All Questions
6,015 questions
12
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Low-degree polynomial approximation of the piecewise-linear function $x \mapsto \max(x, 0)$ on an interval $x \in [-R,R]$
For $R > 0$, consider the piecewise-linear function $\sigma_R: [-R,R] \rightarrow \mathbb R^+$, defined by $\sigma_R(x) := \max(x,0)$.
Question
Given $\epsilon> 0$, find a "low-degree" ...
- 6,853
12
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Implicit function theorem at a singular point?
Let $F:\mathbb{R}^2 \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ be three times continuously differentiable in some open neighborhood $\mathcal{U}$ of $(0,0)$. Suppose that $F(0,0) = F_x(0,0) = F_y(0,0) = F_{xy}(0,0) = 0$ ...
- 123
12
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Counterexamples to differentiation under integral sign, revisited
Let $f\colon\mathbb R^2\to\mathbb R$ be a measurable function such that
\begin{equation*}
F(t):=\int_{\mathbb R}dx\,f(t,x)
\end{equation*}
exists and is finite for all real $t$. Suppose that
\...
- 128k
12
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Eigenvalue perturbation theory via Feynman diagrams
Suppose I have a matrix given by a sum
$$A=D+\epsilon B$$
where $D$ is diagonal and $\epsilon$ is small, and I want the eigenvalues of $A$ as a power series in $\epsilon$. The first two orders in ...
- 1,549
12
votes
2
answers
866
views
Sets that project to zero measure on all lines except one
It is a (difficult) exercise to show that there exists a measurable set $E \subset [0,1]^2$ (necessarily with zero 2-dimensional Lebesgue measure) such that the projection on every line passing ...
- 355
12
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Looking for sufficient conditions for positive Fourier transforms
I am looking for some sufficient conditions for an even, continuous, nonnegative, non-increasing, non-convex function to be non-negative definite. In other words
$$
\int_0^\infty f(x)\cos(x\omega) \, ...
- 178
12
votes
1
answer
919
views
Is the map sending a continuous function to its period measurable?
Let $C(\mathbb{R})$ be the space of continuous functions from $\mathbb{R}$ to $\mathbb{R}$ with the compact-open topology, and the associated Borel $\sigma$-algebra. Consider the function $p$ from $C(\...
- 289
12
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Is there a set that intersects every line twice which is Lebesgue measurable or Borel?
Let $A$ be a subset of $\mathbb{R}^2$ which intersects every straight line in exactly two points.
Is there a such set which is Lebesgue measurable or Borel?
A well-known fact is that there exists such ...
- 577
12
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What is known about the eigenvectors of the $2^n \times 2^n$ Hadamard matrix?
What is known about the eigenvectors of the $2^n \times 2^n$ Hadamard matrix defined recursively by $H_1=(1)$ and $$ H_N=\begin{pmatrix}H_{N/2} & H_{N/2} \\ H_{N/2} & -H_{N/2}\end{pmatrix}, $$ ...
- 1,324
12
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Function and Fourier transform vanish on an interval
I'm no expert on these things (and this may not be cutting edge research level; it's really motivated by this MSE question), but it seems that there are non-zero measures (and also functions (?), I ...
- 24.2k
12
votes
1
answer
596
views
Equality of two $q$-series. Proof?
Recall the notation $(z;q)_n=(1-z)(1-zq)(1-zq^2)\cdots(1-zq^{n-1})$.
My earlier MO question did not find enough interest or yield an answer. Perhaps the modulo $2$ part might have thrown people off. ...
- 43.2k
12
votes
1
answer
1k
views
The infimum of a gradient over the whole $\mathbb{R}^d$
Let $\{f_k\}:\mathbb{R}^d\to\mathbb{R}$ be a sequence of $C^1$ functions which converges pointwise to 0. Is it true that
$$\lim_{k\to+\infty}\inf_{x\in\mathbb{R}^d}|\nabla f_k(x)|=0?$$
If $d=1$ I ...
- 213
12
votes
2
answers
286
views
Show that $f(t)=\sum_{i=1}^n a_i e^{-(x_i-t)^2}-c$ has at most $2n$ zeros
Let
\begin{align}
f(t)=\sum_{i=1}^n a_i e^{-(x_i-t)^2}-c
\end{align}
where $x_1<x_2<...< x_n$ and $a_i>0$. For some positive constant $c$.
