All Questions
542 questions
1
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0
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102
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Notation question: bigraded direct sum of graded objects
In some work I'm doing I have two graded modules $M$ and $N$ (graded on $\mathbb Z$, say) and need to take, not the usual direct sum, but the bigraded sum consisting of all $M_p \oplus N_q$ (so graded ...
- 2,062
2
votes
0
answers
314
views
Notation for induced subgraphs
For a graph $G=(V,E)$, is there a standard notation for the induced subgraph on $V \setminus \{v,w\}$ where $v,w$ are the endpoints of some edge $e$? I know $G[V \setminus \{v,w\}]$ is an option, but ...
- 19.7k
2
votes
0
answers
323
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Marcinkiewicz-Mihlin-Hormander Fourier multiplier theorem
I'm trying to understand the hypothesis of the Marcinkiewicz-Mihlin-Hörmander multiplier theorem. See for instance Theorem A in this paper of Elias Stein.
Theorem A: Assume that $m: (0, \infty)\to \...
- 161
8
votes
2
answers
693
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Seeking a combinatorial proof for a binomial identity
Let $n\geq m\geq0$ be two integers. The below binomial identity is provable by other means:
$$\sum_{j=0}^m(-1)^j\binom{n+1}j2^{m-j}
=\sum_{j=0}^m(-1)^j\binom{n-m+j}j.$$
QUESTION. Can you provide a ...
- 43.2k
0
votes
1
answer
158
views
Unknown notation in "Boolean function complexity" by Stasys Jukna [closed]
I am currently reading Boolean Function Complexity - Advances and Frontiers by Stasys Jukna and on page 7 of the latest edition there is a paragraph titled Boolean functions as set systems with the ...
- 11
5
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Why did mathematical notation stay so hard to read? [closed]
One of the first things you learn in a programming 101 course is to write readable code, and to name your variables properly. This notion has seemingly never translated into mathematics. Everywhere ...
1
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0
answers
134
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What benefits of math can be conveyed to mid/high schoolers? [closed]
I'm teaching mathematical proof writing to a few of math teachers (in the US) this summer. In the beginning of class, I send a survey asking them why they are here. Most of them are here for getting ...
- 5,230
1
vote
0
answers
211
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Are measures better thought of as densities than differentials?
The standard notation for integrating with respect to a measure $\mu$ is:
$$\int f(x)\,d\mu(x).$$
But I've wondered if it could be better written as:
$$\int f(x)\mu(x)\,dx$$
where $\mu(x)$ is now ...
- 4,943
36
votes
3
answers
3k
views
What do we learn from the Wronskian in the theory of linear ODEs?
For a real interval $I$ and a continuous function $A: I \to \mathbb{R}^{d\times d}$, let $(x_1, \dots, x_d)$ denote a basis of the solution space of the non-autonomous ODE
$$
\dot x(t) = A(t) x(t) \...
- 12.6k
26
votes
12
answers
2k
views
Examples of improved notation that impacted research?
The intention of this question is to find practical examples of improved mathematical notation that enabled actual progress in someone's research work.
I am aware that there is a related post ...
6
votes
0
answers
283
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Interesting things you learned while grading/marking? [closed]
What are some interesting mathematical things you have learned while grading (or marking, if you prefer) student work? For example, clever proofs that students came up with; nice counterexamples or ...
5
votes
1
answer
521
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How to find eigenvalues following Axler?
Preparing my Linear Algebra lecture I like the determinant free approach of Axler because the proof that operators $T$ on an $n$-dimensional complex vector space have eigenvalues is so simple:
Fix ...
- 16.5k
0
votes
2
answers
542
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Need help in understanding meaning of a notation and theorem used in research paper due to a reference being in German Language
I thought of utilizing this lockdown period to study research papers in number theory by myself.
I began reading the research paper By T Estermann ->" On Goldbach Problem : Proof that Almost all ...
- 793
6
votes
1
answer
640
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Why are orthogonal matrices so often denoted $Q$?
I apologize for the stupid question in the title. Of course, we can baptize a particular given matrix as we want but, for example, the QR-decomposition has a fixed meaning.
My humble guess is that ...
- 16.5k
4
votes
2
answers
813
views
QFT and its notations
I know hardly anything about quantum field theory (QFT) but I'm giving a try to understand some ideas of it. As far as I understand, in QFT one is interested in studying measures such as:
\begin{...
- 3,535
3
votes
1
answer
271
views
Elementary classification of division rings
Are there examples (other than the two mentioned below) of fields $K$ such that the classification of all finite dimensional division $K$-algebras is possible using only elementary theory (lets say a ...
