Questions tagged [quadratic-forms]
Algebraic and geometric theory of quadratic forms and symmetric bilinear forms, e.g., values attained by quadratic forms, isotropic subspaces, the Witt ring, invariants of quadratic forms, the discriminant and Clifford algebra of a quadratic form, Pfister forms, automorphisms of quadratic forms.
543 questions
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Why is the Fano variety of lines on a smooth three-dimensional quadric isomorphic to $\mathbb{P}^3$?
Let $Q \subset \mathbb{P}^4$ be a smooth three-dimensional quadric over an algebraically closed field $k$ ($\mathrm{char}(k) \neq 2$) and let $F$ be the Fano variety of lines on $Q$.
In "Iskovskikh ...
- 1,833
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vote
0
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Is this QCQP convex or nonconvex?
\begin{equation}
\begin{split}
\min_{x\in \mathbb{R}^n}\:f(x)=(1/2)x^{T}Q_0x+c_0^T x
\end{split}
\end{equation}
s.t.
$$
g_i(x)=\frac{1}{2}x^T Q_ix-lmax_i\leq0,i\in\{1,...,m/2\}
$$
$$
g_i(x)=\frac{...
- 11
2
votes
2
answers
539
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A quadratic Diophantine equation
Is the following statement true? If yes, how can find the solutions?
The equation
$$3x^2+8xy+7y^2\equiv-1\pmod p$$
has an integral solution for every prime $p>5$.
- 1,651
0
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1
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432
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$p$-adic orthogonal groups in four variables
Let $p>2$ be prime. By the classification of quadratic forms, there are $8$ pairwise non-equivalent isotropic orthogonal groups in $4$ variables. Is there a concrete classification of orthogonal ...
- 6,224
3
votes
1
answer
345
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Indefinite Ternary Forms with Square Discriminant
Is there any general theory to find the numbers represented by ternary forms of the type
$q(x,y,z)=ax^2+bx^2-abz^2,$
when $a,b$ are prime?
By doing an internet search, the closest I found was the ...
- 800
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3
answers
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Fricke Klein method for isotropic ternary quadratic forms
Preface: the most natural way to take one isotropic vector for an indefinite quadratic form and find others is to use stereographic projection. This gives a parametrization in the same $n$ variables ...
- 25.7k
11
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1
answer
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Fundamental units with norm $-1$ in real quadratic fields
If we have distinct primes $p \equiv q \equiv 1 \pmod 4,$ with Legendre $(p|q) = (q|p) = -1,$ there is a solution to $u^2 - pq v^2 = -1$ in integers and the fundamental unit of $O_{\mathbb Q(\sqrt{pq})...
- 25.7k
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votes
0
answers
150
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probability of a quadratic form being nonnegative at a random point
I am looking for good and explicit lower and upper bounds on the probability that $x^TGx\ge 0$, where $G$ is a symmetric matrix with zero trace and $x$ is a vector whose components are independent ...
- 3,873
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votes
0
answers
110
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Bounds on the number of zeros of a quadratic form
Let $Q(x_1, \dots, x_n)$ be a non-degenerate indefinite quadratic form with integer coefficients. Let $N(Q,T)$ be the set of vectors $x=(x_1, \dots, x_n) \in {\mathbb Z}^n$ such that $|x|<T$ and $Q(...
- 6,224
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The number of integral solutions to $x^2+y^2-az^2=0$
I think this must be well-known (and probably not hard to prove either), but I cannot find a reference: for a (positive) rational number $a$, the number of integral solutions to the equation
$$ x^2+y^...
- 6,224
3
votes
0
answers
292
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Distance between quadratic forms
In notes here http://math.univ-lyon1.fr/homes-www/gille/prenotes/lens.pdf on page $2$ a formulation of distance between two positive quadratic form $[q],[q']$ is given by
$$d([q],[q'])=\frac{\sup_{x\...
user76479
2
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1
answer
364
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Bai and Silverstein's "Lemma on Quadratic Forms" - question about the constant $C_p$
In the book "Spectral Analysis of Large Dimensional Random Matrices" by Bai and Silverstein, there is the following lemma:
Lemma B.26 (pg. 530) Let $A=(a_{ij})$ be an $n\times n$ nonrandom matrix ...
