All Questions
13,926 questions
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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
2
answers
1k
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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
4k
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reference for "X compact <=> C_b(X) separable" (X metric space)
I know (and am able to prove via Stone-Čech compactification) that the following is correct:
Theorem: A metric space is compact if and only if its space of bounded, continuous, real-valued ...
- 888
18
votes
3
answers
7k
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Quotient of metric spaces
Let $(X,d)$ be a compact metric space and $\sim$ an equivalence relation on $X$ such that the quotient space $X/\sim$ is Hausdorff. It is well known that in this case the quotient is metrizable. My ...
- 1,769
18
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2
answers
1k
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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
2
answers
776
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What is known about the "unitary group" of a rigged Hilbert space?
Suppose that $(E,H)$ is a rigged (infinite dimensional, separable) Hilbert space, i.e. $H$ is a Hilbert space, and $E$ is a Fréchet space, equipped with a continuous linear injection $E \rightarrow H$ ...
- 556
18
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3
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1k
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Example of a space for which $V \cong Hom(V,V)$
Let $V$ be a topological linear space, and let $\operatorname{Hom}(V,V)$ be the space of continuous linear maps from $V$ back to $V$, equipped with a suitable topology.
Is there a non-trivial ...
- 8,512
18
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1
answer
793
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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
18
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1
answer
2k
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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
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1
answer
1k
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Topological transversality
Warmup question:
Let us say that two continuous functions $f,g:[0,1]\to \mathbb R$ are topologically transverse if their difference $f-g$ has only finitely many zeros, and each zero separates an ...
- 43.2k
18
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1
answer
1k
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Commuting unitaries
Is the following true:
For every unit vectors $x_1,..., x_n$, $y_1,..., y_n$ in $\mathbb{C}^k$
there exist a Hilbert space $H$, unitary operators $U_1,...,U_n$ and $V_1,...,V_n$ in $B(H)$ and unit ...
- 4,705
18
votes
1
answer
11k
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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
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1
answer
996
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Existance of certain almost invariant functions related to amenability and piece-wise transformations
We would like very much to know the answer to the following question:
Let $\|\cdot\|$ be any norm on $\mathbb{Z}^d$ and let $W(\mathbb{Z}^d)$ be the group of all bijections of $\mathbb{Z}^d$ such ...
18
votes
1
answer
1k
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A topological version of the Lowenheim-Skolem number
This is a continuation of an MSE question which received a partial answer (see below).
Given a topological space $\mathcal{X}$, let $C(\mathcal{X})$ be the ring of real-valued continuous functions on $...
- 20.5k
18
votes
2
answers
619
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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
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1
answer
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Sperner's Lemma implies Tucker's Lemma - simple combinatorial proof
Sperner’s Lemma is often called the "combinatorial analog" of Brouwer’s Fixed Point Theorem, and similarly Tucker’s Lemma is often called the combinatorial analog of Borsuk–Ulam’s Theorem.
We can ...
- 6,937
18
votes
2
answers
1k
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Complex structure on $L^2(\mathbb R)$ generalizing the Hilbert transform
The Hilbert transform on the real Hilbert space $L^2(\mathbb R)$ is the singular integral operator
$$
\mathcal H(f)(x) := \frac{1}{\pi} \int_{-\infty}^\infty \frac{1}{x-y} f(y) dy.
$$
It satisfies $\...
- 43.2k
18
votes
1
answer
2k
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Equivalence of fractional Sobolev space defined through Gagliardo norm and interpolation; dependence on the domain
Let $\Gamma$ be a smooth hypersurface in $\mathbb{R}^n$. We can define the fractional Sobolev space
$$X = \left\{ u \in L^2(\Gamma) \mid |u|_X^2 := \int_\Gamma \int_\Gamma \frac{|u(x)-u(y)|^2}{|x-y|^{...
- 201
18
votes
1
answer
1k
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Are there non-reflexive abelian topological groups isomorphic to their second dual?
