All Questions
13,926 questions
24
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9
answers
2k
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Self-containing structures
This question is partly inspired by this question: independently of the original context, I'm interested in the general claim* that an ill-founded set theory would represent certain mathematical ...
24
votes
1
answer
1k
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What topological principle is at work here?
[I'm cross-posting this from MSE. I initially asked there 10 days ago, and the question was well-received, but left unanswered.]
My question is inspired by a problem I discovered in Putnam and Beyond,...
- 956
24
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Can Hölder's Inequality be strengthened for smooth functions?
Is there an $\epsilon>0$ so that for every nonnegative integrable function $f$ on the reals,
$$\frac{\| f \ast f \|_\infty \| f \ast f \|_1}{\|f \ast f \|_2^2} > 1+\epsilon?$$
Of course, we ...
- 9,756
24
votes
3
answers
2k
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The third axiom in the definition of (infinite-dimensional) vector bundles: why?
Serge Lang's Differential and Riemannian Manifolds is a no doubt the best available reference for the theory of not-necessarily-finite-dimensional differential manifolds, but unfortunately it suffers ...
- 243
24
votes
1
answer
2k
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How many ways are there to globalize Harish Chandra modules?
Suppose $G$ a reductive Lie group with finitely many connected components, and suppose in addition that the connected component $G^0$ of the identity can be expressed as a finite cover of a linear Lie ...
- 4,909
24
votes
3
answers
1k
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Is there a 'certainty' principle?
Heisenberg's uncertainty principle is a restriction on which probability distributions can describe the position and momentum of a quantum particle.
In mathematical terms it says that if $\psi\in L^2$ ...
- 3,137
24
votes
0
answers
918
views
The topologies for which a presheaf is a sheaf?
Given a set $S$, let $Top(S)$ denote the partially ordered set (poset) of topologies on $S$, ordered by fineness, so the discrete topology, $Disc(S)$, is maximal.
Suppose that $Q$ is a presheaf on $...
- 8,659
24
votes
0
answers
751
views
Are amenable groups topologizable?
I've learned about the notion of topologizability from "On topologizable and non-topologizable groups" by Klyachko, Olshanskii and Osin (http://arxiv.org/abs/1210.7895) - a discrete group $G$ is ...
- 3,897
24
votes
0
answers
2k
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Subfields of $\mathbb{C}$ isomorphic to $\mathbb{R}$ that have Baire property, without Choice
While sitting through my complex analysis class, beginning with a very low level introduction, the teacher mentioned the obvious subfield of $\mathbb{C}$ isomorphic to $\mathbb{R}$, and I then ...
user5810
23
votes
5
answers
8k
views
Why do we have two theorems when one implies the other?
Why do we have two theorems one for the density of $C^{\infty}_c(\mathbb{R}^n)$ in $L^p(\mathbb{R}^n)$ and one for the density of $C^{\infty}_c(\Omega)$ in $L^p(\Omega)$? with $\Omega$ an open subset ...
23
votes
13
answers
7k
views
What should be taught in a 1st course on smooth manifolds?
I am teaching a introductory course on differentiable manifolds next term. The course is aimed at fourth year US undergraduate students and first year US graduate students who have done basic ...
23
votes
8
answers
8k
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Grothendieck on topological vector spaces
In a short biography article on Alexander Grothendieck, it is mentioned that after Grothendieck submitted his first thesis on topological vector spaces (TVS), apparently, he told Bernard Malgrange ...
23
votes
9
answers
2k
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Nonseparable counterexamples in analysis
When asking for uncountable counterexamples in algebra I noted that in functional analysis there are many examples of things that “go wrong” in the nonseparable setting. But most of the examples I'm ...
23
votes
5
answers
4k
views
Understanding/Mastering Analysis in Topology, necessary?
I have spoken to one professor so far about this, which of course was helpful, and so I am looking for additional opinions: To work with topological tools that were built via analysis, should I be a "...
- 17.5k
23
votes
3
answers
9k
views
Sets with positive Lebesgue measure boundary
Consider a compact subset $K$ of $R^n$ which is the closure of its interior. Does its boundary $\partial K$ have zero Lebesgue measure ?
I guess it's wrong, because the topological assumption is ...
- 18.7k
23
votes
12
answers
18k
views
A book in topology
I will have to teach a topology course:
it starts in point set topology and ends at fundamental group of $S^1$.
In the past I have used two different books:
Elementary Topology. Textbook in Problems,...
23
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Most general definition of differentiation
There are various differentiations/derivatives.
