All Questions
1,332 questions
12
votes
3
answers
2k
views
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 ...
- 356
57
votes
8
answers
10k
views
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 ...
- 25.7k
20
votes
2
answers
7k
views
Question about functional derivatives
This page on Wikipedia defines the so-called functional derivative as follows: "Given a manifold $M$ representing (continuous/smooth) functions $\rho$ (with certain boundary conditions, etc.) and a ...
- 3,515
48
votes
2
answers
7k
views
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, (...
- 151k
25
votes
3
answers
13k
views
Fourier transform of the unit sphere
The Fourier transform of the volume form of the (n-1)-sphere in $\mathbf R^n$ is given by the well-known formula
$$
\int_{S^{n-1}}e^{i\langle\mathbf a,\mathbf u\rangle}d\sigma(\mathbf u) = (2\pi)^{\nu ...
- 31.5k
123
votes
12
answers
29k
views
How to solve $f(f(x)) = \cos(x)$?
I found the following equation on some web page I cannot remember, and found it interesting:
$$f(f(x))=\cos(x)$$
Out of curiosity I tried to solve it, but realized that I do not have a clue how to ...
- 1,571
41
votes
4
answers
16k
views
Product of Borel sigma algebras
If $X$ and $Y$ are separable metric spaces, then the Borel $\sigma$-algebra $B(X \times Y)$ of the product is the $\sigma$-algebra generated by $B(X)\times B(Y)$. I am embarrassed to admit that I ...
- 31.5k
15
votes
2
answers
1k
views
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 $...
- 17.9k
5
votes
1
answer
630
views
Infinite dimensional involutions: infinitely large sets of multivariate polynomials self-inverse under self-substitution
Examples of infinite dimensional involutions
Edit 2/25/23, as suggested by YCOR below: (Start)
The first return on a Google search on involution--from late Latin 'a rolling up'--gives the Oxford ...
- 10.5k
122
votes
4
answers
39k
views
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 ...
- 10.1k
95
votes
5
answers
13k
views
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 ...
68
votes
2
answers
15k
views
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 ...
- 783
45
votes
7
answers
9k
views
What's an example of a space that needs the Hahn-Banach Theorem?
The Hahn-Banach theorem is rightly seen as one of the Big Theorems in functional analysis. Indeed, it can be said to be where functional analysis really starts. But as it's one of those "there ...
- 26.8k
8
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Ramanujan's Master Formula: A proof and relation to umbral calculus
The Ramanujan's master theorem states that:
$$
\int_0^{\infty}x^{s-1}\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\frac{(-1)^n}{n!}a_nx^ndx=\Gamma(s)a_{-s}
$$
I found a really strange proof recently on a personal blog:
Define
$...
- 302
40
votes
5
answers
10k
views
Is there a natural measures on the space of measurable functions?
Given a set Ω and a σ-algebra F of subsets, is there some natural way to assign something like a "uniform" measure on the space of all measurable functions on this space? (I suppose first ...
- 1,475
32
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Can distribution theory be developed Riemann-free?
I imagine most people who frequent MO have been indoctrinated into the point of view that the Riemann integral can be safely discarded once one has taken the time to develop the Lebesgue integral. ...
- 29.2k
27
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Nice applications for Schwartz distributions
I am to teach a second year grad course in analysis with focus on Schwartz distributions. Among the core topics I intend to cover are:
Some multilinear algebra including the Kernel Theorem and ...
10
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Solution of linear ODE
Let $A=A(t)$ be a smooth one parameter family of $n\times n$-matrices, $n\ge 2$.
It seems that the solution of linear ODE
$$\dot x= Ax$$
can not be written in a closed form using $\int$, $A$, $x(0)$ ...
- 1,785
52
votes
11
answers
25k
views
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 ...
- 1,119
28
votes
6
answers
12k
views
Almost orthogonal vectors
This is to do with high dimensional geometry, which I'm always useless with. Suppose we have some large integer $n$ and some small $\epsilon>0$. Working in the unit sphere of $\mathbb R^n$ or $\...
- 18.7k
26
votes
6
answers
8k
views
prime ideals in C([0,1])
It is clear that each maximal ideal in ring of continuous functions over $[0,1]\subset \mathbb R$ corresponds to a point and vice-versa.
So, for each ideal $I$ define $Z(I) =\{x\in [0,1]\,|\,f(x)=0, ...
