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Resource request (probability theory, computability theory, algebra)

I'm a first year graduate student trying to explore specific topics I might be interested in researching. Currently, I enjoy algebra, probability theory, and the computability theory side of logic, ...
modz's user avatar
  • 121
1 vote
0 answers
150 views

What are alternative mathematical definitions of observers beyond Bennett and Hoffman's framework?

Motivation: This question is inspired by a talk from Avi Wigderson given on Randomness, where the idea that the randomness is in the eye of the observer is suggested. In the study of information ...
mathoverflowUser's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
114 views

Echoes of the chord

Just a fun problem I thought of. A man is playing a magical pipe organ - every chord is an integer number of decibals (dB) loud. The softest chord is $0$ dB. Every chord of $N > 0$ dB creates a ...
Nate River's user avatar
  • 6,215
3 votes
1 answer
435 views

What is the connection between these three methods of generating this sequence?

I was recently looking at this problem: “There are a number of balls in a jar, some of them red, some of them white. The odds of picking two at random and both balls being red is 1/2. How many of the ...
Conor Pillay's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
102 views

Formalizing the "pseudorandomness" of primes

Many conjectures about primes seem to revolve around the idea of "primes are random". So I thought about how this "randomness" may be formally defined, and came up with the ...
XM73's user avatar
  • 1
1 vote
0 answers
87 views

Equidistribution of Frobenius Classes

Let $G$ be a reductive group over $\mathbb{Q}$. Let $K$ be a maximal compact subgroup of $G(\mathbb{C})$. Let $S$ be a finite set of primes. For each prime $p$ not in $S$, let $Frob_p$ be a conjugacy ...
Kledin Dobi's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
143 views

Integer points inside the high-dimensional ball (asymptotics)

Let $N(\alpha, n)$ denote the number of integer points inside the origin-centered ball of radius $\alpha \sqrt n$ in $n$ dimensions, where $\alpha \in (0,\infty)$ is some fixed constant. Precisely: $$...
DJA's user avatar
  • 435
0 votes
0 answers
63 views

Arrangements of fixed $k$-polyplets in a $n\times n$ matrix

Recently, I asked a question about the number of arrangements of $k$ elements inside a $n\times n$ matrix with certain restrictions. The one I´m actually interested in for this question is in its 2. ...
Cardstdani's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
134 views

Number of ways to place 4 kings on nxn chessboard

I have a $n\times n$ chessboard and 4 kings inside it. My goal is to count the number of arrangements where some of them are non-attacking or mutually attacking, for example: In the case where the $4$...
Cardstdani's user avatar
-3 votes
1 answer
144 views

Count arrangements with pairs of attacking kings [closed]

I have a $1\times n$ chessboard and $2$ pairs of kings in it. Both components of each pair of kings must be adjacent in the chessboard, that is, they must be attacking. Now, I want to calculate the ...
Cardstdani's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
170 views

Mean of probability distribution

I have a probability distribution defined by the following density function: $f(k,j,n,m)=\frac{(m n)! \mathcal{S}_k^{(j)}}{(m n)^k (m n-j)!}$ (With $\mathcal{S}_k^{(j)}$ being the Stirling number of ...
Cardstdani's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
199 views

Average cluster size of a n-size vector

Given a vector of $n$ cells and $k$ elements in it, we can define a cluster of elements as a contiguous sequence of elements inside the vector. My goal is to calculate the average cluster size for all ...
Cardstdani's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
55 views

Counting matrix paths for (n,m>2) matrices

Given a $n\times m$ matrix with $k$ elements inside it, I need to calculate the number of arrangements of those $k$ elements that form at least 1 path from the top to bottom matrix row composed of the ...
Cardstdani's user avatar
7 votes
0 answers
134 views

Why does this oddly nice lognormal shape come out of tree?

