All Questions
5,794 questions
21
votes
2
answers
924
views
Codimension of Measurable Sets
I am currently teaching an advanced undergraduate analysis class, and the following question came up.
Intuition suggests that "most" subsets of $[0,1]$ are not Lebesgue measurable. However, the ...
- 8,493
21
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Felix Klein on mean value theorem and infinitesimals
This is a reference request prompted by some intriguing comments made by Felix Klein.
In 1908, Felix Klein formulated a criterion of what it would take for a theory of infinitesimals to be ...
- 16.6k
21
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Density of polynomials in $C^k(\overline\Omega)$
Let $\Omega$ be an open and bounded subset of $\mathbb{R}^2$ and let $C^k(\Omega)$, $1\leq k<\infty$, be the space of functions $f$ with continuous derivatives of order $\leq k$ in $\Omega$, ...
- 4,034
21
votes
2
answers
981
views
What is the optimal speed to approach a red light?
Suppose from distance $d$, while driving at speed $v_0$, I notice that there's a red traffic light in front of me. Suppose that there are no other vehicles, my vehicle has perfect brakes, my maximum ...
- 18.7k
21
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Does summing divergent series using cutoff functions give consistent results?
One way to try to give a value $S$ to a divergent series $\sum_{n=1}^\infty a_n$ is with a smooth cutoff function:
$$
S = \lim_{N\to\infty}\sum_{n=1}^\infty a_n \eta\left(\frac{n}{N}\right)
$$
where $\...
- 313
21
votes
1
answer
840
views
Relative null-ness
Here, "measure" always means Lebesgue measure on $\mathbb{R}$. This question is partly motivated by my answer https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/1444498/is-there-a-categorizaiton-system-for-null-...
- 21.1k
21
votes
1
answer
564
views
Partitions of ${\rm Sym}(\mathbb{N})$ induced by convergent, but not absolutely convergent series
Let $(a_n) \subset \mathbb{R}$ be a sequence such that the series
$\sum_{n=1}^\infty a_n$ converges, but does not converge absolutely.
Then there is a partition of the symmetric group ${\rm Sym}(\...
- 19.6k
21
votes
0
answers
658
views
A multiple integral
Let us consider the multiple integral
$$I_{n}=\int_{-\infty }^{\infty }ds_{1}\int_{-\infty}^{s_{1}}ds_{2}\cdots
\int_{-\infty }^{s_{2n-1}}ds_{2n}\;\cos {(s_{1}^{2}-s_{2}^{2})}\;\cdots
\cos {(s_{2n-1}...
- 16.5k
21
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Almost everywhere differentiability for a class of functions on $\mathbb{R}^2$
A while ago, I came across the following problem, which I was not able to resolve one way or the other.
Let $f,g\colon\mathbb{R}^2\to\mathbb{R}$ be continuous functions such that $f(t,x)$ and $g(t,...
- 17.1k
20
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Is $1/F$ Schwartz if $F$ is "reverse Schwartz"?
Let's call a positive function $F:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$ "reverse Schwartz" if $F$ is smooth and
$$\forall n \forall k,\quad\lim_{x\to\infty}\frac{|x|^n}{|\partial_x^k F(x)|}=0\quad .$$
In ...
- 23.3k
20
votes
1
answer
754
views
Minimum value of $|p(1)|^2+|p(2)|^2 +...+ |p(n+3)|^2$ over all monic polynomials $p$
Let $n$ be a positive integer. Determine the smallest possible value of $|p(1)|^2+|p(2)|^2 +...+ |p(n+3)|^2$ over all monic polynomials $p$ of degree $n$.
This question was proposed (problem A.611)
...
- 3,153
20
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Propositions equivalent to the completeness of the real numbers
Can anyone point me to a reasonably comprehensive article (or book chapter) explaining which basic theorems of calculus are equivalent to the completeness axiom of the reals and which ones aren't?
...
- 19.7k
20
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Convergence of convex functions
I can prove the following result.