For example,
Exterior derivative $df$ of a smooth function $f:M\to \mathbb{R}$
Differentiation $Tf:TM\to TN$ of a smooth function between manifolds $f:...
- 361
23
votes
5
answers
6k
views
Hahn-Banach without Choice
The standard proof of the Hahn-Banach theorem makes use of Zorn's lemma. I hear that, however, Hahn-Banach is strictly weaker than Choice. A quick search leads to many sources stating that Hahn-Banach ...
- 1,202
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
23
votes
5
answers
2k
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PDEs and algebraic varieties
Let $P$ be an order $d$ differential operator with constant coefficients and consider a PDE of the form $Pf = \delta$. Taking the Fourier transform of $P$ we get a degree $d$ polynomial whose zero ...
- 8,998
23
votes
4
answers
1k
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Is $\beta \mathbb{N}$ homeomorphic to its own square?
Let $\mathbb{N}$ be the set of natural numbers and $\beta \mathbb N$ denotes the Stone-Cech compactification of $\mathbb N$.
Is it then true that $\beta \mathbb N\cong \beta \mathbb N \times \beta \...
- 231
23
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Continuous functions taking uncountably many values countably often
Let $f$ be a continuous function defined on the closed interval $[0,1]$. Clearly $f$ is bounded and attains its bounds.
Then my question is how often can $f$ take a value in its range countably many ...
- 4,862
23
votes
4
answers
2k
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Are almost commuting hermitian matrices close to commuting matrices (in the 2-norm)?
I consider on $M_n(\mathbb C)$ the normalized $2$-norm, i.e. the norm given by $\|A\|_2 = \sqrt{\mathrm{Tr}(A^* A)/n}$.
My question is whether a $k$-uple of hermitian matrices that are almost ...
- 9,486
23
votes
3
answers
6k
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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
23
votes
5
answers
2k
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The "right" topological spaces
The following quote is found in the (~1969) book of Saunders MacLane,
"Categories for the working mathematician"
"All told, this suggests that in Top we have been studying
the wrong mathematical ...
- 18.7k
23
votes
4
answers
5k
views
Are proper linear subspaces of Banach spaces always meager?
Let X be a Banach space, and let Y be a proper non-meager linear subspace of X. If Y is not dense in X, then it is easy to see that the closure of Y has empty interior, contradicting Y being non-...
- 353
23
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Spaces with no topological monoid structure which are homotopy equivalent to topological monoids
In motivating $A_\infty$-spaces to my students I'm going to insist on the homotopy invariance of the notion, saying that "being $A_\infty$ is the homotopy invariant version of being a topological ...
- 6,777
23
votes
4
answers
2k
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Which is the correct ring of functions for a topological space?
There is a fact that I should have learned a long time ago, but never did; I was reminded that I did not know the answer by Qiaochu's excellent series of posts, the most recent of which is this one.
...
- 54.6k
23
votes
6
answers
2k
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Is there a topological description of combinatorial Euler characteristic?
There are a collection of definitions of "combinatorial Euler characteristic", which is different from the "homotopy Euler characteristic". I will describe a few of them and give some references, and ...
- 54.6k
23
votes
3
answers
1k
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Which $\ast$-algebras are $C^\ast$-algebras?
It's well-known that the norm on a $C^\ast$-algebra is uniquely determined by the underlying $\ast$-algebra by the spectral radius formula. Therefore there should be a way to axiomatize $C^\ast$-...
- 64k
23
votes
2
answers
7k
views
What is a Gaussian measure?
Let $X$ be a topological affine space. A Gaussian measure on $X$ is characterized by the property that its finite-dimensional projections are multivariate Gaussian distributions.
Is there a direct ...
- 8,512
23
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1
answer
2k
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Which Fréchet spaces have a dual that is a Fréchet space?
I've read the claim that Fréchet spaces that are not Banach spaces never have a dual that is a Fréchet space, but have not been able to find a proof of this statement. Is it trivial or does someone ...
- 1,544
23
votes
2
answers
2k
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Structures of the space of neural networks
A neural network can be considered as a function
$$\mathbf{R}^m\to\mathbf{R}^n\quad
\text{by}\quad x\mapsto w_N\sigma(h_{N-1}+w_{N-1}\sigma(\dotso h_2+w_2\sigma(h_1+w_1 x)\dotso)),$$
where the $w_i$ ...
- 333
23
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Which smooth compactly supported functions are convolutions?