Can we show that $f(t)$ has at most $2n$ ...
- 671
12
votes
5
answers
2k
views
analysis over non-Archimedean ordered fields
Can anyone suggest any good references for (or any experts on) analysis over non-Archimedean ordered fields, such as the field of rational functions in one variable (ordered at 0, or if you prefer at ...
- 19.7k
12
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Is the regularization of a Fourier transform unique?
The Fourier transform of the Coulomb potential $1/\vert \mathbf r \vert$ of an electric charge doesn't converge because one obtains
$$F(k)=\frac {4\pi}{k} \int_0^\infty \sin(kr) dr.$$
The standard ...
- 294
12
votes
1
answer
928
views
Can one-sided derivatives always exist, but never match?
Is there a continuous function $f : \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ which has left and right derivatives everywhere, but where those derivatives are unequal at every point?
- 1,798
12
votes
1
answer
777
views
Is a Lebesgue measurable subgroup of $\mathbb{R}$ a Borel measurable set?
Assume that $H$ is a Lebesgue measurable additive subgroup of $\mathbb{R}$. Is $H$ necessarily a Borel subset of $\mathbb{R}$?
- 356
12
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Witness to a failure of Fubini/Tonelli
Is it provable in ZFC that there is a subset of the plane all of whose vertical cross sections have Lebesgue measure zero and all of whose horizontal cross sections are complements of sets of Lebesgue ...
- 31.5k
12
votes
1
answer
991
views
The geometric-mean factorial
Think of the factorial as $f(n) = n \odot (n-1) \odot \cdots \odot 2 \odot 1$,
where $\odot$ is the binary operator for multiplication, $\cdot$. This suggests exploring replacing
$\odot$ with other ...
- 151k
12
votes
2
answers
732
views
Is it possible to have the set $f^{-1}(\lbrace x \rbrace)$ perfect for every $x$?
There are examples of functions $f \colon [0,1] \longrightarrow [0,1]$ such that
for any $\alpha $, $f^{-1}(\lbrace \alpha \rbrace)$ is uncountable. My favorite example is $$f(r) = \limsup_n \frac{...
user38090
12
votes
1
answer
1k
views
A generalization of intermediate value theorem on R^k
Let $f:[0,1]\to\mathbb R^k$ be a continuous function with $f(1) = \overrightarrow 0$.
Is it true that there always exist $k$ points $0 \le a_1 \le a_2 \le \ldots \le a_k \le 1$ such that $\sum_{i=1}^k ...
- 207
12
votes
1
answer
898
views
Converse to Banach’s fixed point theorem for ordered fields?
Suppose $R$ is an ordered field. Call a continuous map $f: R \rightarrow R$ a contraction if there exists $r < 1$ (in $R$) such that $|f(x)-f(y)| \leq r |x-y|$ for all $x,y \in R$ (where $|x| := \...
- 19.7k
12
votes
2
answers
812
views
Inequality in Gaussian space -- possibly provable by rearrangement?
The following problem arose for my collaborators and me when studying the computational complexity of the Maximum-Cut problem.
Let $f : \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ be an odd function. Let $\rho \in [...
- 6,694
12
votes
1
answer
765
views
Possible limit involving the gamma function
Does $$\lim_{n \to \infty} \int_{0}^{1} \Gamma(x)^{n/(n+1)}dx - n$$ exist?
Here's some background. The integral
$$\int_{0}^{1} \Gamma(x) dx$$
diverges rather slowly. Inserting the exponent $n/(n+1)$ ...
- 3,443
12
votes
2
answers
592
views
Why is $-\int_{-\infty}^\infty \log\left[1+2f'(x)(1-\cos\phi)\right]\,dx$ equal to $\phi^2$?
I came across this integral involving the derivative $f'(x)$ of the Fermi function $f(x)=(1+e^x)^{-1}$:
$$I(\phi)=-\int_{-\infty}^\infty \log\left[1+2f'(x)(1-\cos\phi)\right]\,dx.$$
I'm pretty certain ...
