All Questions
732 questions
12
votes
1
answer
898
views
Converse to Banach’s fixed point theorem for ordered fields?
Suppose $R$ is an ordered field. Call a continuous map $f: R \rightarrow R$ a contraction if there exists $r < 1$ (in $R$) such that $|f(x)-f(y)| \leq r |x-y|$ for all $x,y \in R$ (where $|x| := \...
- 19.7k
12
votes
1
answer
352
views
A problem involving the Error Function
I am looking at the following function on the domain $x\geq 0$:
$$F(x)=(x+a)e^{x^2}(1-\mathrm{erf}(x))-\frac{b}{\sqrt\pi},$$
where $a>0$, $0<b<1$ are parameters. From plotting this function ...
- 389
12
votes
1
answer
448
views
An interesting inequality
Let $\mathbb{R}$ be the real field. For any homogeneous polynomial $f(X_1,\cdots,X_n)$ in $\mathbb{R}[X_1,\cdots,X_n]$, we use $S_f(X_1,\cdots,X_n)$ to denote the following homogeneous symmetric ...
- 1,997
12
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Counterexamples to differentiation under integral sign, revisited
Let $f\colon\mathbb R^2\to\mathbb R$ be a measurable function such that
\begin{equation*}
F(t):=\int_{\mathbb R}dx\,f(t,x)
\end{equation*}
exists and is finite for all real $t$. Suppose that
\...
- 128k
12
votes
0
answers
218
views
Which ordering of factors is needed to obtain this kind of determinantal inequalities?
Let $A$ and $B$ be $n\times n$ Hermitian positive definite matrices. The curious determinantal inequality given here, which can be stated as $$\det (A^{4}+ ABBA+BAAB+B^{4})\ge\det(A^{4}+ AABB+BBAA+B^{...
- 13.4k
12
votes
4
answers
831
views
Relating the roots of polynomials to the solution sets of certain functional equations
Consider a functional equation of the following form:
$$\sum_{k=0}^n a_k\,\underbrace{f(f(\cdots f}_{k}(x)\cdots )=0\quad \big(f:\,\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R},\;a_i\in \mathbb{R},\;\text{and}\;f^0=\text{...
- 453
12
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Low-degree polynomial approximation of the piecewise-linear function $x \mapsto \max(x, 0)$ on an interval $x \in [-R,R]$
For $R > 0$, consider the piecewise-linear function $\sigma_R: [-R,R] \rightarrow \mathbb R^+$, defined by $\sigma_R(x) := \max(x,0)$.
Question
Given $\epsilon> 0$, find a "low-degree" ...
- 6,853
12
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Looking for sufficient conditions for positive Fourier transforms
I am looking for some sufficient conditions for an even, continuous, nonnegative, non-increasing, non-convex function to be non-negative definite. In other words
$$
\int_0^\infty f(x)\cos(x\omega) \, ...
- 178
12
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Implicit function theorem at a singular point?
Let $F:\mathbb{R}^2 \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ be three times continuously differentiable in some open neighborhood $\mathcal{U}$ of $(0,0)$. Suppose that $F(0,0) = F_x(0,0) = F_y(0,0) = F_{xy}(0,0) = 0$ ...
- 123
12
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Proof of Green's formula for rectifiable Jordan curves
$\newcommand{\Ga}{\Gamma}$
I am trying to find a proof of Green's formula for rectifiable Jordan curves $\Ga$ (and the corresponding interior regions $R$). There is a proof by Ridder, followed by ...
- 128k
12
votes
1
answer
858
views
Is this function concave?
Let
$$h(u):=u^3 \left|\int_u^\infty \frac{e^{-i t}}{t^3} \, dt\right|$$
for $u>0$. Is the function $h$ concave on $(0,\infty)$?
(For context, see Proposition 4.4.4 and formula (4.4.21) in this ...
- 128k
12
votes
1
answer
596
views
Equality of two $q$-series. Proof?
Recall the notation $(z;q)_n=(1-z)(1-zq)(1-zq^2)\cdots(1-zq^{n-1})$.
My earlier MO question did not find enough interest or yield an answer. Perhaps the modulo $2$ part might have thrown people off. ...
