All Questions
1,592 questions
22
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Can a continuous real-valued function on a large product space depend on uncountably many coordinates?
Is there a reasonably well-behaved topological space $X$ (ideally Polish), a set $\kappa$, and a continuous function $g: X^\kappa\to\mathbb{R}$ that depends on uncountable many coordinates?
If $X$ is ...
22
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Rigorous justification for this formal solution to $f(x+1)+f(x)=g(x)$
Let $g\in C(\Bbb R)$ be given, we want to find a solution $f\in C(\Bbb R)$ of the equation
$$
f(x+1) + f(x) = g(x).
$$
We may rewrite the equation using the right-shift operator $(Tf)(x) = f(x+1)$...
- 1,245
22
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Image of the trace operator
It is well-known that we have the trace theorem for Sobolev spaces. Let $\Omega$ be an open domain with smooth boundary, we know that the map
$$ T: C^1(\bar\Omega) \to C^1(\partial\Omega) \subset L^...
- 39.1k
22
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is every closed set of Q² the intersection of some connected closed set of R² with Q²
Let $F\subset\mathbb{Q}^2$ a closed set. Does there exists some closed and connected set $G\subset\mathbb{R}^2$ such that $F=G\cap\mathbb{Q}^2$?
For example if $F=\{a,b\}$, you can take $G$ the ...
- 3,033
21
votes
5
answers
4k
views
Isomorphisms of Banach Spaces
Suppose $X$ and $Y$ are Banach spaces whose dual spaces are isometrically isomorphic. It is certainly true that $X$ and $Y$ need not be isometrically isomorphic, but must it be true that there is a ...
- 629
21
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Is Dependent Choice all we really need?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axiom_of_dependent_choice
Is DC sufficient for the understanding of objects that are countable in some suitable sense?
For example, is DC sufficient for the full ...
- 1,199
21
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Can you tell whether a space is Banach from the unit ball?
Let $V$ be a real vector space. It is well known that a subset $B\subset V$ is the unit ball for some norm on $V$ if and only if $B$ satisfies the following conditions:
$B$ is convex, i.e. if $v,w\...
- 8,493
21
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is there an L^p tauberian theorem?
From Wiener's tauberian theorem we know that linear combinations of translates of f \in L^1(R) are dense in L^1(R) if and only if the Fourier transform of f never vanishes. It is also known that ...
- 13k
21
votes
7
answers
2k
views
Identities and inequalities in analysis and probability
Usually, at the heart of a good limit theorem in probability theory is at least one good inequality – because, in applications, a topological neighborhood is usually defined by inequalities. Of course,...
21
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Characterization of Fréchet-Urysohn spaces using sequential continuity at a point
A map $f \colon X \to Y$ is called sequentially continuous at the point $a$ if for every sequence $(x_n)$ such that $x_n\to a$, we also have $f(x_n)\to f(a)$.
$$x_n\to a \qquad \Rightarrow \qquad f(...
- 4,713
21
votes
7
answers
1k
views
Reference for topological graph theory (research / problem-oriented)
I would be interested in recommendations for topological graph theory texts. I think Gross and Yellen has a great chapter on topological graph theory, and I find Mohar and Thomassen's Graphs on ...
20
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Connected and locally connected, but not path-connected
Allow me to use some non-standard terminology:
A h-contractible space is a non-empty topological space $X$ such that, for any topological space $T$ and any pair of continuous maps $f_0, f_1 : T \to X$...
- 15.9k
20
votes
1
answer
2k
views
A function composed with itself produces the identity
Let $B$ be the closed unit ball in $\mathbb R^3$ and $f: B\to B$ continuous, such that $f\circ f$ is the identity (i.e., $f\circ f=\mathbb 1_B$) and $f$ restricted on $\partial B$ is also the identity ...
- 2,933
20
votes
2
answers
1k
views
The Gelfand duality for pro-$C^*$-algebras
The Gelfand duality says that
$$X\to C(X)$$
is a contravariant equivalence between the category of compact Hausdorff spaces and continuous maps and the category of commutative unital $C^*$-algebras ...
- 1,344
20
votes
2
answers
1k
views
An order type $\tau$ equal to its power $\tau^n, n>2$
(This is a re-post of my old unanswered question from Math.SE)
For purposes of this question, let's concern ourselves only with linear (but not necessarily well-founded) order types.
Recall that:
$...
- 6,819
20
votes
12
answers
9k
views
The role of completeness in Hilbert Spaces
Why do Hilbert spaces have to be complete?
I've been studying (teaching myself about) Hilbert spaces for a while now as they have a habit of popping up in many of the papers I'm come across (I'm a ...
- 661
20
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Rugged manifold
It is well known that any compact smooth $m$-manifold can be obtained from $m$-ball by gluing some points on the boundary.
Is it still true for topological manifold?
