All Questions
612 questions
12
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Closest 3D rotation matrix in the Frobenius norm sense
Given a 3 by 3 matrix $M$ I would like to find the rotation matrix $R$ minimizing the Frobenius norm:
\begin{equation}
\|R-M\|_F
\end{equation}
Is there a closed form solution for $R$, or is it ...
- 561
12
votes
5
answers
5k
views
reduced ⊗ reduced = reduced; what about connected?
Several questions actually.
All rings and algebras are supposed to be commutative and with $1$ here.
(1) Let $k$ be a field, and let $A$ and $B$ be two $k$-algebras. I need a proof that if $A$ and $...
- 33.8k
11
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Random Sampling a linearly constrained region in n-dimensions...
Hi,
So here is my problem:
Given a nonlinear, discontinous, cost function $f(x_1,x_2,..,x_N)$ along with linear constraints $x_n \ge 0, \forall n$
$x_n \le c_n$
and $\sum_{n=1}^N x_n = 1$ find an ...
- 113
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Homomorphisms from powers of Z to Z
I believe it is known that if I is a set of non-measurable cardinality, then any homomorphism $Z^I\to Z$ factors through a finite power. Here $Z$ is the group of integers. Can anyone give a ...
- 907
11
votes
0
answers
629
views
Inversion, Koszul duality, combinatorics and geometry
According to this MO answer Koszul duality is related to operations on generating series;
1) multiplicative inversion for quadratic algebras,
2) compositional inversion for quadratic operads,
3) ...
10
votes
0
answers
201
views
Valuation with values in a semiring?
The notion of "valuation" on a ring $R$ is peculiar in that as typically presented, it is really two notions, neither of which subsumes the other.
A valuation can be a homomorphism $v: (R,\times) \to ...
- 63.9k
8
votes
0
answers
493
views
"Consecutive" irreducible polynomials
If $P\in {\mathbb Z}[X]$ is a polynomial of degree $2$, then
it is easy to see that for any integer $m$, at least one of the polynomials
$P-(m+1),P-(m+2),P-(m+3),P-(m+4)$ is irreducible in ${\mathbb Z}...
- 3,595
8
votes
2
answers
2k
views
von neumann algebras and measurable spaces
I've read some pages on links between von neumann (VN) algebras and measurable spaces (Spectra of $C^*$ algebras and Non-commutative geometry from von Neumann algebras?), but I can't get the following:...
- 585
8
votes
1
answer
239
views
Is the restriction of a graded automorphism linearizable in characteristic zero?
This question follows up a previous one which was answered by Todd Leason. I want to impose two new requirements on the setup.
Let $k$ be a characteristic zero field. Let $A=k[x_1,\dots,x_n]$ be the ...
- 2,851
6
votes
1
answer
277
views
If $f,g \in D[x,y]$ are algebraically dependent over $D$, then $f,g \in D[h]$ for some $h\in D[x,y]$?
This question asks: If $f,g \in k[x,y]$ are two algebraically dependent polynomials over an arbitrary field $k$, is it true that there exists a polynomial $h \in k[x,y]$ such that $f,g \in k[h]$,
...
- 2,837
6
votes
0
answers
867
views
How to extend Ritt's theorem on elementary invertible bijective elementary functions?
The elementary functions according to Liouville and Ritt are the functions of a complex variable built up by applying exponentiation, logarithms and/or algebraic operations finitely often. That means, ...
- 1,053
6
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Circumference of Convex Shapes
Here is a puzzle I found in Mitteilungen der DMV (roughly, "Letters of the German Society of Mathematicians"), issue 19/2011. It was posed by Alfred Schreiber in "Wie man Hasen fangt" (How to catch ...
6
votes
1
answer
3k
views
$f,g \in \mathbb{Z}[x,y]$ satisfying: $\operatorname{Jac}(f,g)=0$ and $f,g \notin \mathbb{Z}[h]$ for every $h \in \mathbb{Z}[x,y]$?
Is it possible to find $f,g \in \mathbb{Z}[x,y]$ (with $\deg(f),\deg(g) \geq 1$) such that the following two conditions are satisfied:
(1) $\operatorname{Jac}(f,g)=f_xg_y-f_yg_x = 0$.
(2) ...
- 2,837
6
votes
2
answers
460
views
Divisibility of the degree of an extension by the degree of its residual field
Let $A$ be an integrally closed domain whose quotient field is $K$, $L$ be a finite Galois extension of $K$, and $B$ be the integral closure of $A$ in $L$. Let $M_A$ be a maximal ideal of $A$, and $...
- 687
5
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Generalized Chinese Remainder Theorem
Let $U,V$ be submodules of a $R$-module $M$. Then the diagonal induces an isomorphism
$M/(U \cap V) \to M/U \times_{M/(U+V)} M/V.$
This is a (useful!) generalization of the Chinese Remainder Theorem ...
- 63.1k
3
votes
1
answer
328
views
LP Constraints for Connected Subgraphs of Fixed Size
Question:
how can the connectedness-constraint for a subgraph, that is induced by a proper subset $W\subset V$ of the vertices of $G(V,E),\ |V|=n,\ |W|=m$, be formulated in a $LP$ or $ILP$?