- 5,063
25
votes
9
answers
6k
views
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 ...
- 2,821
23
votes
3
answers
6k
views
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 ...
- 505
6
votes
3
answers
3k
views
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 = \...
- 163
5
votes
1
answer
499
views
Hausdorff dimension of the graph of a BV function
Let $u: \Omega\subset \mathbb{R}^N \to \mathbb{R}^M$ be a $BV$ function.
Is the Hausdorff dimension of the graph of $u$ equal to $N$? How can we prove it?
Update.
In an answer to this post, it ...
- 839
142
votes
7
answers
14k
views
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},
$$
where the ...
- 79.9k
71
votes
16
answers
21k
views
Is there a nice application of category theory to functional/complex/harmonic analysis?
[Title changed, and wording of question tweaked, by YC, because the original title asked a question which seems different from the one people want to answer.]
I've read looked at the examples in most ...
52
votes
7
answers
6k
views
On an example of an eventually oscillating function
For $x\in(0,1)$, put
$$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 ...
- 2,188
39
votes
8
answers
13k
views
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 ...
- 5,339
38
votes
4
answers
3k
views
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, ...
- 43.2k
38
votes
5
answers
21k
views
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 ...
- 667
37
votes
3
answers
3k
views
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? ...
- 12.1k
29
votes
3
answers
4k
views
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 ...
- 6,819
25
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Functional approach vs jet approach to Lagrangian field theory
Context: I am a PhD student in theoretical physics with higher-than-average education on differential geometry. I am trying to understand Lagrangian and Hamiltonian field theories and related concepts ...
- 2,792
23
votes
2
answers
3k
views
States in C*-algebras and their origin in physics?
in $C^*-$algebras with unit element, there is the definition of a state, as a functional $\omega$ with $\omega(e)=||\omega||=1.$
Now, of course there is also in classical physics and quantum ...
- 243
22
votes
10
answers
16k
views
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 ...
- 691
20
votes
2
answers
8k
views
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\...
- 4,312
19
votes
2
answers
3k
views
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,$
...
- 3,574
12
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Uniform boundedness of an $L^2[0,1]$-ONB in $C[0,1]$
Assume that we have an orthonormal basis of smooth functions in $L^2[0,1]$. Are there useful practical criteria to determine whether the sup-norm of the basis functions has a uniform bound? I am sure ...
- 4,729
10
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Harmonic oscillator discrete spectrum
Let us act intentionally stupid and assume we do not know that we can solve for the spectrum of the harmonic oscillator
$$-\frac{d^2}{dx^2}+x^2$$
explicitly.
Is there an abstract argument why the ...
- 501
10
votes
2
answers
925
views
Isomorphisms between spaces of test functions and sequence spaces
I am in the process of writing some self-contained notes on probability theory in spaces of distributions, for the purposes of statistical mechanics and quantum field theory. Perhaps the simplest ...
9
votes
2
answers
4k
views
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 ...
- 131
6
votes
1
answer
695
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 ...
- 10.1k
5
votes
2
answers
321
views
If the Hausforff dimension of the graph of a function $u$ is $N$ and $\tilde u = u$ a.e. then $\dim_H \mathrm{graph} \, \tilde u = N$ too
Let $\Omega$ be an open (non empty) set and $u:\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^N \to \mathbb{R}^M$ be a function such that the Hausdorff dimension of its graph is $N$.
Let $\tilde u = u$ a.e. Is it true ...
- 839
5
votes
1
answer
699
views
Can $L^1_{loc}$ be represented as colimit?
Let $L^1_{loc}$ denote the set of all functions from $\mathbb{R}$ to itself which are locally integrable. For every infinite compact subset $K\subseteq \mathbb{R}$, let $L^1_{m_K}$ denote the space ...
- 5,405
4
votes
1
answer
597
views
Meaning of Alberti rank-one theorem
Heuristically what does Alberti's rank-one theorem imply about the structure of a $\mathrm{BV}$ vector field $\boldsymbol{b}$?
Is it rigorously fair to say that the level lines of $\boldsymbol{b}$ ...
user123457
2
votes
0
answers
187
views
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, ...
- 839
191
votes
34
answers
81k
views
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 ...
185
votes
19
answers
36k
views
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 ...
135
votes
5
answers
31k
views
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 ...
- 114k