- 947
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0
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121
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Norm variety for n=5, p=2 not isomorphic to a quadric
In the paper "Motivic construction of cohomological invariants", the author displays a list of known norm varieties for several $n,p$ on page $11$. For $p=2, n=5$ it says that a norm variety is given ...
- 1,479
4
votes
1
answer
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optimal bound in diophantine representation question
Given that, with integers $t \geq 1$ and $q \geq 3,$ there are solutions to $$ x^2 - q x y + y^2 = - t q $$
with integers $x,y \geq 1,$ I was able to show that
$$ q \leq 1 + \frac{324}{25} t^2. $$
...
- 25.7k
12
votes
2
answers
499
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"Pythagoras number" for integral matrices
It is classically known that every positive integer is a sum of at most four squares of integers, i.e. every sum of squares of integers is a sum of four squares of integers. Now consider a symmetric $...
- 3,031
4
votes
1
answer
502
views
Listing all solutions to $n = x^2 + y^2 + z^2 $ with integers
I would like to list all ways of writing $n$ as the sum of 3 squares. This is slightly different from finding just one:
Is there an algorithm for writing a number as a sum of three squares?
...
- 22.8k
7
votes
1
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501
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A vanishing condition for cup products in Galois cohomology
Let $k$ be a field of characteristic $\neq 2$. For a non-zero element $a \in k^*$, let us write $[a] \in H^1(k,\mathbb{Z}/2)$ for the Galois cohomology class corresponding to the quadratic extension $...
- 9,481
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0
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Question on some coverings of the euclidean space
Let $L$ be a maximal integral lattice in the euclidean $(\mathbf R^{8m},q)$ (thus the associated bilinear form $b(u,v)=q(u+v)-q(u)-q(v)$, once restricted to $L$, takes values in $2\mathbf Z$ and has ...
- 1,980
2
votes
0
answers
236
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Proof of Merkurjev's Theorem in "The Algebraic and Geometric Theory of Quadratic Forms"
I just have a little question about the above mentioned proof. I'm thinking for days, but I'm still not getting it.
For those who have the book (or want to look it up via google books etc.), it's the ...
- 21
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votes
2
answers
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Many representations as a sum of three squares
Let $r_3(n) = \left|\{(a,b,c)\in {\mathbb Z}^3 :\, a^2+b^2+c^2=n \}\right|$. I am looking for the maximum asymptotic size of $r_3(n)$. That is, the maximum number of representations that a number can ...
- 1,072
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vote
0
answers
122
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Statements generalizing representability of integers by binary quadratic forms to $n$-variable higher homogeneous forms?
Representing integers through the theory of binary quadratic forms is a well studied topic. We know that given $a,b,c\in\Bbb N$, based on discrimant $b^2-4ac$, we can study the representability of ...
user76479
12
votes
3
answers
790
views
2-dimensional sublattices with all vectors having very big square (in absolute value)
QUESTION: Let $\Lambda\times\Lambda\rightarrow {\Bbb Z}$ be a lattice,
that is, ${\Bbb Z}^n$ with a non-degenerate integer quadratic form, not
definite, not necessarily unimodular, $n>2$. I want ...
- 9,237
5
votes
1
answer
142
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Isotropic subvarieties of $ V(x_1^2+\dots+x_n^2-t_1^2-\dots-t_n^2) $
Let $ K $ be a field, $ \operatorname{char} K = 0, $ let $ Q = x_1^2+\dots+x_n^2-t_1^2-\dots-t_n^2 $ be the totally isotropic form, then the maximal linear isotropic
subspaces of $ V(Q) \subset K^{...
2
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1
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436
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how to determine a biquadratic form is positive-definite
A biquadratic form $\sum_{i,j,k,l}b_{i,j,k,l}x_{i}x_{j}y_{k}y_{l}$，
how to determine whether it is positive-definite？
A necessary and sufficient condition？
In fact, I have a matrix $B=\sum_{1\leq i,...
- 29
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votes
2
answers
595
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Counting fundamental units of real quadratic fields
For a given real quadratic field $K$, the group of units of its ring of integers is $\mathcal{O}_K^{\times}\cong(\pm1)\times \mathbb{Z}$ by the Dirichlet unit theorem. For each $\mathcal{O}_K$, pick ...