I was reading this paper and came across the Euclid tree. For a simple version of this tree, consider an infinite binary tree rooted with the triple $(1,2,3)$. Then for each vertex $(x,y,z)$, its left ...
hamburglar's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
118 views

the projection distribution induced by integral points on the sphere

Let $A=\{\mathbf{v} \in \mathbb{Z}^{n}: \|\mathbf{v}\|^2= m \}$ and a fixed $\mathbf{y}\in \mathbb{R}^n$, the norm here refers to the Euclidean norm. Suppose $\mathbf{x}$ is a uniform distribution on ...
constantine's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
401 views

Probability of finding a prime number between $x-\ln(x)$ and $x+\ln(x)$

Using my computer, I found that in the interval $[1, N]$ the probability of finding a prime number between $x-\ln(x)$ and $x+\ln(x)$ is greater than constant $c$ where $N=10^2, 10^3,...,10^{9}$, $x$ ...
Đào Thanh Oai's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
497 views

Quantum probabilistic method?

The probabilistic method uses arguments from probability to prove deterministic statements. This has been applied to diverse fields such as combinatorics, topology and number theory. In this method, ...
Riemann's user avatar
  • 654
13 votes
1 answer
761 views

If $(a,b,c)$ are the sides of a triangle, then the probability $P(ax + by \ge c) = \frac{4}{\pi^2}\chi_2(x) + \frac{4}{\pi^2}\chi_2(y)$

Posting this question in MO since it is unanswered in MSE Let $(a,b,c)$ be the side of a triangle. In its most general linear form, the triangle inequality can be expressed as: Does $ax + by \ge c$ ...
Nilotpal Kanti Sinha's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
84 views

Percolative process distribution not equivalent to coupon collector problem distribution

I have a process where; given a $n\times 1$ matrix initially empty, an element is inserted in it at a random position, with the possibility of repeating the insertion at a filled cell. Then, after a ...
Cardstdani's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
227 views

Given an automatic set $S$ coming from a DFA $M$ when read little-endian, is $\overline{d}(S)$ at most the Büchi acceptance probability of $M$?

Note: I've entirely rewritten this question! Originally it was just the third formulation, take note of that when reading answers. Let's say $S$ is a $b$-automatic set, and let's say $M$ is a DFA ...
Harry Altman's user avatar
  • 2,585
1 vote
0 answers
78 views

In the modular exponentiation, as used with the adaptive root problem, how to chose the best base that will yield as few results as possible?

Let $n,m,w\in\Bbb N$ and $\lambda\in\Bbb P$ such that $w^\lambda \mod m = n$, with the requirements: $\lambda$ being a random large prime such as $w^\lambda > 2\times m$ $1 < n < m−1$. m is ...
user2284570's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
307 views

Lower bounding a partition-related sum

We say the $\mathbb{N}$-valued, non-increasing, eventually zero sequence $\lambda=(\lambda_1\geq\lambda_2\geq\cdots)$ is a partition of $N$ if $|\lambda|:=\sum_{k\geq 1}\lambda_k=N$, and denote $m_k(\...
MikeG's user avatar
  • 715
4 votes
0 answers
536 views

Is the integer factorization into prime numbers normally distributed?

Edit: Sorry, for the inconvenience: I have edited the question, since there was a misconception in my thinking. Let $P_1(n) := 1$ if $n=1$ and $\max_{q\mid n, \text{ } q\text{ prime}} q$ otherwise, ...
mathoverflowUser's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
177 views

What is the expected size of the complement of the union of random cosets of the prime ideals of $\mathbb{Z}$?

For each rational prime $p$ let $\mathbf{X}_p$ denote the random variable uniformly distributed in $\{0, 1, ..., p-1\}$, with all the $\mathbf{X}_p$ independent of each other. Define the coset $\...
Daniel Asimov's user avatar
7 votes
0 answers
222 views

Projected polar chessboard measure convergence in total variation?

