All Questions
1,332 questions
5
votes
1
answer
395
views
Universal decay rate of the Fisher information along the heat flow
I'm looking for a reference for the following fact: In the torus $\mathbb T^d$ let me denote by $u_t=u(t,x)$ the (unique, distributional) solution of the heat equation
$$
\partial_t u=\Delta u
$$
...
- 5,380
4
votes
1
answer
387
views
$\sum_{k=1}^n\frac{\sin kx}{k^\alpha} >0\quad\text{for all}\ n=1,2,3,\ldots\ \text{and}\ 0<x<\pi, \text{and}\ \alpha \ge 1$
The Fejer-Jackson inequality as follows:
$$\sum_{k=1}^n\frac{\sin kx}k>0\quad\text{for all}\ n=1,2,3,\ldots\ \text{and}\ 0<x<\pi.$$
I conjecture that the inequality as follows holds:
$$\sum_{...
- 1,776
4
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Convergence of Newton series for sin ax
Let's define half discrete-analytic function as a function whose Newton series converges to that function for each $x>0$:
$$f(x)=\sum_{k=0}^\infty \binom{x}k \Delta^k f\left (0\right)=\sum_{m=0}^{\...
- 10.1k
4
votes
4
answers
398
views
Joint boundedness of solutions of a family of Sturm-Liouville ODE
Let us fix $0 \neq \lambda \in \mathbb{R}$. Let us consider the following ODE, on $[0,\infty)$: $$ y^{\prime \prime} (x) + \frac{r e^{-x}}{(1+e^{-x})^2} y(x) = -\lambda^2 y(x).$$ Here $r \ge 1$ is a ...
- 5,562
3
votes
2
answers
949
views
Reference for proof that $C_b^* = rba$
The following theorem seems to have folk status:
The topological dual of the space $C_b(X)$ of bounded continuous functions on a topological space $X$ is isomorphic to the space $rba(X)$ of finite, ...
- 459
3
votes
0
answers
133
views
Reference for a lemma on the asymptotic upper density of special sets with large gaps and intervals
Update. Based on Anthony Quas' comment below, the proof can be made sensibly shorter and the lemma can be slightly generalized by weakening the old assumption (iii).
In a joint paper that I am ...
- 10.5k
3
votes
0
answers
84
views
Convergence of the Gaussian integral on $\mathcal{E}'$ for a mapping supported on $L^2$
Let $F : L^2(S^1) \to L^2(S^1)$ be a (nonlinear) mapping such that
\begin{equation}
\lVert F(f) \rVert \leq \lVert f \rVert
\end{equation}
for all $f \in L^2(S^1)$. For the space of smooth periodic ...
- 3,477
3
votes
2
answers
968
views
Can one estimate the distribution of eigenvalues of a matrix by its Cauchy/Stieltje transform?
Given a real symmetric $n$ dimensional matrix $A$, with eigenvalues $\lambda_i$ I am defining its Cauchy transform as the function, $f_A(z) = \sum_i \frac{1}{z-\lambda_i}\,$
Is there any information ...
- 617
2
votes
2
answers
317
views
Concrete example of BV function $u:\mathbb{R}^2 \to \mathbb{R}$ with singular derivative
What are examples of two BV functions $u:\mathbb{R}^2 \to \mathbb{R}$ with singular derivative?
More precisely, I'd like to see an example (and a plot using Mathematica or Matlab) of
a function
$$...
- 839
2
votes
2
answers
351
views
Weak convergence for discrete-time processes using characteristic functions
I am looking for a good reference about the analogues of the Bochner Theorem and the Lévy Continuity Theorem
for probability measures on $\mathbb{R}^{\mathbb{N}}$ with the product topology.
...
1
vote
0
answers
739
views
Finding a unique and finite expected value for almost all measurable functions?
Let $(X,d)$ be a metric space. If set $A\subseteq X$, let $H^{\alpha}$ be the $\alpha$-dimensional Hausdorff measure on $A$, where $\alpha\in[0,+\infty)$ and $\text{dim}_{\text{H}}(A)$ is the ...