...
- 13.2k
0
votes
1
answer
429
views
Separability of $\mathbb{C}[x]$ over its $\mathbb{C}$-subalgebras
For commutative rings $R \subseteq S$,
recall that $S$ is separable over $R$, if $S$ is a projective $S \otimes_R S$-module, via $f: S \otimes_R S \to S$ given by: $f(s_1 \otimes_R s_2)=s_1s_2$.
...
- 2,837
0
votes
2
answers
357
views
Rank of a $ \mathbb{Z}_{p}[[T]] $ module
Let $p$ be a prime and $M$ is a finitely generated $ \mathbb{Z}_{p}[[T]] $ module. Suppose $M[p]$ denotes the $p$-torsion of $M$. Then $M[p]$ and $M/(p)$ are both $ F_{p}$ vector spaces. So we can ...
- 1,209
54
votes
8
answers
58k
views
Modern algebraic geometry vs. classical algebraic geometry
Can anyone offer advice on roughly how much commutative algebra, homological algebra etc. one needs to know to do research in (or to learn) modern algebraic geometry. Would you need to be familiar ...
4
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Cohen-Macaulay sheaves which are not locally free
A coherent sheaf $\mathcal{F}$ over a Noetherian scheme $X$ is called (maximal) Cohen-Macaulay if $depth_{\mathcal{O}_x}(\mathcal{F}_x) = \dim\mathcal{O}_x$ for any $x\in X$, where $\mathcal{O}_x$ is ...
- 2,444
114
votes
2
answers
12k
views
How would you solve this tantalizing Halmos problem?
$1-ab$ invertible $\implies$ $1-ba$ invertible has a slick power series "proof" as below, where Halmos asks for an explanation of why this tantalizing derivation succeeds. Do you know one?
Geometric ...
- 4,736
74
votes
1
answer
6k
views
$R$ is isomorphic to $R[X,Y]$, but not to $R[X]$
Is there a commutative ring $R$ with $R \cong R[X,Y]$ and $R \not\cong R[X]$?
This is a ring-theoretic analog of my previous question about abelian groups: In fact, in any algebraic category we may ...
- 63.1k
54
votes
10
answers
16k
views
Rings in which every non-unit is a zero divisor
Is there a special name for the class of (commutative) rings in which every non-unit is a zero divisor? The main example is $\mathbf{Z}/(n)$. Are there other natural or interesting examples?
- 3,022
44
votes
4
answers
12k
views
Classification of finite commutative rings
Is there a classification of finite commutative rings available?
If not, what are the best structure theorem that are known at present?
All I know is a result that every finite commutative ring is a ...
- 2,216
43
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Explicit elements of $K((x))((y)) \setminus K((x,y))$
In an answer to the popular question on common false beliefs in mathematics
Examples of common false beliefs in mathematics
I mentioned that many people conflate the two different kinds of formal ...
- 65.4k
36
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Are large powers of polynomials linearly independent?
Let $P_1,\dots,P_k$ be polynomials over $\mathbf{C}$, no two of them being proportional.
Does there exist an integer $N$ such that $P_1^N,\dots,P_k^N$ are linearly independent?
- 4,653
36
votes
4
answers
12k
views
Flatness and local freeness
The following statement is well-known:
Let $A$ be a commutative Noetherian ring and $M$ a finitely generated $A$-module. Then $M$ is flat if and only if $M_{\mathfrak{p}}$ is a free $A_{\mathfrak{p}}$-...
- 2,857
36
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Rings for which no polynomial induces the zero function
For any commutative ring $R$ let $R[x]$ denote the ring of polynomials with coefficients in $R$. Any polynomial $p \in R[x]$ naturally induces a function $\hat{p} :R \rightarrow R$. In some cases, a ...
- 525
34
votes
8
answers
4k
views
Uncountable counterexamples in algebra
In functional analysis, there are many examples of things that "go wrong" in the nonseparable setting. For instance, my favorite version of the spectral theorem only works for operators on a ...
33
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Are surjectivity and injectivity of polynomial functions from $\mathbb{Q}^n$ to $\mathbb{Q}$ algorithmically decidable?
Is there an algorithm which, given a polynomial $f \in \mathbb{Q}[x_1, \dots, x_n]$,
decides whether the mapping $f: \mathbb{Q}^n \rightarrow \mathbb{Q}$ is surjective,
respectively, injective? --
And ...
- 19.6k
32
votes
6
answers
9k
views
What is the universal property of normalization?
What is the universal property of normalization? I'm looking for an answer something like
If X is a scheme and Y→X is its
normalization, then the morphism
Y→X has property P and any ...
30
votes
2
answers
2k
views
When is $SL(n,R) \rightarrow SL(n,R/q)$ surjective?
Let $R$ be a commutative ring with unit and let $q$ be an ideal of $R$. There is thus a natural map $SL(n,R) \rightarrow SL(n,R/q)$ for all $n$. This map is surjective if $SL(n,R/q)$ is generated by ...
