All Questions
5,654 questions
26
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Does Arzelà-Ascoli require choice?
Inspired by a recent Math.SE question entitled Where do we need the axiom of choice in Riemannian geometry?, I was thinking of the Arzelà--Ascoli theorem. Let's state a very simple version:
...
- 29.7k
78
votes
5
answers
8k
views
Does pointwise convergence imply uniform convergence on a large subset?
Suppose $f_n$ is a sequence of real valued functions on $[0,1]$ which converges pointwise to zero.
Is there an uncountable subset $A$ of $[0,1]$ so that $f_n$ converges uniformly on $A$?
Is there a ...
- 31.5k
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
46
votes
2
answers
8k
views
"Closed-form" functions with half-exponential growth
Let's call a function f:N→N half-exponential if there exist constants 1<c<d such that for all sufficiently large n,
cn < f(f(n)) < dn.
Then my question is this: can we prove that no ...
- 9,823
7
votes
2
answers
724
views
Sturm chain analogue for exponential polynomials?
I'm going to define an exponential polynomial of degree $k$ as a function $f$ of the form
$f(x) = \sum_{i=1}^k c_ie^{\alpha_ix}$ ($\alpha_i$s real).
My first question is: is there an algorithm for ...
- 8,688
9
votes
2
answers
616
views
construction of a random measure with a given mean
Let me first pose a trivial question.
Given a Borel probability measure $\mu$ on the real line, is it possible to construct a purely atomic random measure $M$ whose mean is $\mu$?
The answer is ...
- 1,839
2
votes
1
answer
465
views
What is the regularity of the argument of a complex function?
Let $\psi=f+ig=\rho e^{i\theta}$ be a complex function on some open subset of $\mathbb{R}^n$, where $f,g,\rho$ and $\theta$ are real-valued. I happened to find that the identity of differentiation for ...
- 305
7
votes
4
answers
1k
views
The non-convergence of f(f(x))=exp(x)-1 and labeled rooted trees
This question is closely related to MO f(f(x))=exp(x)-1 and other functions “just in the middle” between linear and exponential. Consider $e^{e^x-1}$, this is the generating function of the Bell ...
user37691
26
votes
3
answers
7k
views
Dual of bounded uniformly continuous functions
Let $(X,d)$ be a metric space, and let $C_u(X)$ be the Banach space of bounded uniformly continuous functions on $X$ (with the uniform norm). How can I characterize its dual space $C_u(X)^*$?
I ...
- 29.7k
1
vote
3
answers
845
views
$H^{-1}$ conservative gradient flow and $L^2$ projection
Consider Cahn-Hilliard (see this) equation hich is known as the $H^{-1}$ gradient flow of Cahn-Hilliard energy functional, also it is easy to verify that this equation is mass preserving i.e. measure ...
- 53
1
vote
2
answers
641
views
Sharp upper bounds for sums of the form $\sum_{p \mid k} \frac{1}{p+1}$
Are there known sharp upper bounds (in terms of $k$ or $\omega(k)$, the number of distinct prime divisors of $k$) for sums of the form $\sum_{p \mid k} \frac{1}{p+1}$ for $k > 1$ subject to the ...
- 595
20
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Do convex and decreasing functions preserve the semimartingale property?
Some time ago I spent a lot of effort trying to show that the semimartingale property is preserved by certain functions. Specifically, that a convex function of a semimartingale and decreasing ...
- 17.1k
3
votes
1
answer
952
views
Geometrical structure of critical points of harmonic functions
For a harmonic function $\Phi$ on a simply connected subset $\Gamma$ of $\mathbb{R}^3$, define a guide curve $\gamma: I \mapsto \Gamma$ of $\Phi$ as a simple regular $C^1$ curve such that
all point ...
5
votes
2
answers
917
views
Is the inclusion of Lebesgue spaces compact?
[Disclaimer: this may be a very trivial question; it certainly looks like it ought to have been studied and understood. I started thinking about it this morning when writing some notes for Rellich-...
- 39k
2
votes
0
answers
470
views
Can any antidifference (indefinite sum) of a function be expressed in elementary functions and generalized polygamma function if its integral can be expressed in elementary functions?
If the integral or multiplicative integral of a function can be expressed with elementary functions, does it mean its indefinite sum (antidifference) or indefinite product respectively can be ...
- 10.1k
22
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is a real power series that maps rationals to rationals defined by a rational function?
Suppose that the function $p(x)$ is defined on an open subset $U$ of $\mathbb{R}$ by a power series with real coefficients. Suppose, further, that $p$ maps rationals to rationals. Must $p$ be defined ...