- 26.5k
0
votes
1
answer
62
views
Is there a common notation to indicate the final form of a simplified definition? [closed]
I'm trying to become better with using proper terminologies and standard notation when taking notes, which lead me to think:
Similar to the indication of a completed proof by use of the Q.E.D. mark, ...
- 23
0
votes
0
answers
45
views
Notation of $P^+$-families - bibliography searching
have you ever met with notation of $P^+$-families in other papers than Iian B. Smythe "A local Ramsey theory for block sequences" and his phd?
Thank you in advance
12
votes
1
answer
521
views
Source of a quote by Ferdinand Rudio
I am looking for the source and context of this quote, found e.g. at St Andrews:
Only with the greatest difficulty is one able to follow the writings of any author preceding Euler, because it was ...
- 31.5k
-1
votes
1
answer
118
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Relative degree of a prime over a number field (notation from Algebraic Number Fields from Gerald J. Janusz) [closed]
I´m working with "Algebraic Number Fields" from Gerald J. Janusz (1. edition from 1973) and I have a question about his notation.
In chapter IV proposition 4.5 he states if K is an algebraic number ...
- 13
0
votes
1
answer
60
views
Name for matrix associated to smooth continuation
Is there an established name for the matrices that establish the conditions for a linear combination of $n$ functions $\lbrace f_1(x),\dots,f_n(x)\rbrace$ being the $n$-times smoothly differentiable ...
- 13.2k
17
votes
2
answers
2k
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Notation for "the" left adjoint functor
As far as I know, there is no "official" notation for the left adjoint of a functor $F : \mathcal{C} \to \mathcal{D}$ if it exists. I have seen the notation $F^*$ sometimes, but this looks only nice ...
- 63.1k
1
vote
0
answers
114
views
Notation for the geometric quotient of a separated Deligne-Mumford stack?
Suppose that $X$ is a separated Deligne-Mumford stack, say over a base scheme.
Is there some standard notation for the geometric quotient of $X$? I've tried using $[X]$ but have had complaints.
- 3,147
1
vote
0
answers
103
views
Confusion optimal control abuse notation
I'm currently reading this paper describing a numerical scheme for the approximating optimal policy of a stochastic control problem. However, I run into a confusion directly on the first page where ...
- 5,405
1
vote
0
answers
176
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Arithmetization of Syntax: Can any semantic be encoded as syntax?
It is my understanding that Gödel Encoding and "Arithmetization of Syntax" can be used to represent any logical system. This is exemplified by the encoding of a Universal Turing Machine.
"According ...
- 111
7
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Conventions for Riemann curvature tensor
I am aware of two conventions for the Riemann curvature tensor, namely the expression
$$\langle\nabla_X\nabla_YZ-\nabla_Y\nabla_XZ-\nabla_{[X,Y]}Z,W\rangle$$
is either declared to be $R(X,Y,Z,W)$ or $...
- 18.7k
9
votes
0
answers
887
views
How many ways are there to teach class field theory?
I will soon have to teach class field theory (I do not know whether it will be local or global yet:)) to postgraduate students. I wonder, which approaches to this subject(s) exist now.
I definitely ...
- 16.9k
0
votes
1
answer
54
views
Writing a set of all possible (symmetric) products condensely? [closed]
I have a set of elements $\{a_1, a_2, a_3...\}$ and $\{b_1, b_2, b_3...\}$ and I want to condensely formally write the set of all possible products of these elements, where the ordering does not ...
- 1,465
0
votes
1
answer
82
views
Computability Theory Notation For Entering A Set At A Stage
Is there a standard (or at least common) symbol in computability theory used to indicate that $x$ enters the c.e. set $W_e$ at stage $s$, i.e., $x \in W_{e,s} - W_{e,s-1}$ (at least for $s \neq 0$)?
...
- 3,029
3
votes
0
answers
649
views
Does the Polish character Ł have an established mathematical meaning
I was suggested to use the slashed letter $\L$ (the European character Ł, which looks like the English letter L with a small bar crossing its vertical part) to denote the left half-plane. To avoid ...
- 81
23
votes
1
answer
3k
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Was Jacobi the first to notice the ambiguity in the partial derivatives notation? And did anyone object to his fix?
In his 1841 article De determinantibus, Jacobi remarked that the notation $\frac{\partial z}{\partial x}$ for partial derivatives is ambiguous. He observed that when $z$ is a function of $x,y$ as well ...
- 5,343
1
vote
0
answers
93
views
Notation/definition for the state of a FIFO queue [closed]
A first-in first-out queue is filled up by tokens $t \in T$. The state of the queue $q \in Q$ is being changed by two operations,
\begin{equation}
\mathrm{push} : Q \times T \rightarrow Q
\end{...