- 609
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votes
4
answers
294
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From a (not positive definite) Gram matrix to a (Kac-Moody) Cartan matrix
Suppose I am given a symmetric matrix $G_{ij}$ with $G_{ii} = 2$. Can I always find an invertible integer matrix $S$ such that $(S^T G S)_{ii}=2$ and $(S^T G S)_{ij} \leq 0$ for $i \neq j$? Is there a ...
- 156k
3
votes
6
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Isotropic ternary forms
It is well known that some questions about isotropic ternary forms reduces to the study of the special case $f_0(X)=xz-y^2, X=(x,y,z)$, see page 301 of Cassel's "Rational quadratic forms" (Dover, 2008)...
- 49
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1
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Real slices of Minkowski space, using a complex quadratic form
Ordinary Minkowski space is $\mathbb{R}^{3,1}:=(\mathbb{R}^4,\phi)$
where $\phi:\mathbb{R}^4\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$
is a quadratic form of signature $(3,1)$.
Lying within this is a hyperboloid model ...
- 2,436
4
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1
answer
209
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Numbers represented by inhomogeneous forms
I have a family of Diophantine equations that I am trying to solve, and I am trying to figure out what methods could be used to prove existence of solutions. Unfortunately, the equations are ...
- 71
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3
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470
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genus 2 Siegel theta series of 3-dimensional lattices
Let $(V,f)$ be a $3$-dimensional positive definite quadratic space over $\mathbf Q$.
Let $G(V)$ be a set of representatives of the isometry classes of maximal integral lattices on $V$.
To an ...
- 1,980
3
votes
2
answers
443
views
Paper of Denis Simon on quadratic equations in dimensions 4, 5?
In several places I have come across references to a 2005-6 preprint of Denis Simon entitled
Quadratic equations in dimensions 4, 5, and more
This paper gives fast algorithms to find isotropic ...
- 2,851
4
votes
2
answers
298
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Orbits of the maximal compact subgroup on the light cone for $p$-adic groups
It is known that if $Q$ is an indefinite non-degenerate quadratic form on $ \mathbb{R}^n$ with $n \ge 3$, then any maximal compact subgroup $K$ of the orthogonal group $SO(Q)$ acts transitively on the ...
- 6,224
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3
answers
1k
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Deciding a quadratic diophantine equation
Given $a,b\in\Bbb Q_+$, is there an easy way to decide if $$S_{a,b}=\{(x,y)\in\Bbb Z^2:ax^2 + by^2=1\}=\emptyset?$$
I am more interested in seeing if there is a quick way to test for case when ...
- 13.9k
7
votes
1
answer
1k
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When do two non-degenerate quadratic forms give rise to isomorphic Lie algebras?
Let $V$ be a vector space over some number field $k$. (I'm fine with $\mathbb{Q}$.)
Let $\phi \colon V \to k$ be a non-degenerate quadratic form. Associated with $\phi$ is the orthogonal group $\...
- 5,504
0
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1
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How to minimize this sparse quadratic function?
There is a problem when I'm reading a paper.
Equation:
$min_p|p-p^*|^2+\alpha |R(p)|^2 + \beta |D(p)-\delta|^2$,
where $p, p^*, R(p), D(p), \delta$ are all $M\times N$ matrices, and $p^*, R(), D(), ...
- 1
2
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1
answer
486
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Involution on the components of a group algebra
If $G$ is a finite group and $k$ a field, there is a canonical involution (ie an involutive anti-automorphism) $\sigma$ on $k[G]$ induced by $g\mapsto g^{-1}$. Given that the center of $k[G]$ has $(\...
- 272
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3
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What is known about primes of the form $x^2-2y^2$?
David Cox's book Primes of The Form: $x^2+ny^2$ does a great job proving and motivating a lot of results for $n>0$. I was unable to find anything for negative numbers, let alone the case I am ...
1
vote
0
answers
396
views
Bound of spectral radius of polynomial of a complex matrix
I am trying to prove or disprove the following inequality.
$$ ||P(A)||_2\leq 2 \max_{\alpha\in W(A)}| P(\alpha)|,$$
where $P(\cdot)$ is a complex polynomial, $A\in \mathbb{C}^{n\times n}$ and $W(A)...
- 163
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0
answers
165
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Two quadratic programming problems always same answer? [closed]
Was exploring quadratic programming optimization and for two types of problems the answers seemed to always equal.