- 63
0
votes
2
answers
364
views
Can one show $\left|\frac{2(\zeta'(x))^2-\zeta''(x)\zeta(x)}{\zeta^3(x)}\right|\leq \frac{2}{(x-\frac{1}{2})^2}$ for $x\in\mathbb{R}\cap [1,\infty)$?
I have found that $\left|\frac{2(\zeta'(x))^2-\zeta''(x)\zeta(x)}{\zeta^3(x)}\right|\leq \frac{2}{(x-\frac{1}{2})^2}$ for all real $x$ such that $x>1$ seems to be true. I have plotted the ...
- 178
141
votes
17
answers
38k
views
Why is differentiating mechanics and integration art?
It is often said that "Differentiation is mechanics, integration is art." We have more or less simple rules in one direction but not in the other (e.g. product rule/simple <-> integration by parts/...
- 5,935
109
votes
28
answers
41k
views
Why should one still teach Riemann integration?
In the introduction to chapter VIII of Dieudonné's Foundations of Modern Analysis (Volume 1 of his 13-volume Treatise on Analysis), he makes the following argument:
Finally, the reader will ...
99
votes
28
answers
14k
views
Probabilistic proofs of analytic facts
What are some interesting examples of probabilistic reasoning to establish results that would traditionally be considered analysis? What I mean by "probabilistic reasoning" is that the approach should ...
- 1,695
87
votes
2
answers
4k
views
History of $\frac d{dt}\tan^{-1}(t)=\frac 1{1+t^2}$
Let $\theta = \tan^{-1}(t)$. Nowadays it is taught:
1º that
$$
\frac{d\theta}{dt} = \frac 1{dt\,/\,d\theta} = \frac 1{1+t^2},
\tag1
$$
2º that, via the fundamental theorem of calculus, this is ...
- 31.5k
86
votes
4
answers
11k
views
Nonexistence of boundary between convergent and divergent series?
The following is a FAQ that I sometimes get asked, and it occurred to me that I do not have an answer that I am completely satisfied with. In Rudin's Principles of Mathematical Analysis, following ...
- 82.7k
81
votes
4
answers
8k
views
Did Gelfand's theory of commutative Banach algebras influence algebraic geometers?
Guillemin and Sternberg wrote the following in 1987 in a short article called "Some remarks on I.M. Gelfand's works" accompanying Gelfand's Collected Papers, Volume I:
The theory of commutative ...
- 7,329
81
votes
3
answers
9k
views
Norms of commutators
If an $n$ by $n$ complex matrix $A$ has trace zero, then it is a commutator, which means that there are $n$ by $n$ matrices $B$ and $C$ so that $A= BC-CB$. What is the order of the best constant $\...
- 31.5k
72
votes
9
answers
16k
views
Why do functions in complex analysis behave so well? (as opposed to functions in real analysis)
Complex analytic functions show rigid behavior while real-valued smooth functions are flexible. Why is this the case?
- 1,093
71
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Does iterating the derivative infinitely many times give a smooth function whenever it converges?
I am a graduate student and I've been thinking about this fun but frustrating problem for some time. Let $d = \frac{d}{dx}$, and let $f \in C^{\infty}(\mathbb{R})$ be such that for every real $x$, $$g(...
- 1,763
64
votes
16
answers
13k
views
How helpful is non-standard analysis?
So, I can understand how non-standard analysis is better than standard analysis in that some proofs become simplified, and infinitesimals are somehow more intuitive to grasp than epsilon-delta ...
- 32.1k
63
votes
5
answers
10k
views
Jean Bourgain's relatively lesser known significant contributions
Jean Bourgain passed away on December 22, 2018.
A great mathematician is no longer with us.
Terry Tao has blogged about Bourgain's death and mentioned some of his more recent significant contributions,...
52
votes
9
answers
6k
views
Undergraduate ODE textbook following Rota
I imagine many people are familiar with the extremely entertaining article "Ten Lessons I Wish I Had Learned Before I Started Teaching Differential Equations" by Gian-Carlo Rota. (If you're not, do ...