- 43.2k
12
votes
5
answers
2k
views
analysis over non-Archimedean ordered fields
Can anyone suggest any good references for (or any experts on) analysis over non-Archimedean ordered fields, such as the field of rational functions in one variable (ordered at 0, or if you prefer at ...
- 19.7k
12
votes
1
answer
927
views
On an Inequality of Lars Hörmander
Let $P(z)$ be a non-null complex polynomial in $\nu$ variables $z=(z_1,\dots,z_n)$ of degree $\mu$:
\begin{equation}
P(z)=\sum_{|\alpha| \leq \mu} c_{\alpha} z^{\alpha},
\end{equation}
where as usual ...
- 640
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Proof of the "Neo-classical Inequality", a fractional extension of the binomial theorem
I came across the following inequality, dubbed the "Neoclassical Inequality" which holds uniformly in $p\geq 1$ and $n\in\mathbb N$:
$$\frac{1}{p^2}\sum_{j=0}^n\frac{a^{\frac{j}p}b^{\frac{n-j}p}}{\...
- 4,952
11
votes
8
answers
3k
views
Almost-converses to the AM-GM inequality
Let us consider the Arithmetic Mean -- Geometric Mean inequality for nonnegative real numbers:
$$ GM := (a_1 a_2 \ldots a_n)^{1/n} \le \frac{1}{n} \left( a_1 + a_2 + \ldots + a_n \right) =: AM. $$
...
- 531
11
votes
1
answer
430
views
Cantor set intersecting a geometric sequence
I was working on a problem involving finding all points in the intersection of the Cantor set $C$ and the geometric sequence $\{ (2/3)^i \}_{i=1}^\infty$. The only points I have in this intersection ...
- 113
11
votes
1
answer
436
views
How many numbers $\le x$ can be factorized into three numbers which form the sides of a triangle?
Note: Posting in MO since it was unanswered in MSE
Definition: We say that a natural number $n$ has triangular divisors if it has at least one triplet of divisors $n = d_1d_2d_3, 1 \le d_1 \le d_2 \...
- 5,470
11
votes
1
answer
704
views
Examples of Baire Class $\xi+1$ but not $\xi$ functions for each countable ordinal $\xi.$
We say that $f:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$ is of Baire Class $1$ if it is a pointwise limit of a sequence of continuous functions.
One can generalize the definition above by taking pointwise limit of ...
- 623
11
votes
1
answer
676
views
Entropy arguments used by Jean Bourgain
My question comes from understanding a probabilistic inequality in Bourgain's paper on Erdős simiarilty problem: Construction of sets of positive measure not containing an affine image of a given ...
- 196
11
votes
1
answer
3k
views
A sum of two binomial random variables
Let $p\in(0,1)$, $n$ a positive even integer, $k,l\in\{0,\dots,n\}$, and $X_k\sim \text{Binomial}(k,p)$, $Y_{n-k}\sim \text{Binomial}(n-k,1-p)$ independent random variables. I would like to prove that
...
- 947
11
votes
4
answers
4k
views
When is the infimum of an arbitrary family of measurable functions also measurable?
Let $(X,\Sigma,\mu)$ be a measure space and consider a family of $\mu$-measurable functions $f_i:X \to \mathbb{R}$ for $i$ lying in some index set $I$. Define $$f(x) = \inf_{i \in I} f_i(x)$$
I think ...
- 15.5k
11
votes
2
answers
8k
views
About the Fourier transform of the logarithm function
I want to calculate / simplify:
$$\mathcal{F} (\ln(|x|)\mathcal{F(f)}(x))=\mathcal{F} (\ln(|x|)) \star f$$
where $\mathcal{F}$ is the Fourier transform ($\mathcal[f](\xi)=\int_{\mathbb R}f(x)e^{ix\...
- 1,199
11
votes
0
answers
320
views
Constructing an infinite chain of subsets of 'hyper' algebraic numbers?
This question is cross posted from MSE.
Let $F$ be a subset of $\mathbb{R}$ and let $S_F$ denote the set of values which satisfy some generalized polynomial whose exponents and coefficients are ...
- 211
11
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Converse of mean value theorem almost everywhere?
Let $f: \mathbb R \to \mathbb R$ be a $C^1$ function.
We say a point $c \in \mathbb R$ is a mean value point of $f$ if there exists an open interval $(a,b)$ containing $c$ such that $f’(c) = \frac{f(b)...