I posted the following question in a comment at
Are there non-reflexive vector spaces isomorphic to their bi-dual? and it got one upvote, but it didn't get an answer, so I'll post it as an ...
- 50.6k
18
votes
0
answers
323
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The analogy between dualizable categories and compact Hausdorff spaces
Efimov has in his recent preprint K-theory and localizing invariants of large categories, Appendix F, a long table of analogies between the categories $\text{Cat}^\text{dual}_\text{st}$ and $\text{...
- 2,303
18
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0
answers
1k
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Does there exist a continuous open map from the closed annulus to the closed disk?
(Originally from MSE, but crossposted here upon suggestion from the comments)
In this MSE post, user Moishe Kohan provides an example of a non-continuous open and closed ("clopen") function $...
- 833
18
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0
answers
1k
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"Next steps" after TQFT?
(Disclaimer: I'm rather nervous that this isn't appropriate for MathOverflow, but given the contents of my question I don't really know a better place to ask something like this.)
Recently, I've been ...
- 377
18
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0
answers
1k
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What is the strongest nerve lemma?
The most basic nerve lemma can be found as Corollary 4G.3 in Hatcher's Algebraic Topology:
If $\mathcal U$ is an open cover of a paracompact space $X$ such that every nonempty intersection of ...
- 81
18
votes
0
answers
370
views
Čech functions and the axiom of choice
A Čech closure function on $\omega$ is a function $\varphi:\mathcal P(\omega)\to\mathcal P(\omega)$ such that (i) $X\subseteq\varphi(X)$ for all $X\subseteq\omega$, (ii) $\varphi(\emptyset)=\emptyset$,...
- 13.4k
17
votes
5
answers
7k
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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
6
answers
2k
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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
10
answers
3k
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References for homotopy colimit
(1) What are some good references for homotopy colimits?
(2) Where can I find a reference for the following concrete construction of a homotopy colimit? Start with a partial ordering, which I will ...
- 12.8k
17
votes
3
answers
2k
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Decidability of tiling R^2
Does there exist a closed curve, with finite area and finite circumference, of which it is undecidable (in an axiomatic system where it is constructable) whether it can tile the plane?
I know the ...
- 453
17
votes
5
answers
5k
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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
954
views
Can an oriented closed $n(\geq 2)$-dimensional manifold be smoothly embedded in $\mathbb{R}^{2n-1}$?
Can anyone provide me with an example of an orientable closed manifold $M$ of dimension $n\geq 2$, which cannot be smoothly embedded in $\mathbb R^{2n-1}$?
I know these cannot exist for $n=1$, i.e. $S^...
- 3,751
17
votes
6
answers
24k
views
How to understand the concept of compact space [closed]
the definition of compact space is: A subset K of a metric space X is said to be compact if every open cover of K contains finite subcovers. What is the meaning of defining a space is "compact". I ...
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3
answers
3k
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Is there a way to graphically imagine smash product of two topological spaces?
Recently I've been reading "Topology" by Klaus Janich. I find this book very entertaining as it contains lots of graphical illustrations that appeal to my "geometrical" imagination. In paragraph 3.6 ...
- 965
17
votes
8
answers
3k
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Smooth classifying spaces?
Take G to be a group. I care about discrete groups, but the answer in general would be welcome too. There are the various ways to construct the classifying space of G, bar construction, cellular ...
- 1,422
17
votes
4
answers
959
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What is the minimum of this quantity on $S^{n-2}\times S^{n-2}$?
My question is to find the minimum of the following expression:
$$A(x,y) = \sum_{1\leq i<j\leq n} |x_i-x_j|\ |y_i-y_j|,$$
over the set of pairs of real vectors $x=(x_1,\dots,x_n),y=(y_1,\dots,y_n)$ ...
- 4,484
17
votes
6
answers
6k
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What is a good book on topological groups?
I am looking for a good book on Topological Groups. I have read Pontryagin myself, and I looked some other in the library but they all seem to go in length into some esoteric topics.
I would love ...