Comments:
To proof the smooth ...
- 45k
20
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is every compact topological ring a profinite ring?
There are a lot of compact (Hausdorff) groups, whereas every compact field is finite. What about rings? Is there a classification theorem for compact rings? If you take a cofiltered limit of finite ...
- 2,210
20
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Duality between topology and bornology
I want to understand in what sense topology is dual to bornology at a most basic level. Therefore, I rephrased the definition of a bornology in the following way:
Let $X$ be a set and let $\mathcal{P}(...
- 1,813
20
votes
2
answers
870
views
C$^*$-algebras isomorphic after tensoring with $M_n(\mathbb C)$
In 1977, Joan Plastiras gave a striking example of two non $*$-isomorphic C$^*$-algebras $\mathcal A$ and $\mathcal B$ such that $$\mathcal A \otimes M_2(\mathbb C) \simeq \mathcal B\otimes M_2(\...
- 3,984
19
votes
3
answers
1k
views
What standard Banach space is isomorphic to the completion of this different normed structure on $\ell^1$?
A colleague asked me the following question:
"What can one do with the following norm on $\ell^1$: $|x|=\int_1^2 |x|_pdp$ where $| \;\; |_p$ is the standard norm on $\ell_p$?"
This ...
- 356
19
votes
1
answer
772
views
convexity of images of space-filling curves
Suppose $f:[0,1]\to[0,1]^2$ is continuous and for each $t\in[0,1]$, the area of $\lbrace f(s) : 0\le s\le t \rbrace$ is $t$. For what sets of values of $t\in[0,1]$ can $\lbrace f(s) : 0\le s\le t \...
19
votes
4
answers
4k
views
When is a finite cw-complex a compact topological manifold?
I think the statement of the question is pretty straightforward. Given a finite $n$-dimensional CW complex, are there necessary and sufficient conditions for determining that it is also a compact $n$-...
- 732
19
votes
4
answers
8k
views
Unique limits of sequences plus what implies Hausdorff?
It is known that there are non-Hausdorff spaces which admit unique limits for all convergent sequence (see here) and it is also known that unique limits for nets implies Hausdorff.
What I am ...
- 12.7k
19
votes
1
answer
5k
views
A Fourier-analytic inequality used by Jean Bourgain
I am currently reading Jean Bourgain's 1986 paper A Szemerédi type theorem for sets of positive density in $R^k$ and would appreciate some help in understanding a Fourier-analytic estimate used in ...
- 6,206
19
votes
0
answers
563
views
What algebraic properties are preserved by $\mathbb{N}\leadsto\beta\mathbb{N}$?
Given a binary operation $\star$ on $\mathbb{N}$, we can naturally extend $\star$ to a semicontinuous operation $\widehat{\star}$ on the set $\beta\mathbb{N}$ of ultrafilters on $\mathbb{N}$ as ...
- 20.5k
19
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Non-homeomorphic spaces such that taking away a point makes them homeomorphic
Are there topological spaces $X,Y$, each having more than $2$ points, satisfying the following two properties?
$X\not\cong Y$, and
there is a bijection $\varphi: X\to Y$ such that for all $x\in X$ ...
- 48.9k
19
votes
4
answers
5k
views
Explicit extension of Lipschitz function (Kirszbraun theorem)
Kirszbraun theorem states that if $U$ is a subset of some Hilbert space $H_1$, and $H_2$ is another Hilbert space, and $f : U \to H_2$ is a Lipschitz-continuous map, then $f$ can be extended to a ...
- 1,839
19
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Strange result about convexity
$f \in C^2([0,1])$ with $f''$ convex and $f(0) = f'(0) = f''(0) = 0$.
Is it true that : $f''(1)+6f(1)\geq 4f'(1)$ ?
Source: AoPS
- 4,074
18
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Generalization of Darboux's Theorem
Darboux's Theorem. If $f:[a,b]\to\mathbb R$ is differentiable and $f'(a)<\xi<f'(b)$, then there exists a $c\in (a,b)$, such that $\,f'(c)=\xi$.
Does any of the following generalizations
Let $U\...
- 2,933
18
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Comparing "axiomatized function spaces"
This was previously asked and bountied at math.stackexchange with no response. I've also tweaked the language for clarity; see the edit history for the broader context, and note that the existing ...
- 20.5k
18
votes
1
answer
748
views
Banach-Mazur distance between the cube and the octahedron
The Banach-Mazur distance $d(X, Y)$ between two normed spaces $X, Y$ of the same dimension is defined as $d(X, Y) = \log\inf \|T\| \cdot \|T^{-1}\|$, where the $T:X \to Y$ is a linear and invertible ...
- 243
18
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Is every real n-manifold isomorphic to a quotient of $\mathbb{R}^n$?
I'm curious about the following:
Is every real $n$-manifold isomorphic to a quotient of $\mathbb{R}^n$?
