the Xena Project blog, which has been loads of fun. In the linked post Kevin gives the natural isomorphism $V \to V^{\ast \ast}$ from a f.d. vector space to its dual as an example of ...
Qiaochu Yuan's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
137 views

Equivalent definitions of unramified characters

Let $G$ be a connected reductive group over a local field $F$. An unramified character of $G(F)$ is a continuous character $\chi: G(F)\to\mathbb{C}^\times$ that is trivial on all compact subgroups of $...
user449595's user avatar

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