51
votes
2
answers
5k
views
A strengthening of the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality
Suppose $\mathbf{v},\mathbf{w} \in \mathbb{R}^n$ (and if it helps, you can assume they each have non-negative entries), and let $\mathbf{v}^2,\mathbf{w}^2$ denote the vectors whose entries are the ...
- 6,351
48
votes
6
answers
7k
views
Is there an "elegant" non-recursive formula for these coefficients? Also, how can one get proofs of these patterns?
Not sure if this is a "good" question for this forum or if it'll get panned, but here goes anyway...
Consider this problem. I've been trying to find a formula to expand the "regular iteration" of "...
47
votes
6
answers
6k
views
Can we actually find any fixed points with Brouwer's theorem?
Background
At the risk of greatly oversimplifying matters, let me state a heuristic from Granas and Dugundji's beautiful book: fixed point theorems fall into two broad categories. The first class is ...
- 15.5k
47
votes
9
answers
6k
views
What examples of distributions should I keep in mind?
I'm learning a bit about the theory of distributions. What examples of distributions will help me develop good intuition?
Definitions: Let $U$ be an open subset of $\mathbb{R}^n$. Write $C_c^\infty(...
43
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Can $L^p(\mathbb{R})$ and $ L^q(\mathbb{R})$ be isomorphic?
Let $p,q \in (1,\infty)$ with $p\neq q$. Are the Banach spaces $L^p(\mathbb{R})$, $L^q(\mathbb{R})$ isomorphic?
- 559
42
votes
7
answers
5k
views
How should an analytic number theorist look at Bessel functions?
(And a related question: Where should an analytic number theorist learn about Bessel functions?)
Bessel functions occur quite frequently in analytic number theory. One example, Corollary 4.7 of ...
- 7,347
41
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Must the set of lines through the origin on which a nonconstant entire function is bounded be finite?
If an entire function is bounded for all $z \in \mathbb{C}$, than it's a constant by Liouville's theorem. Of course an entire function can be bounded on lines through the origin $z=r \exp(i \phi), \...
- 4,014
40
votes
5
answers
5k
views
"Entropy" proof of Brunn-Minkowski Inequality?
I read in an information theory textbook the Brunn-Minkowski inequality follows from the Entropy Power inequality.
The first one says that if $A,B$ are convex polygons in $\mathbb{R}^d$, then
$$ m(...
- 22.8k
40
votes
6
answers
5k
views
Applications of Rademacher's Theorem
Rademacher's Theorem (that every Lipschitz function on $\mathbb{R}^{n}$ is almost everywhere differentiable) is a remarkable result on the structure of the space of Lipschitz functions, but I was ...
- 1,665
39
votes
3
answers
14k
views
Is the Invariant Subspace Problem interesting?
There's an amusing comment in Peter Lax's Functional Analysis book. After a brief description of the Invariant Subspace Problem, he says (paraphrasing) "...this question is still open. It is also an ...
- 1,241
38
votes
2
answers
13k
views
What, exactly, has Louis de Branges proved about the Riemann Hypothesis?
I know this is a dangerous topic which could attract many cranks and nutters, but:
According to Wikipedia [and probably his own website, but I have a hard time seeing exactly what he's claiming] Louis ...
- 1,990
37
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Which differential equations allow for a variational formulation?
Many ODE's and PDE's arising in nature have a variational formulation. An example of what I mean is the following. Classical motions are solutions $q(t)$ to Lagrange's equation
$$
\frac{d}{dt}\frac{\...
- 7,583
35
votes
2
answers
9k
views
tr(ab) = tr(ba)?
It is well known that given two Hilbert-Schmidt operators $a$ and $b$ on a Hilbert space $H$, their product is trace class and $tr(ab)=tr(ba)$. A similar result holds for $a$ bounded and $b$ trace ...
- 43.2k
35
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is it consistent with ZF that $V \to V^{\ast \ast}$ is always an isomorphism?