- 6,199
4
votes
3
answers
794
views
Monotone injection of an ordinal into $[0,1]$
This is related to my recent question and would provide a natural positive answer to Question 2. I am sure this must be known to experts.
Question: Is there a monotone injection $(\omega_1,<) \...
- 25.5k
4
votes
0
answers
939
views
Proofs of Baire category theorem
I would like to have a list of proofs of the fact that the real line is not meager (also very useful would be a reference to such a list, if it already exists somewhere).
My motivation is the ...
- 315
4
votes
2
answers
767
views
Possible subsets of reals that equal the set of continuity of a function
This should be an easy question, but I don't quite know how to approach it. It may be somewhat related to the concepts mentioned in the context of this past question, though it was motivated mainly by ...
- 7,320
114
votes
34
answers
86k
views
Why do we teach calculus students the derivative as a limit?
I'm not teaching calculus right now, but I talk to someone who does, and the question that came up is why emphasize the $h \to 0$ definition of a derivative to calculus students?
Something a teacher ...
4
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Power series with non-integer exponents
Motivation:
For the sake of concreteness, I'll state a very particular context, but my question is a little more general. I'm trying to find a function $\gamma\colon [0,\delta) \to [0,\delta')$ that ...
- 8,903
10
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Gluing two diffeomorphisms together
A fundamental construction in a first course on manifolds is to build a smooth function $\psi\colon \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ with the property that for some $0<\delta<\epsilon$ we have
$\psi(...
- 8,903
11
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Can there be two continuous real-valued functions such that at least one has rational values for all x?
Of course, no continuous real valued non-constant function can attain only rational or irrational values, but can there be a pair of nowhere-constant continuous functions f and g such that for all x, ...
- 656
1
vote
2
answers
360
views
Inf of a mutivariate function
Let $f(x_1,\ldots , x_n) = \frac{x_1}{x_2+x_3} + \frac{x_2}{x_3+x_4} + \cdots + \frac{x_n}{x_1+x_2}$, defined for $x_i>0$.
Is there $(x_1, \ldots ,x_n)\in {\mathbb{R}^*_+}^n$ such that $f(x_1,\...
- 2,829
4
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Embedding of $BV$ and $L^p$ spaces
An elementary question about Sobolev spaces:
Is there some explicit theorem about embedding relation between spaces $BV(\Omega)$ and $L^p(\Omega)$?
Formulated otherwise: is $BV$ a subset of $L^2$ (i....
- 53
10
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Measure 0 sets on the line with Hausdorff dimension 1
I use $\dim_H(E)$ to denote the Hausdorff dimension of a set $E \subseteq \mathbb{R}$ and $|E|$ to denote its Lebesgue measure. It is easy to see from the definition of Hausdorff dimension that if $\...
- 505
35
votes
19
answers
9k
views
Interesting applications (in pure mathematics) of first-year calculus
What interesting applications are there for theorems or other results studied in first-year calculus courses?
A good example for such an application would be using a calculus theorem to prove a ...
3
votes
1
answer
362
views
Cartesian product of test function spaces
Mini introduction
Suppose $U \subset \mathbb R^n, V \subset \mathbb R^m$ are two open sets. If we take http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distributions_space#Test_function_space">test functions $f_i \in \...
3
votes
1
answer
367
views
A differential inclusion relating to the slope of a convex function
This question is concerned with a possible lemma which would be very useful in one of my current research projects, but which I am currently unable to prove. The project as a whole relates to the ...
- 6,206
26
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Analogues of Luzin's theorem
If $X$ is a compact metric space and $\mu$ is a Borel probability measure on $X$, then the space $C(X)$ of continuous real-valued functions on $X$ is a closed nowhere dense subset of $L^\infty(X,\mu)$,...
- 8,903
238
votes
10
answers
43k
views
If $f$ is infinitely differentiable then $f$ coincides with a polynomial
Let $f$ be an infinitely differentiable function on $[0,1]$ and suppose that for each $x \in [0,1]$ there is an integer $n \in \mathbb{N}$ such that $f^{(n)}(x)=0$. Then does $f$ coincide on $[0,1]$ ...
- 4,795
51
votes
4
answers
17k
views
Function satisfying $f^{-1} =f'$
How many functions are there which are differentiable on $(0,\infty)$ and that satisfy the relation $f^{-1}=f'$?
- 4,795
6
votes
1
answer
369
views
Denominators in the solution to Hilbert's XVII
Hilbert's seventeenth problem asks to prove that every positive semidefinite form can be written as the sum of squares of rational functions. Currently we don't seem to have a good understanding of ...