Theorem 1. Let $f_n:\mathbb{R}^n\to \mathbb{R}$ be a sequence of convex functions
that converges almost everywhere to a function $f:\mathbb{R}^n\to\mathbb{R}$.
Then ...
- 28k
20
votes
3
answers
1k
views
mixing convex and concave for convexity
Let $n\in\mathbb{N}$ and $0<x<1$ be a real number. Is the following a convex function of $x$?
$$G_n(x)=\log\left(\frac{(1+x^{4n+1})(1+x^{4n-1})(1+x^{2n})(1-x^{2n+1})}{(1+x^{2n+1})(1-x^{2n+2})}\...
- 43.2k
20
votes
2
answers
1k
views
a determinantal identity
Dusan Pokorny and Jan Rataj have just posted a paper (http://arxiv.org/abs/1209.2305) in which they prove the identity
$$
\det (A-B) = \frac 1{d!} \sum_{k=0}^d (-1)^k \binom dk \det((d-k)A + kB)
$$
...
- 340
20
votes
1
answer
807
views
Is every function $f: \mathbb R \to \mathbb R$ differentiable at at least one point when restricted to some everywhere dense subset of $\mathbb R$?
I was doing some fairly simple research a few hours ago and I almost asked a similar question with the word continuous instead of differentiable in the title, but then I found this question asked by ...
user153451
20
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How rich is the richest person in a society satisfying the Pareto principle?
The Pareto Principle roughly states that in many societies, the top 20% of people hold over 80% of the wealth. Suppose we had a society that satisfied this principle in every stratum of society - how ...
- 6,155
20
votes
1
answer
685
views
Can all partial sums $\sum_{k=1}^n f(ka)$ where $f(x)=\log|2\sin(x/2)|$ be non-negative?
Let $f(x)=\log|2\sin(x/2)|$ (the normalizing factor $2$ is chosen to have the average over the period equal to $0$). Does there exist $a>0$ such that all sums $\sum_{k=1}^n f(ak)\ge 0$? The ...
- 61.9k
20
votes
1
answer
518
views
Concept associated to the Eudoxus reals
I am aware of three different constructions of the field of real numbers :
The Cauchy sequence construction : in this case, we see the field $\mathbb{Q}$ as a metric space and $\mathbb{R}$ is the ...
- 201
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
20
votes
0
answers
634
views
Is $\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{n!}{n^n}$ rational?
Is $\displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{n!}{n^n}$ rational?
This question has been posted in MSE for two years without an answer. A094082 seems to suggest that it is not rational. Is it still an ...
user14319
19
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Strange result about convexity
$f \in C^2([0,1])$ with $f''$ convex and $f(0) = f'(0) = f''(0) = 0$.
Is it true that : $f''(1)+6f(1)\geq 4f'(1)$ ?
Source: AoPS
- 4,074
19
votes
4
answers
12k
views
How did Bernoulli prove L'Hôpital's rule?
To prove L'Hôpital's rule, the standard method is to use use Cauchy's Mean Value Theorem (and note that once you have Cauchy's MVT, you don't need an $\epsilon$-$\delta$ definition of limit to ...
- 4,254
19
votes
3
answers
1k
views
functions from Q to itself with derivative zero
Let $f: {\bf Q} \rightarrow {\bf Q}$ be a "${\bf Q}$-differentiable" function whose "${\bf Q}$-derivative" is constantly zero; that is, for all $x \in {\bf Q}$ and all $\epsilon > 0$ in ${\bf Q}$, ...
- 19.7k
19
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Solutions-set first order ODE's without uniqueness
In short: What can we say about the set of all solutions of an ordinary differential equation (ODE) when we there is no uniqueness?
Consider the ODE
$f:D\to \mathbb{R}, \quad D\subseteq \mathbb{R}^2,$
...
- 3,574
19
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Floors of powers of reals, how much do the first few determine the next?