Let $k$ be a field and $V$ a $k$-vector space. Then there is a map $V \to V^{\ast \ast}$, where $V^{\ast}$ is the dual vector space. If we are in ZFC and $\dim V$ is infinite, then this map is not ...
- 156k
34
votes
1
answer
3k
views
tr(ab)=tr(ba), part 2.
This is a Banach space version of Andre Henriques' question
Trace Question
for Hilbert spaces. Let $a:X\to Y$ and $b:Y\to X$ be bounded linear operators between Banach spaces s.t. $ba$ and $ab$ ...
- 31.5k
34
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Theme of Isbell duality
Let $C$ be a small category. Isbell duality provides an adjunction $\widehat{C} {{\mathcal{O} \atop \longrightarrow} \atop {\longleftarrow \atop \mathrm{Spec}}}\widehat{C^{\mathrm{op}}}^{\mathrm{op}}$....
- 63.1k
33
votes
6
answers
2k
views
Is there a topology on growth rates of functions?
I've often idly wondered one can say about the collection of "growth rates". By growth rate, let's say we mean an equivalence class of functions $(0,\infty) \to (0,\infty)$, where two ...
- 793
32
votes
19
answers
23k
views
Good books on theory of distributions
Hi all.
I'm looking for english books with a good coverage of distribution theory.
I'm a fan of Folland's Real analysis, but it only gives elementary notions on distributions.
Thanks in advance.
32
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Are there non-reflexive vector spaces isomorphic to their bi-dual?
Let $V$ be an infinite dimensional topological vector space and consider the natural application $\iota\colon V\to V^{**}$. The space $V$ is said to be reflexive if $\iota$ is an isomorphism.
Are ...
- 7,902
31
votes
1
answer
2k
views
$f'=e^{f^{-1}}$, again
This question is a spin-off of this one, in which the OP asks whether there is a solution $f:\mathbb R\to\mathbb R$ of the functional equation (not exactly an ODE) $f'=e^{f^{-1}}$, where $f^{-1}$ is ...
- 5,169
30
votes
4
answers
3k
views
A counterexample for Sard's theorem in $C^1$ regularity
I can't seem to find an example of a function $f \colon \mathbb{R}^2\to \mathbb{R}$ which is $C^1$ and such that the set of its critical values is not of zero measure.
What examples are there?
$...
- 478
28
votes
7
answers
13k
views
Regular borel measures on metric spaces
When teaching Measure Theory last year, I convinced myself that a finite measure defined on the Borel subsets of a (compact; separable complete?) metric space was automatically regular. I used the ...
- 18.7k
27
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Solving a delay-differential equation related to epidemiology
For some inexplicable reason, I have recently been interested in epidemiology. One of the classical and simplistic models in epidemiology is the SIR model given by the following system of first-order ...
- 32.5k
27
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Integral $\int_0^1 \int_0^1 \cdots \int_0^1\frac{x_{1}^2+x_{2}^2+\cdots+x_{n}^2}{x_{1}+x_{2}+\cdots+x_{n}}dx_{1}\, dx_{2}\cdots \, dx_{n}=?$
How to evaluate this integral:
$$\int_0^1 \int_0^1 \cdots \int_0^1\frac{x_{1}^2+x_{2}^2+\cdots+x_{n}^2}{x_{1}+x_{2}+\cdots+x_{n}}dx_{1}\, dx_{2}\cdots \, dx_{n}=?$$
I'm making use of the integral ...
- 389
27
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Do Abel summation and zeta summation always coincide?
This is a more focused version of Summation methods for divergent series.
Let $a_n$ be a sequence of real
numbers such that $\lim_{x \to 1^{-}}
> \sum a_n x^n$ and $\lim_{s \to 0^{+}}
> \...
- 156k
26
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Universality of zeta- and L-functions
Voronin´s Universality Theorem (for the Riemann zeta-Function) according to Wikipedia: Let $U$ be a compact subset of the "critical half-strip" $\{s\in\mathbb{C}:\frac{1}{2}<Re(s)<1\}$ with ...
- 7,127