- 85.6k
0
votes
2
answers
503
views
A Jordan arc in the unit disk
Let $D$ be the open unit disk, and $J$ a Jordan arc (that is, a homeomorphic copy of $[0, 1]$) that lies in $D$, except $J(0)$ lies on the boundary of $D$, say $J(0)=1$. I would like to see that $D\...
- 95
239
votes
14
answers
76k
views
Have any long-suspected irrational numbers turned out to be rational?
The history of proving numbers irrational is full of interesting stories, from the ancient proofs for $\sqrt{2}$, to Lambert's irrationality proof for $\pi$, to Roger Apéry's surprise demonstration ...
25
votes
9
answers
6k
views
Function with range equal to whole reals on every open set
There is an example of a function that is unbounded on every open set. Just take $f(n/m) = m$ for coprime $n$ and $m$ and $f(irrational) = 0$.
I want to generalize this in a way to get a function ...
- 2,821
13
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Set of real numbers with positive measure containing no midpoints
Does there exists a subset E of R with positive measure and without containing any midpoints (i.e. x,y distinct in E, (x+y)/2 not in E)?
- 133
12
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Points of continuity of Baire class one functions
This is an idle question motivated by two comments I made to a previous MO question (which I just searched for, unsuccessfully). That question asked if the characteristic function of the rationals is ...
- 65.4k
5
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Continuous functions remaining constant
I solved a problem in analysis and i was thinking of generalizing this question which i couldn't succeed.
If $f:\mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ is a continuous function which satisfies $f(x)=f(2x+1)$, ...
- 4,795
24
votes
11
answers
8k
views
The role of the mean value theorem (MVT) in first-year calculus
Should the mean value theorem be taught in first-year calculus?
Most calculus textbooks present the MVT just before the section that says that if $f'>0$ on an interval then $f$ increases on that ...
4
votes
1
answer
346
views
approximately linear functions -- more
Suppose $f,g$ are continuous functions from $\mathbb R$ to $\mathbb R$, with the property that
$$f(x)+f(y)=g(x+y)$$
for all $x,y$. Taking $x=y=z/2$ implies that $g(x)=2f(x/2)$ so that the above ...
- 123
7
votes
1
answer
2k
views
approximately linear functions
i suppose it's fairly well known that if a (continuous, real-valued) function $f$ on the real line satisfies
$f(x-y)=f(x)-f(y)+const$
then it is necessarily linear.
are there any general ...
- 123
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What is the pure intuition for topological continuity and topology? [closed]
I have read the introductory sections of many books on Real Analysis and Topology, yet nowhere have I found an unbiased motivation for the notions of either topology or (topological) continuity.
The ...
- 191
4
votes
4
answers
385
views
Is anything known about $w^*(x)=\sup_y w(x+y)/w(y)$ for measurable functions w on $R^n$
In my recent studies (fourier multipliers on weighted Lp spaces) I have to deal with this kind of transformation: if w is a measurable function on $R^n$, define
$w^*(x)=\sup_y \frac{w(x+y)}{w(y)}$.
...
- 783
1
vote
4
answers
620
views
Do there exist nonconstant functions such that...
Do there exist nonconstant real valued functions $f$ and $g$ such that the expression:
$$f(x) -v/g(x)$$
is maximized at $x = v$ for all positive real $v$?
- 13
23
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Density of smooth functions under "Hölder metric"
This question came up when I was doing some reading into convolution squares of singular measures. Recall a function $f$ on the torus $T = [-1/2,1/2]$ is said to be $\alpha$-Hölder (for $0 < \alpha ...
- 505
25
votes
1
answer
8k
views
Convergence of Fourier Series of $L^1$ Functions
I recently learned of the result by Carleson and Hunt (1968) which states that if $f \in L^p$ for $p > 1$, then the Fourier series of $f$ converges to $f$ pointwise-a.e. Also, Wikipedia informs me ...
- 871
-3
votes
2
answers
260
views
On \ell_3 norm in R^2
Let $v,w\in\mathbb{R}^{2}$ and $v\perp w$. Is it true that $\left\Vert v\right\Vert _{3}\leq\left\Vert v+w\right\Vert _{3}$,
in which $\left\Vert \left(x,y\right)\right\Vert _{3}:=\sqrt[3]{\left|x\...
- 65
1
vote
1
answer
879
views
Countable discrete abelian group amenable
For me the definition of amenability of an at most countable discrete group (with counting measure) is existence of a Folner sequence. Assuming this, why is every countable discrete abelian group ...
- 5,009
7
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Hanner's inequalities: the intuition behind them
Hanner's inequalities in the theory of $L^p$ spaces (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanner's_inequalities) look hard to come-up with at the first glance. Their proof (say, the one in Lieb & Loss ...
- 5,009