If $f,g$ are smooth functions with support in the interval $[-r,r]$ for some $r>0$, then their convolution $f*g$ is smooth with support in $[-2r,2r]$. My question is about the converse: Given ...
- 1,017
23
votes
1
answer
2k
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Is the normal bundle of a torus trivial?
Question:
Let $T^k \subseteq \mathbb{R}^n$, $ n > k$, be a smoothly embedded $k$-torus. Is its normal bundle trivial?
What about the normal bundle of $S^k \subseteq \mathbb{R}^n$, $n > k$, the $...
- 501
23
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Which spaces have the (weak) homotopy type of compact Hausdorff spaces?
Inspired by the discussion in the comments of this question, I'd like to ask the following question: is it possible to characterize the class of spaces that are homotopy equivalent (or weak equivalent)...
- 31.2k
23
votes
3
answers
2k
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An ultrafilter is a set of subsets containing exactly one element of each finite partition: reference request
There are probably dozens of ways of defining "ultrafilter". The definition I've seen most often involves first defining "filter", then declaring an ultrafilter to be a maximal filter.
But there's ...
- 27.7k
23
votes
1
answer
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How do mathematicians and physicists think of SL(2,R) acting on Gaussian functions?
Let $\mathcal{N}(\mu,\sigma^2)$ denote the Gaussian distribution on $\mathbb{R}$:
$$ \mathcal{N}(\mu,\sigma^2)(x) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi\sigma^2}} e^{-\frac{(x-\mu)^2}{2\sigma^2}}.$$
A Gaussian ...
- 1,101
23
votes
1
answer
706
views
Which ordered fields are homeomorphic to their power?
It is well known that $\mathbb{R}^2\ncong \mathbb{R}$. It is also known that $\mathbb{Q}^2\cong \mathbb{Q}$. It is a corollary to Sierpiński's theorem which states that every countable metric space ...
- 6,741
23
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0
answers
1k
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Laplace Transform in the context of Gelfand/Pontryagin
Questions:
Is there a class of objects (presumably related to locally compact abelian groups) for which the quasi-characters canonically generalize the Laplace transform?
If not, is there a ...
- 1,124
22
votes
13
answers
7k
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Is there a "crash-course" book on Abelian varieties (e.g., an introduction for physicists)?
Hello,
In our (rather applied) theoretical physics research, we have encountered an important class of problems, which seem to require an understanding of Abelian functions (unfortunately, this ...
- 649
22
votes
4
answers
6k
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Can you explicitly write $\mathbb{R}^2$ as a disjoint union of two totally path disconnected sets?
An anonymous question from the 20-questions seminar:
Can you explicitly write $\mathbb{R}^2$ as a disjoint union of two totally path disconnected sets?
- 1,059
22
votes
8
answers
3k
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Connections between ultrafilters in topology and logic
I have a some-what vague question. It seems to me that there are two main ways in which ultrafilters (on a set) can be used. One is in topology. The notion of an ultrafilter converging to a point is ...
- 15.5k
22
votes
5
answers
3k
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Is $L^p(\mathbb{R})$ minus the zero function contractible?
Is $L^p(\mathbb{R}) \setminus 0$ contractible? My intuition says that the answer is yes, but I'm afraid that this is based on thinking of this as somehow similar to a limit of $\mathbb{R}^n \setminus ...
- 433
22
votes
4
answers
3k
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When to use more exciting function spaces than ordinary Sobolev spaces?
In which kinds of PDEs are the more interesting function spaces required? I am thinking of spaces such as Besov and Triebel spaces, and their weighted versions.
For example, Sobolev spaces $L^2(0,T;H^...
- 405
22
votes
5
answers
3k
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Unexpected applications of Dvoretzky's theorem
Dvoretzky's theorem is a classic of convex geometry. Recently at a conference in quantum information I learned (from Patrick Hayden's talk) about a nontrivial application of the theorem to a problem ...
- 2,449
22
votes
6
answers
5k
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Topological characterization of the closed interval $[0,1]$
This question is related to question 92206 "What properties make $[0, 1]$ a good candidate for defining fundamental groups?" but is not exactly equivalent in my opinion. It is even suggested in one ...
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
22
votes
3
answers
7k
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Subspace of $L^2$ that lies in $L^\infty$
Let $E$ be a closed subspace of $L^2[0,1]$. Suppose that $E\subset{}L^\infty[0,1]$. Is it true that $E$ is finite dimensional?
PS. This is actually a question from the real analysis qualifier. I came ...
22
votes
5
answers
1k
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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