- 188k
12
votes
1
answer
520
views
Can $C^1$ mappings with derivative of low rank be approximated by smooth maps?
Asked once on SE-mathematics.
Let $U$ be an open subset in $\mathbb{R}^n$, $m\in\mathbb{N}$, $1\leq m<n$ and let
$$\mathcal{C}^k_{\leq m}(U,\mathbb{R}^n):=\lbrace g\in\mathcal{C}^k(U,\mathbb{R}^n)\...
- 123
12
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Eigenvalues come in pairs
Consider the two matrices with some parameter $s \in \mathbb R$
$$A_1= \begin{pmatrix} s& -1 &0& 0 \\1&0 &0&0 \\ 0&0&1&0 \\0&0&0&1 \end{pmatrix}$$
and
$$...
- 124
12
votes
1
answer
858
views
Is this function concave?
Let
$$h(u):=u^3 \left|\int_u^\infty \frac{e^{-i t}}{t^3} \, dt\right|$$
for $u>0$. Is the function $h$ concave on $(0,\infty)$?
(For context, see Proposition 4.4.4 and formula (4.4.21) in this ...
- 128k
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
12
votes
1
answer
525
views
An inequality about unit vector orthogonal to $(1,1,...,1)$
Does there exist a constant $\alpha>0$ such that the following holds?
$$\liminf_{n\to\infty}\inf_{x\in\mathbb{R}^n, \sum_{i=1}^nx_i^2=1, \sum_{i=1}^nx_i=0}\frac{\sum_{i<j, |i-j|\leq\frac{n}{4}}(...
- 1,495
12
votes
4
answers
947
views
Conceptual explanation of geometric mean as a limit of power means
Let $x_1,\dots,x_n$ be positive real numbers and $p\in\mathbb{R}
-\{0\}$. The power mean $M_p(x_1,\dots,x_n)$ of exponent $p$ is
defined by
$$ M_p(x_1,\dots,x_n)=\left( \frac 1n\sum_{i=1}^n x_i^p
...
- 50.8k
12
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Kolmogorov-Arnold theorem for (just-)functions
There is famous Kolmogorov-Arnold theorem for continuous functions composition - continuous function of several variables can be composed of continuous functions of two variables.
Specialization of ...
- 1,626
12
votes
1
answer
448
views
An interesting inequality
Let $\mathbb{R}$ be the real field. For any homogeneous polynomial $f(X_1,\cdots,X_n)$ in $\mathbb{R}[X_1,\cdots,X_n]$, we use $S_f(X_1,\cdots,X_n)$ to denote the following homogeneous symmetric ...
- 1,997
12
votes
2
answers
678
views
Non-sequential spaces in the wild
TLDR: What are examples of (function-)spaces that are not sequential? When does this matter?
As a simple analyst, I am most happy if I can just work with sequences all the time. In most situations ...
- 779
12
votes
1
answer
1k
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Riesz–Markov–Kakutani representation theorem for compact non-Hausdorff spaces
Let $X$ be a compact Hausdorff topological space, and $\mathcal C^0 (X) = \{f:X\to\mathbb{R}; \ f \text{ is continuous }\}$. It is well known that for any bounded linear functional $\phi: \mathcal C^...
- 333
12
votes
3
answers
440
views
Is a certain subset of the disc a convex set?
Some one asked me this question and I thought about it and I don't have any good idea to solve that. Can some one help me and give me an idea to start solve that?
Draw a Cantor set $C$ on the circle ...
- 221
12
votes
1
answer
1k
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Proof of Green's formula for rectifiable Jordan curves
$\newcommand{\Ga}{\Gamma}$
I am trying to find a proof of Green's formula for rectifiable Jordan curves $\Ga$ (and the corresponding interior regions $R$). There is a proof by Ridder, followed by ...
- 128k
12
votes
2
answers
697
views
Is the square root of a monotonic function whose all derivatives vanish smooth?
Let $g:[0,\infty] \to [0,\infty]$ be a smooth strictly increasing function satisfying $g(0)=0$ and $g^{(k)}(0)=0$ for every natural $k$.