- 418
30
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Varieties where every algebra is free
I'd like to know more about varieties (in the sense of universal algebra) where every algebra is free. Another way to state the condition is that the comparison functor from the Kleisli category to ...
- 63.9k
29
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Examples of algebraic closures of finite index
So there are easy examples for algebraic closures that have index two and infinite index: $\mathbb{C}$ over $\mathbb{R}$ and the algebraic numbers over $\mathbb{Q}$. What about the other indices?
...
- 545
29
votes
0
answers
875
views
The field of fractions of the rational group algebra of a torsion free abelian group
Let $G$ be a torsion free abelian group (infinitely generated to get anything interesting). The group algebra $\mathbb{Q}[G]$ is an integral domain. Let $\mathbb{Q}(G)$ be its field of fractions.
...
- 35.2k
29
votes
5
answers
9k
views
Local complete intersections which are not complete intersections
The following definitions are standard:
An affine variety $V$ in $A^n$ is a complete intersection (c.i.) if its vanishing ideal can be generated by ($n - \dim V$) polynomials in $k[X_1,\ldots, X_n]$. ...
- 303
29
votes
3
answers
7k
views
Non finitely-generated subalgebra of a finitely-generated algebra
Ok, I feel a little bit ashamed by my question.
This afternoon in the train, I looked for a counter-example:
— $k$ a field
— $A$ a finitely generated $k$-algebra
— $B$ a $k$-subalgebra of $A$ that ...
27
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Is the matrix $\left({2m\choose 2j-i}\right)_{i,j=1}^{2m-1}$ nonsingular?
Suppose we have a $(2m-1) \times (2m-1)$ matrix defined as follows:
$$\left({2m\choose 2j-i}\right)_{i,j=1}^{2m-1}.$$
For example, if $m=3$, the matrix is
$$\begin{pmatrix}6 & 20 & 6& 0 ...
- 1,121
27
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Nilradicals without Zorn's lemma
It's well known that the nilradical of a commutative ring with identity $A$ is the intersection of all the prime ideals of $A$.
Every proof I found (e.g. in the classical "Commutative Algebra" by ...
- 1,042
26
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Invariance of $\mathbb{Z}[x]$ under a self-equivalence of the category of commutative rings with 1
Let $\mbox{Rings}$ be the category of commutative rings with $1$.
Is there an equivalence of categories $F: \mbox{Rings} \to \mbox{Rings}$ such that
$$F(\mathbb{Z}[x])\not\cong \mathbb{Z}[x]?$$
- 635
25
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Serre's theorem about regularity and homological dimension
One of the nicest results I know of is (Auslander-Buchsbaum-)Serre's theorem asserting that a (commutative!) local ring is regular iff it has finite global dimensional.
I'd like to ask a somewhat ...
- 47.3k
23
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Criteria for irreducibility of polynomial
If $f, g\in \mathbb C[a,b]$ are polynomials in two variables, are there easy criteria that allow to see if $f(x,y)-g(t,z)\in \mathbb C[x,y,t,z]$ is irreducible?
Thank you very much,
best
- 669
23
votes
0
answers
682
views
CH and automorphisms of ultrapowers of $\mathbb{Z}$ and $\mathbb{R}$
Notation and motivation. Given an algebraic structure $\mathbb{M}$ of cardinality at most the continuum and with countably many operations, and a nonprincipal ultrafilter $\cal{U}$ on a countably ...
- 17.7k
22
votes
8
answers
5k
views
Axiomatic definition of integers
The real numbers can be axiomatically defined (up to isomorphism) as a Dedekind-complete ordered field.
What is a similar standard axiomatic definition of the integer numbers?
A commutative ordered ...
- 897
21
votes
4
answers
5k
views
The number of ideals in a ring
Here is a question that I first asked in math.stackexchange, but I think the question must be proposed here.
Let $R$ be a finite commutative ring with identity. Under what conditions the number of ...
- 1,881
19
votes
6
answers
2k
views
Nonfree projective module over a regular UFD?
What is the simplest example of a domain $R$ which is regular (in particular Noetherian) and factorial which admits a finitely generated projective module that is not free?
In fact I'll be at least ...
- 65.4k
19
votes
1
answer
825
views
Is the regularity of finitely generated rings decidable?
Q: Is there an algorithm to decide whether a given finitely generated (over $\mathbb{Z}$) commutative ring is regular?
I mean by regular that the localization at every prime ideal is a regular local ...
- 343
19
votes
4
answers
2k
views
What is the geometric object corresponding to a subalgebra in a polynomial ring
Many introductory texts on algebraic geometry set up some sort of algebra-geometry dictionary in which radical ideals correspond to varieties, and so on. I am wondering if there is a geometric way to ...
- 1,961
19
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is the tensor product of polyhedra a polyhedron?
Conventions: A polytope in a finite-dimensional $\mathbb R$-vector space $V$ is defined to be a convex hull of finitely many points in $V$. A polyhedron in a finite-dimensional $\mathbb R$-vector ...
- 33.8k
18
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Is a retract of a free object free?
I wonder whether this is true in the categories of groups, monoids, commutative algebras, associative algebras, Lie algebras?
- 1,875