- 6,195
11
votes
2
answers
425
views
Maximization of a cubic form over the $14$-dimensional sphere
For any integers $i$ and $j$ such as $1\le i<j\le6$, let $x_{ij}$ be a nonnegative real number.
Is it true that, given the condition
$$\sum_{1\le i<j\le6}x_{ij}^2=1,$$
the sum
$$\sum_{1\le i<...
- 128k
10
votes
2
answers
1k
views
On equibounded sequences in $L^\infty$
Let $f_n: [0, 1] \to \mathbb R$ be a sequence of positive functions in $L^\infty$ (hence a fortiori in $L^1$) that are equibounded in $L^\infty$ norm - that is $\sup_{n \in \mathbb N} \|f_n\|_{L_\...
- 6,195
10
votes
1
answer
539
views
Is $Q_n(x)=\sigma_{n+1}(x)/\sigma_n(x)$ logarithmically convex on $\mathbf{R}$?
In 1975 J. van de Lune considered the monotony properties of the canonical Riemann Upper and Lower sums for $\int_0^1 t^xdt$, with $x>0$.
Writing $\sigma_n(x) := 1^x+2^x+\cdots+n^x$ these sums are
...
- 7,024
10
votes
1
answer
379
views
Does a monotone subadditive $f: \mathcal{P}(\bf N)\to [0,1]$ admit a finite partition with values in $(0,1)$?
A function $f\colon \mathcal{P}(\mathbf{N})\to [0,1]$ is said to have the Darboux property whenever for all $X \subseteq \mathbf{N}$ and $y \in [0,f(X)]$, there exists $Y \subseteq X$ such that $f(Y)=...
- 1,511
10
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Can the integration of integrable sections of a measurable function of two variables ever result in a non-measurable function?
I spent some time searching MathOverflow for a problem that would resemble the one given below, but it turned out to be a rather futile endeavor. I was led to this problem in my attempts to construct ...
- 1,396
10
votes
2
answers
9k
views
When do maximum and expectation commute?
Hi, I'm looking for conditions on $G(t,x)$ such that
$$
\sup\limits_{t\in [0,1]}E[G(t,X)]=E[\sup\limits_{t\in [0,1]}G(t,X)]
$$
where $X$ is a random variable (it's easy to see that $\sup\limits_{t\in [...
- 111
10
votes
2
answers
766
views
When polynomial f(x^2) can be factored as g(x)·g(-x) ?
In relation to my question Expression for the sum of square roots of zeros of a polynomial
How to characterize polynomials $f(x)$ with rational coefficients such that $f(x^2)=g(x)\cdot g(-x)$ where $...
- 34.3k
10
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Reverse Minkowski (and related) Determinant Inequalities
For positive semidefinite matrices $A,B,C \in \mathbb{R}^{n\times n}$, the following inequalities are well known:
$$(\det(A+B))^{1/n} \geq (\det A)^{1/n} + (\det B)^{1/n} $$
and
$$\det(A+B+C) + \...
- 716
10
votes
0
answers
172
views
Maximizing an integral w.r.t. a measure on the unit sphere
I would like to know if the answer to the following question is known.
Let $d \ge 3$. What is the value of
$$
\theta(d) := \max_{\mu} \int_{S^{d-1}} \int_{S^{d-1}} \cdots \int_{S^{d-1}} |x_1 \...
- 980
10
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Within ZFC, is $2^{\aleph_0}<2^{\aleph_1}$ provable/independent?
So, I ask whether from the ZFC axioms one can prove X that every uncountable set has strictly more than continuum many subsets, or whether X is independent of the ZFC axioms. Note that (within ZFC) ...
- 3,584
10
votes
1
answer
817
views
Can a nowhere locally Hölder function be differentiable almost everywhere?
Fix $0 < \alpha < 1$. Suppose $f$ is nowhere locally $\alpha$-Hölder continuous - that is, it is not $\alpha$-Hölder on any open subinterval of $\mathbb R$. Is it possible for $f$ to be ...
- 6,195
10
votes
1
answer
630
views
Minimum distance of a symmetric matrix to diagonal matrices
Let $A=(a_{ij})$ be an arbitrary $n \times n$ real symmetric matrix and $n\geq 2$. Let $\| \cdot \|$ denote the operator $2$-norm or equivalently the maximum absolute value of eigenvalues for ...