Is $\sqrt g$ is infinitely (right) differentiable at $x=0$?
...
- 6,741
12
votes
1
answer
352
views
A problem involving the Error Function
I am looking at the following function on the domain $x\geq 0$:
$$F(x)=(x+a)e^{x^2}(1-\mathrm{erf}(x))-\frac{b}{\sqrt\pi},$$
where $a>0$, $0<b<1$ are parameters. From plotting this function ...
- 389
12
votes
1
answer
1k
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A question concerning Lusin’s Theorem
We consider only the set $M$ of a.e. essentially locally bounded measurable functions $[0, 1] \to \mathbb R$. Here $m(S)$ denotes the Lebesgue measure of $S$.
Let $f$ be measurable. For every $e$ in $...
- 2,069
12
votes
1
answer
694
views
History of the Jaccard distance $d(A,B) = \mathbb P(\overline A\cup\overline B\mid A\cup B)$
I'm wondering where the relative probabilistic distance or Jaccard distance was first studied:
$$d(A,B) =\mathbb P(\overline A\cup\overline B\mid A\cup B)$$
where $\overline A$ is the complement of $A$...
- 24.8k
12
votes
1
answer
742
views
If the generating function summation and zeta regularized sum of a divergent series exist, do they always coincide?
One could assign a value to divergent series by means of several summation methods. One summation method we could consider is the generating function method. Let's sum, for example, the fibonacci ...
- 4,829
12
votes
1
answer
927
views
On an Inequality of Lars Hörmander
Let $P(z)$ be a non-null complex polynomial in $\nu$ variables $z=(z_1,\dots,z_n)$ of degree $\mu$:
\begin{equation}
P(z)=\sum_{|\alpha| \leq \mu} c_{\alpha} z^{\alpha},
\end{equation}
where as usual ...
- 640
12
votes
1
answer
239
views
Interval arithmetic with different definitions of intervals
Interval arithmetic normally deals with intervals defined as $[a,b]$ with rules like $$[a,b]+[c,d]=[a+c,b+d]$$ I am interested in interval arithmetic with different interval definitions such as $$\{a\}...
- 497
12
votes
1
answer
933
views
Real-rootedness, interlacing, root-bounds of a sequence of polynomials
Problem: the number $a(n,k)$ is defined by the following recurrence
\begin{equation}
a(n,k)=(k+1)(k+2)\, a(n-1, k)+\frac{(k+1)(k+2)(k+3)}{k} \,a(n-1, k-1),
\end{equation}
with $a(1,1)=1$ and $a(n,k)=0$...
- 459
12
votes
1
answer
437
views
Slick proofs using the Henstock–Kurzweil integral?
I enjoyed Iosif Pinelis's slick answer to another MO problem using the Henstock–Kurzweil integral. Are there other examples of problems whose statement does not explicitly involve the Henstock–...
12
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Does every strictly increasing, unbounded sequence of positive real numbers contain arbitrarily long, finite subsequences which are "sort of increasing" or "sort of decreasing" (as defined below)?
Is the following true?
If $(x_0, x_1, \dots)$ is a strictly increasing, unbounded sequence of positive real numbers, then there exist fixed $M,N \geq 1$ such that the sequence $(x_0, x_1, \dots)$ ...
- 167
12
votes
1
answer
191
views
Spectra on different spaces
This is a method request: I am looking for techniques that allow me to investigate problems like this:
Let $T_1: \ell^1 \rightarrow \ell^1$ be a bounded operator with $\Re(\sigma(T_1)) \subset (-\...
- 305
12
votes
0
answers
825
views
Eigenvalues of permutations of a real matrix: how complex can they be?
This is sort of complementary to this thread. I’ll repeat the definitions here:
For a matrix $M\in GL(n,\mathbb R)$, consider the $n!$ matrices obtained by permutations of the rows (say) of $M$ and ...
- 13.4k
12
votes
0
answers
435
views
Uniform closure of subspaces of Baire class 1
Describe a uniformly closed linear subspace $A \subset C([0,1])$ such that the space $B_1(A)$ is not uniformly complete. Here $B_1(A)$ is the set of all bounded functions $f$ which are pointwise ...
- 1,704