Thanks.
EDIT: As Tilman points out, the manifold should be connected. Also, yes, I'm thinking ...
- 761
18
votes
2
answers
619
views
In the internal language of the topos of sheaves on a topological space, can we define locally constant real-valued functions?
For the purposes of this question, in a Grothendieck topos, we will call “definable” the objects and relations obtained from the terminal object, the natural numbers object and the subobject ...
- 32.5k
18
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Research topics in distribution theory
The theory of distributions is very interesting, and I have noticed that it has many applications especially with regard to PDEs. But what are the research topics in this theory? also in terms of ...
- 589
18
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Reference for a strong intermediate value theorem for measures
Let $\mu$ be a finite nonatomic measure on a measurable space $(X,\Sigma)$, and for simplicity assume that $\mu(X) = 1$. There is a well-known "intermediate value theorem" of Sierpiński that states ...
- 5,407
18
votes
1
answer
564
views
Is the space of Hankel operators complemented in B(H)?
Let $H$ be $\ell^2({\mathbb N})$ and let $S:H\to H$ be the unilateral forward shift, so that $S^*S=I\neq SS^*$. Then a bounded operator $T:H\to H$ is Hankel if and only if it satisfies $TS=S^*T$.
Let ...
- 25.8k
18
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What are the right categories of finite-dimensional Banach spaces?
This is inspired partly by this question, especially Tom Leinster's answer.
Let me start with some background. I apologize that this will be rather long, since I'm hoping for input from people who ...
- 11.4k
18
votes
2
answers
1k
views
compact-open topology on $B(H)$
In topology, it is common to use the compact-open topology on the set of continuous maps between two given topological spaces.
Let now $H$ be a Hilbert space and $B(H)$ the set of continuous linear ...
- 43.2k
18
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Borel Lemma for vector-valued functions
The classical Borel Lemma states that for an arbitrary sequence $(v_n)_{n \in \mathbb{N}_0}$ of complex numbers there is a smooth function $f\colon \mathbb{R} \longrightarrow \mathbb{C}$ with Taylor ...
- 8,098
18
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Who first used the multiplication operator version of spectral theory
This is another history question.
Hilbert phrased the spectral theorem in terms of resolutions of the identity.
While this remained the form of Stone and von Neumann, they did also have the ...
- 827
18
votes
1
answer
11k
views
Is every continuous function measurable?
This question has already been asked on Math StackExchange here, but was too old to be migrated, and I think will be more appropriate to MathOverflow.
In non-Hausdorff topology it is standard to ...
- 321
18
votes
1
answer
793
views
Closed totally disconnected subspaces
It is a remarkable property of uncountable compact metric spaces that each of them contains a homeomorphic copy of the Cantor set. In general, one cannot expect containment of Cantor cubes (in ...
- 505
17
votes
6
answers
2k
views
The reals as continuous image of the irrationals
In the Wikipedia article about descriptive set theory I read that $\mathbb{R}$ (with its usual topology) is a Polish space, and that every Polish space
1) can be obtained as a continuous image of ...
- 23.3k
17
votes
5
answers
7k
views
A counter example to Hahn-Banach separation theorem of convex sets.
I'm trying to understand the necessity for the assumption in the Hahn-Banach theorem for one of the convex sets to have an interior point. The other way I've seen the theorem stated, one set is closed ...
- 2,641
17
votes
1
answer
414
views
Compact manifold $X$ having fixed-point property but $X\times X$ does not
A manifold $X$ has the fixed-point property if for every continuous map $f:X→X$ there is $x∈X$ with $f(x)=x$. Examples of such spaces are disks and the real projective plane $\mathbb{RP}^2$.
Question:...
- 9,501
17
votes
5
answers
5k
views
Why are inverse images more important than images in mathematics?
Why are inverse images of functions more central to mathematics than the image?
I have a sequence of related questions:
Why the fixation on continuous maps as opposed to open maps? (Is there an ...
17
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Is symmetric power of a manifold a manifold?
A Hausdorff, second-countable space $M$ is called a topological manifold if $M$ is locally Euclidean. Let $SP^n(M): = \left(M \times M \times \cdots \times M \right)/ \Sigma_m$, where product is done $...
- 506
17
votes
1
answer
989
views
Can two-point sets be Borel?
Recall that a two-point set is a subset of the plane which meets every line in exactly two points. Such a set was first constructed by Mazurkiewicz in 1914.
I wonder if the following question of ...
- 32.2k
17
votes
1
answer
912
views
$(1+\epsilon)$-injective Banach spaces, complex scalars
It is well known that a real Banach space which is $(1+\epsilon)$-injective for every $\epsilon >0$ is already 1-injective (Lindenstrauss Memoirs AMS, 1964, download here). Using common ...
- 1,704