$\newcommand\R{\mathbb R}\newcommand\C{\mathbb C}\newcommand\ga{\gamma}$For natural $n$, let $E_n$ be the set of all points in $\R^2$ with "polar coordinates" $(r,t)$ in the set $$F_n:=\...
Iosif Pinelis's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
239 views

Asymptotic density of an infinite union of subgroups

Let $1 < a_1 < a_2 < a_3 <{} ...$ be a sequence of integers. For a subset $A \subset \Bbb Z$, denote by $d(A)$ its natural density (if it exists). Is it true that $$ \lim_{N \to +\infty} ...
Alphonse's user avatar
  • 255
4 votes
0 answers
414 views

Explicit formula for tournament sequence

I am looking for an explicit formula for a sequence. The sequence is generated as follows: There is a tournament with $10$ teams. In the beginning, all teams have a 0-0 win-loss record. The teams are ...
Jackson's user avatar
  • 41
30 votes
1 answer
2k views

Have any numbers been proven to be normal that weren't constructed to be?

It's easy to construct an example of a number that's normal in a given base, but for most given numbers it's notoriously hard to prove that they're normal. Has any number ever been proven to be normal ...
tparker's user avatar
  • 1,311
2 votes
0 answers
215 views

An approach to the prime number theorem with Rademacher variables and a recursive formula for the prime pi function?

Consider the bipartite graphs defined here: Why is this bipartite graph a partial cube, if it is? We do random walks on them with equal propability and since the graphs are finite and connected the ...
mathoverflowUser's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
169 views

Normal numbers and law of the iterated logarithm

If I remember correctly, for the binary digits of a real number in $[0,1]$, I was told that satisfying the law of the iterated logarithm (LIL) is stronger than being normal. That is, supposedly, some ...
Vincent Granville's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
159 views

Is the density of integers $n$ such that the finite sequence $(\omega(n-r)\omega(n+r))_{0\leq r\leq n-1}$ is surjective positive?

Let $\omega(m)$ be the number of prime factors of $m$ regardless of multiplicity. I'm interested in the behavior of the finite sequence $(\omega(n-r)\omega(n+r))_{0\leq r\leq n-1}$ for a given integer ...
Sylvain JULIEN's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
123 views

On probability of coprimality of a list of numbers

We know $r$ randomly chosen integers are coprime with probability $\frac1{\zeta(r)}$. Pick a bound $N$ and pick $k\lceil N^{\alpha}\rceil$ uniformly random integers in $[0,N^{\alpha+\beta}]$ where $\...
Turbo's user avatar
  • 13.9k
1 vote
1 answer
183 views

Expectation of edge weights on the complete graph

Let $n,k \geq 3$ be positive integers with $n$ much larger than $k$ and consider a random assignment of weights to the edges of the complete graph $K_n$. On each vertex of $K_n$ we attach a random ...
Stanley Yao Xiao's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
98 views

Primes as expected values?

This is a follow-up question, which is related to the answer of this quesiton: Is there a connection of prime numbers and extreme value theory? I will duplicate the answer here, so this question is ...
mathoverflowUser's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
197 views

When does a random trigonometric sum approximate $1$?

I am looking for an upper bound $R=R_{n,\varepsilon}$ such that for given $\varepsilon>0$ and real numbers $\alpha_1, \dotsc, \alpha_n$ in, say, $[1,2]$, there is $x\in [1,R]$ such that $$ \frac 1n\...
kaleidoscop's user avatar
  • 1,352
8 votes
2 answers
671 views

Ways of proving normal distribution (with a view towards Selberg's central limit theorem)

Given an random variable $Y:\Omega \to \mathbb{R}$ with finite mean $\mu$ and finite, positive variance $\sigma^2$, let $X = \frac{Y-\mu}{\sigma}$ be the renormalization with mean $0$ and variance $1$....
Anurag Sahay's user avatar
  • 1,354
15 votes
3 answers
1k views

Is $\prod_{i=1}^\infty (1-\frac{1}{2^{(2^i)}})$ transcendental?