- 4,484
10
votes
1
answer
385
views
When is this multiple integral finite?
Consider the following integral:
$$
I_k(\alpha)=\int_{[0,1]^k}|x_1-x_2|^{\alpha}|x_2-x_3|^{\alpha}\ldots|x_{k-1}-x_k|^{\alpha}|x_k-x_1|^{\alpha}d\mathbf{x}.
$$
where $k=2,3,4,\ldots$
The question is ...
- 87
10
votes
1
answer
699
views
Reference request: Riesz potential $I_\alpha : L^{d/\alpha} \to \rm{BMO}$?
Let us denote the Riesz potential in $\mathbb R^d$ by
$$
I_\alpha (f)(x) := c_{d, \alpha} \int_{\mathbb R^d} \frac{f(y)}{|x-y|^{d-\alpha}}
\, dy.$$
By the classical Hardy-Littlewood-Sobolev theorem ...
- 632
10
votes
1
answer
594
views
Are the polynomials in $\{1/t\}$ dense in $L^2(0,1)$?
Added. My question in the title was solved (in the negative) by Nik Weaver (in the answer below) and Mateusz Kwaśnicki (in the comments). In both solutions, the reason is that the $L^2$ density fails ...
- 13.8k
10
votes
2
answers
666
views
Reference request: Extensions of Wiener's Tauberian Theorem
Wiener's Tauberian Theorem says that linear combinations of translations of a function $f$ are dense in $L^1(\mathbb{R})$ if and only if the zero set of the Fourier transform of $f$ is empty. This is ...
- 710
10
votes
1
answer
900
views
Approximation of a compactly supported function by Gaussians
Let $f:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$ be a smooth function whose support is a closed interval, e.g. $\text{supp}(f)=[a,b]$. Then $f$ can be approximated (e.g. in $L^2$) by a linear combination of Gaussian ...
- 710
10
votes
2
answers
597
views
How to determine the asymptotics of $\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} e^{-\frac{2^n}{x}}$
I'm generally interested in being able to find an asymptotic expansion of
$$ \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \left[ e^{- \frac{f(n)}{x}} \right] $$
As $x \rightarrow \infty$ and $f(n)$ is a smooth monotonically ...
- 2,689
10
votes
1
answer
872
views
Current vs Varifold
I know the basic definitions concerning current and varifold, and they are generalization of submanifolds. What are their respective pros and cons? What are their crucial similarities and differences?
- 1,630
10
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Does Rolle's Theorem imply Dedekind completeness?
I think the answer to the title question is "yes", but Gerald Edgar, in his comment on Does antidifferentiability of continuous functions imply Dedekind completeness? , points out an article (actually ...
- 19.7k
10
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Counting norms on an infinite dimensional vector space
It is known that whenever E is a finite dimensional real vector space, there is only one norm on E up to equivalence (actually one non discrete vector space topology).
Is it known what happens when E ...
- 101
9
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Smallest root of a degree 3 polynomial
Is it true that the smallest root $t$ of the polynomial
$$
20 t^3 - 30 t^2 + (12 - 4 \cos^2 \alpha - 4 \cos^2 \beta - 4 \cos^2 \gamma) t + \cos^2 \alpha + \cos^2 \beta + \cos^2 \gamma - 2 \cos \alpha \...
- 171
9
votes
3
answers
934
views
local behavior of a finite Borel measure
Let $\mu$ be a finite Borel measure on $\mathbb{R}^n$. I am interested in how does $\mu(B(x,r))$ behave, where $B(x,r)$ is the open ball of radius $r$ centered at $x$. For instance, as far as I recall,...
- 1,839
9
votes
1
answer
918
views
A Besicovitch-type Covering Theorem
In the book The Geometry of Domains in Spaces by Krantz and Parks, the authors proved the weak $(1,1)$-type estimate of the maximal function $M_\mu f$, where $\mu$ is a Radon measure, using their ...
- 1,245
9
votes
1
answer
499
views
Subspaces of $L^2(0,1)$ dense on every truncation $L^2(c,1)$
It may be better to move this to a separate question.
Let me call a linear subspace $V \subset L^2(0,1)$ to be tame if, for every linear subspace $W \subset V$, either $W$ is dense in $L^2(0,1)$, or ...
- 13.8k