Problem 1:
Minimize $\tfrac{1}{2} \mathbf{x}^T Q\mathbf{x}$
Subject to $ A \mathbf{...
- 171
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1
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123
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Lower bounds on the rank of a unimodular lattice, given the binlinear pairing of a subset of basis vectors
I have some questions on lower bounds on the rank of unimodular lattices given the bilinear pairing of a subset of its basis is known.
Let $\Lambda$ be an odd, unimodular matrix of signature $(1,T)$. ...
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0
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217
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Is there any study about positive definiteness of some matrix space whose matrices don't have to be positive-definite?
--Updated description--
I'm trying to investigate the stability of tensegrity structures, and this question is related to the second order test.
Suppose there is a vector space $W=\operatorname{span}...
- 91
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0
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158
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Minimal Length of Quadratic Forms
Let $Q(x_1,\dots,x_n)=X'PX$ be a quadratic form with all non-negative and integral coefficients given by $$Q(x_1,\dots,x_n)=\sum_{i=1}^cf_i^+(x_1,\dots,x_n)g_i^+(x_1,\dots,x_n)$$ where $c$ is the ...
- 13.9k
8
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1
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minimizing an integral over integer-coefficient polynomials $\displaystyle \inf_{f \in \mathbb{Z}[x]} \int_a^b f(x)^2 \, dx $ [duplicate]
Let's consider the space $L^2[a,b]$ of functions on the interval and the norm:
$$ ||f(x)||^2 = \int_a^b |f(x)|^2 \, dx $$
Now what if we consider only polynomials with integer coefficients: $f(x) \...
- 22.8k
1
vote
1
answer
298
views
Cohomological dimension of transcendental p-adic extensions
Let $q$ denote a quadratic form over a field $k$.
The u-invariant of a field $u(k)$ is defined by $u(k):=\{ max (\mathrm{rank}(q)) $ | $ q $ is anisotropic over $k\}$.
Let $k = \mathbb{Q}_p$ for any ...
- 1,479
2
votes
2
answers
281
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Witt index of the sum of 24 squares
Consider the quadratic forms $q(x)=x_1^2+\dots +x_8^2$ in 8 variables and $p(x)=x_1^2+\dots+x_{24}^2$ in 24 variables over the field of rational numbers $\mathbb{Q}$. Let $E/\mathbb{Q}$ be a field ...
- 14.2k
2
votes
0
answers
113
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Hlawka inequality for Lorentz quadratic form
Let $K$ be a convex cone in ${\mathbb R}^n$. A continuous function $f:K\rightarrow\mathbb R$ satisfies a Hlawka inequality if
$$f(0)+f(x+y)+f(y+z)+f(z+x)\le f(x)+f(y)+f(z)+f(x+y+z),\qquad\forall x,y,z\...
- 52.3k
6
votes
1
answer
298
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Constructing sums of squares identities
Recall that a sum of squares formula for $[r,s,n]$ over a field $F$ is an identity of the form
$$ ( x_{1}^{2} + \cdots + x_{r}^{2})( y_{1}^{2} + \cdots + y_{s}^{2})
= ( z_{1}^{2} + \cdots + z_{n}^{2})...
- 770
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1
answer
210
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u-Invariants of p-adic function fields
In his Paper "Fields of u-invariant 9" Oleg Izhboldin points out that for a algebraic closed, finitely generated field $k$ we have $u(k)= 2^{cd(k)}$. In particular we have
$u(\mathbb{C}((t_1),..(t_n)...
- 1,479
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5
answers
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Does the Diophantine equation $(x^2+ay^2)(u^2+bv^2) = p^2+cq^2$ admit a complete solution?
In this MSE question/thread, I have been discussing the equation
$$
(x^2+ay^2)(u^2+bv^2) = p^2+cq^2, \tag{$\star$}
$$
where $x,a,y,u,b,v,p,c,q$ are integers. I posed a conjecture which turned out to ...
- 1,055
10
votes
1
answer
1k
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Given a positive-definite integral unimodular Gram matrix, how to find a basis of the associated lattice (over $\mathbf Q$)?
Let $G$ be a $n\times n-$symmetric matrix with integral coefficients and determinant $1$ (i.e. unimodular) such that the associated quadratic form is positive-definite.
I am interested in having an ...
- 2,521