17
votes
3
answers
2k
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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
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votes
3
answers
2k
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Is every Schwartz function the product of two Schwartz functions?
A Schwartz function on $\mathbb R^d$ is a $C^\infty$ function, such that all differentials of order $k \ge 0$ decay faster than any polynomial. They include the class $C^\infty_c(\mathbb R^d)$ of ...
- 475
17
votes
2
answers
5k
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Positive-Definite Functions and Fourier Transforms
Bochner's theorem states that a positive definite function is the Fourier transform of a finite Borel measure. As well, an easy converse of this is that a Fourier transform must be positive definite.
...
- 4,952
17
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3
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2k
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Topological spaces whose continuous image is always closed
If $X$ a topological space one says that $X$ is universally closed if for every Hausdorff space $Y$ and every (continuous) map $f:X\rightarrow Y$, the image of $X$ is a closed subset of $Y$.
It is ...
- 3,033
17
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5
answers
2k
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Which topological spaces are (topological) groups?
General literature does not seem to offer a characterisation of topological groups among all topological spaces. Of course, being completely regular (uniform) is necessary, but separation properties, ...
- 1,445
17
votes
7
answers
1k
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Examples of toposes for analysts
I've read that toposes are extremely important in modern mathematics, but I find the definitions and examples given on the nLab page a little too abstract to understand.
Can you provide some examples ...
17
votes
2
answers
1k
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Homeomorphisms and "mod finite"
Suppose $f:C\to C$ is a homeomorphism, where $C=\{0,1\}^{\mathbb N}$ is Cantor space.
Suppose $f$ preserves $=^*$ (equality on all but finitely many coordinates). Does it follow that $f$ also reflects ...
- 24.8k
17
votes
2
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834
views
When is $\sum_{n\in\mathbb Z} f(x+n)$ constant?
A recently asked question (linked here) deals with the remarkable identity
$$ \sum_{n\in\mathbb Z} \mathrm{sinc}(n+x)= \pi,\quad x\in\mathbb R, $$
where $\mathrm{sinc}(x)=\sin(x)/x$.
It is easy ...
- 550
17
votes
4
answers
2k
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What are the major differences between real and complex Banach space?
Most theorems under real Banach space settings have their twin brothers for complex ones, say, the Hahn-Banach theorem. However, some theorems are not valid in complex Banach spaces, and vice versa.
...
- 407
17
votes
2
answers
905
views
Intersection of compact sets in the unit interval
Let $\mathscr K$ be an uncountable set such that every $K\in\mathscr K$ is a compact subset of $[0,1]$ with positive Lebesgue measure. Does it then follow that there exists an uncountable $\mathscr A\...
- 3,584
17
votes
3
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3k
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Which sigma-ideals in a sigma-algebra are ideals of null sets?
My question is motivated, to be somewhat vague, by an attempt to see how much a measure space is defined by the set of null sets. In other words, assume we are not given a concrete measure on a space ...
17
votes
3
answers
3k
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Why is multiplication on the space of smooth functions with compact support continuous?
I asked the question
Why is multiplication on the space of smooth functions with compact support continuous? on M.SE
sometime ago but I didn't receive a satisfactory answer.
I was reading this ...
- 394
17
votes
1
answer
986
views
Uncountably many subsets of the natural numbers with certain natural density condition
Are there uncountably many $A_\alpha $ of subsets of $\mathbb{N}$ with the following two properties:
Each $A_\alpha$ has positive upper natural density
$A_\alpha \cap A_\beta$ is a finite set for $\...
- 356
17
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Homeomorphic characterization of the real line?
Let $A$ be a path-connected subset of $\mathbb R^2$ such that the removal of any singleton from $A$ splits $A$ into two open connected components, each of which is path-connected.
Is $A$ necessarily ...
- 2,069
17
votes
2
answers
1k
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Who first defined _simply connected_, reference?
The following definition is due to Donald J. Newman:
A connected open subset $D$ of the plane $\mathbb C$
is simply connected
if and only if its complement $\widetilde D = \mathbb C \setminus D$
...
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