- 135
1
vote
1
answer
276
views
Symbol for monotone relationship between two probability distributions
Motivation:
At the present time it really isn't clear to me why this question might be inappropriate for the MathOverflow. However, it appears that some people are down-voting this question even if ...
- 3,871
1
vote
0
answers
227
views
What does it mean for two natural numbers to be *approximately equal*?
This is related to this other question of mine about a paper of Colin and Honda.
I'm trying to follow the proofs line by line. I found the following piece of notation that is not explained in the ...
- 1,409
1
vote
1
answer
791
views
Question about interpretation of algebraic notation in differential geometry paper
I am unable to understand the notation of equations (1.1) and (1.6) in page 2 of Kowalski and Belger's paper "Riemannian metric with the prescribed curvature tensor and all its covariant derivatives ...
- 1,117
16
votes
2
answers
889
views
Why are Thompson's groups called $F$, $T$ and $V$?
Why are Thompson's groups called $F$, $T$ and $V$?
I never saw Thompson's unpublished notes, in which he introduces these groups; maybe an explanation can be found there?
- 8,401
15
votes
1
answer
757
views
Teaching cohomology via everyday examples
This question is a "sequel" to my similar questions about the fundamental group and homology. All of these questions were inspired by seeing a talk, by Tadashi Tokieda, about the interesting physics ...
2
votes
2
answers
906
views
Who first discovered the concept corresponding to the symbol of class comprehension?
Who first discovered the concept corresponding to the symbol of class comprehension
$\{x/\varphi\}$ used today in set theory ?
- 2,655
1
vote
0
answers
84
views
Basic notation question involving Lie Groups and Lie algebras
I just started reading "On the functional equations satisfied by Eisentstein series" by Langlands http://publications.ias.edu/sites/default/files/Eisenstein-ps.pdf . I wasn't sure of some notation/...
- 3,625
0
votes
1
answer
235
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Is there any math notation for `be denoted by`? [closed]
The sentence s "In many supervised learning problems one has an output variable $y$ and a vector of input variables $x$ described via a joint probability distribution $P(x,y)$" from wiki
Here ...
- 111
2
votes
1
answer
359
views
Defining integrals by residue theorem
I have always been interested in alternative definitions of mathematical objects. I wonder if one can craft an useful definition of definite integral by using the Residue Theorem from complex analysis....
- 341
8
votes
4
answers
788
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Different derivations of the value of $\prod_{0\leq j<k<n}(\eta^k-\eta^j)$
Let $\eta=e^{\frac{2\pi i}n}$, an $n$-th root of unity. For pedagogical reasons and inspiration, I ask to see different proofs (be it elementary, sophisticated, theoretical, etc) for the following ...
- 43.2k
7
votes
1
answer
372
views
Theory of surfaces in $\mathbb{R}^3$ as level sets
Is there a book that treats the classical theory of surfaces in $\mathbb{R}^3$ from the point of view of level sets of a function? I seem to remember someone telling me that such a book exists, but I ...
- 7,197
2
votes
0
answers
115
views
Name for generalization of property: $f^n(x) \ne x$ for all $n > 0$
I am curious about how to specify with standard terminology that a certain function is non-periodic, in the following sense:
In the simple case of a unary operation $f: X \to X$, this property would ...
- 193
6
votes
2
answers
1k
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Pages from a known textbook on Euclidean geometry?
Do you recall having seen the attached pages in a textbook once? If so, would you be so kind as to share its bibliographic record (or the main items in it) with me below?
A teacher provided us xerox ...
- 8,842
0
votes
1
answer
114
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Name of a matrix with one column and row removed [closed]
I am looking for the exact name of a matrix where the i-th column and rows have been removed.
I cannot remember how it is called in linear algebra, does anyone got an idea?
Thanks!
- 111
10
votes
1
answer
631
views
Whence "Durchschnitt" and "Vereinigung"?
Today the set-theoretic operations of intersection $\cap$ [German: Durchschnitt] and union $\cup$ [German: Vereinigung] are standard.
The modern notations are present in the first edition of van der ...
- 3,761
92
votes
8
answers
16k
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Has incorrect notation ever led to a mistaken proof?
In mathematics we introduce many different kinds of notation, and sometimes even a single object or construction can be represented by many different notations. To take two very different examples, ...
17
votes
5
answers
3k
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Teaching prime number theorem in a complex analysis class for physicists
This is a question about pedagogy.
I want to sketch the proof of the prime number theorem or any other application of complex analysis to number theory in a single lecture, in a complex analysis ...
- 253
8
votes
2
answers
447
views
Big ideas and big ways of thinking in statistics?
I'm moving to a new university for the fall semester, and I'll be teaching a statistics class for the first time. I'm familiar enough with doing statistics (my dissertation in math ed was a mixed-...