Motivation. In a coin game, a player flips all their coins every turn, starting with just one coin. If the coins all land heads then the game stops; otherwise, the number of coins is doubled for the ...
Dominic van der Zypen's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
87 views

The covariance of certain random variable

We define two random variables $X_n,Y_n $ on the sample space $\{1,2,3,\cdots,n\}$ with counting measure. We denote by $C_n$ the covariance of theses two random variables: $C_n=Cov(X_n,Y_n)$. ...
Ali Taghavi's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
257 views

Unexpected autocorrelations in sequence of primes modulo 4

It is well known that there is a little bias in the distribution of prime residues modulo 4. But the bias eventually vanishes. I looked at the first million primes, and the counts are as follows: ...
Vincent Granville's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
707 views

Distribution of some sums modulo p

Fix a finite set of integers $S$ and a prime number $p$. Let $(a_1, a_2, \dotsc, a_n)$, $(b_1, b_2, b_3, \dotsc, b_n)$ be two sequences of integers where the numbers $a_i$ and $b_i$ are chosen ...
shurtados's user avatar
  • 1,101
8 votes
1 answer
380 views

Question about estimating random symmetric sums modulo p

Let $n > 0$ be a positive integer (large) and $p > 2$ a fixed prime number. What is the probability that $$\sum_{ 1 \leq i < j \leq n} a_ia_j = 0 \mod p$$ where $a_1, a_2, \dots a_n$ are ...
shurtados's user avatar
  • 1,101
1 vote
0 answers
641 views

Some stuff related to the twin prime conjecture

I am making three statements here, and my question is about statement 2, asking if someone can prove or disprove it. A (possibly weaker) version of statement 2 was proved as an answer to a former ...
Vincent Granville's user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
1k views

Heuristic lower bounds on small sums of roots of unity

Let $f(k,n)$ be the smallest non-zero absolute value of a sum of $k$ complex $n$th roots of unity. Asking for bounds in either direction, Tao suggested that a polynomial lower bound seemed plausible ...
Ben Barber's user avatar
  • 4,589
5 votes
2 answers
873 views

Exact formula for partial sums of Liouville function $L(n)$ (OEIS sequence A002819)

I am wondering if it is possible to get a useful exact formula, or at least some useful asymptotics, for the partial sums of the Liouville function (OEIS sequence A002819) $$L(n)=\sum_{k=1}^n \lambda(...
Vincent Granville's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
387 views

Are we able to estimate the fraction of the domain where $\cos (ax)+2\cos (b x)$ with $\frac ab \notin\mathbb{Q}$ is positive?

We know that the two functions $\{\;\cos (ax),\;2\cos (b x)\;\}$ where $\frac ab \notin \mathbb{Q}$ are independently positive (and negative) over $\frac 12$ of the domain. Is it possible to estimate ...
user avatar
14 votes
1 answer
1k views

Normal numbers, Liouville function, and the Riemann Hypothesis

This is a question about whether or not some number $\lambda^*$ is normal in base 2. More specifically, I am wondering if $\lambda^*$ is not normal. Proving it is normal would be next to impossible, ...
Vincent Granville's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
601 views

Convergence speed of a random dyadic rational generator

We are given a multiset $M$ of real numbers which initially is equal to $\{0,1\}$. In a sequential fashion, at each round $r\in\mathbb{N}$ two distinct instances $x_r$ and $y_r$ of $M$'s numbers are ...
Penelope Benenati's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
193 views

Theoretical invariant distribution of discrete dynamical systems, including the Riemann Zeta map

Update on 3/10/2021: I added Example 5 in the Appendix. This generic example encompasses the Riemann Zeta dynamical system. A simple version of this post, targeted to engineers, machine learning ...
Vincent Granville's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
315 views

Distribution of the first occurrence of a maximum (record) run of zeros in the digits of a normal number (say $\pi$)

If the question was stated to appeal to the general public, it would be something like this. For a number such as $\pi$ or $\sqrt{2}$, the digits in base $b$ appear to be randomly distributed. We are ...
Vincent Granville's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
430 views

What makes Gaussian distributions special? Local field version?

This question is inspired by the recent one about Gaussian measures over the reals: What makes Gaussian distributions special? I would be interested in a similar list of characterizations for the ...
Abdelmalek Abdesselam's user avatar