Call an integer sequence $\mathbf{x}=\left( x_1,x_2,\cdots \right)$ feasible if it is $f(r)=\left(\lfloor r \rfloor, \lfloor r^2 \rfloor, \lfloor r^3 \rfloor,
\ldots, \lfloor r^n \rfloor, \ldots \...
- 30.1k
19
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Pathological behavior of Borel sets?
Usually in set theory, Borel sets are much more nicely behaved than arbitrary sets of reals. One reason for this is Borel determinacy, which immediately yields measurability, Baireness, and the ...
- 21.1k
19
votes
3
answers
1k
views
What standard Banach space is isomorphic to the completion of this different normed structure on $\ell^1$?
A colleague asked me the following question:
"What can one do with the following norm on $\ell^1$: $|x|=\int_1^2 |x|_pdp$ where $| \;\; |_p$ is the standard norm on $\ell_p$?"
This ...
- 356
19
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Is there a Cantor set $C$ in $\mathbb{R}^{2}$ so the graph of every continuous function $[0,1]\rightarrow [0,1]$ intersects $C$?
Consider the Cantor ternary set on the real line with the usual topology and define a Cantor set to be any topological space $C$ homeomorphic to the Cantor ternary set.
The idea is to construct a ...
- 2,136
19
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Constants for Rolle's Theorem applied to polynomials
Rolle's Theorem states that $f(1/2)=f(-1/2)+f'(x)$ has a root in the open real
interval $(-1/2,1/2)$ if $f$ is continuous and differentiable. How large can the absolute value of such a root
$\xi$
be ...
- 17.9k
19
votes
1
answer
556
views
Can an injective $f: \Bbb{R}^m \to \Bbb{R}^n$ have a closed graph for $m>n$?
Question. Suppose $m>n$ are positive integers. Is there a one-to-one $f: \Bbb{R}^m \to \Bbb{R}^n$ such that the graph $\Gamma_f$ of $f$ is closed in $\Bbb{R}^{m+n}$?
Remark 1. The answer to the ...
- 17.7k
19
votes
1
answer
691
views
What is the groupoid cardinality of the category of vector spaces over a finite field?
For any groupoid, it's groupoid cardinality is the sum of the reciprocals of the automorphism groups over the isomorphism classes. Let us consider the category of vector spaces over a finite field $\...
- 7,746
19
votes
2
answers
949
views
Etymology of “real numbers"
I would like to know why the real numbers are called “the real numbers.” I would also like to know the meaning of “real” in the phrase “real number.”
Further questions and clarifications:
I’d like to ...
- 319
19
votes
0
answers
775
views
A Linear Order from AP Calculus
In teaching my calculus students about limits and function domination, we ran into the class of functions
$$\Theta=\{x^\alpha (\ln{x})^\beta\}_{(\alpha,\beta)\in\mathbb{R}^2}$$
Suppose we say that $...
- 433
18
votes
3
answers
3k
views
A curious sin-integral
While contending with a certain Fourier series, I stumbled on an incredibly simple evaluation (numerically) of a slightly complicated-looking sin-integral.
So, I wish ask:
Question. Is this really ...
- 43.2k
18
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Why is there no Borel function mapping every countable set of reals outside itself?
A choice function maps every set (in its domain) to an element of itself. This question concerns existence of an anti-choice function defined on the family of countable sets of reals. In an answer to ...
- 30.1k
18
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Bernoulli sum meets golden number
Let $B_n$ denote the Bernoulli numbers and let $\phi=\frac{1+\sqrt{5}}2$ be the golden ratio.
I encountered the following infinite sum and would like to ask:
Question. Is this true? If so, any ...
- 43.2k
18
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Is there an analytic non-linear function that maps rational numbers to rational numbers and it maps irrational numbers to irrational numbers?
Consider a function $h$ defined on real numbers, which is not of the form $kx+b$ i.e. a linear function. If $h$ maps rational numbers to rational numbers and it maps irrational numbers to irrational ...
- 303
18
votes
6
answers
3k
views
What's the use of Malgrange preparation theorem?
The Malgrange preparation theorem,which is the $C^{\infty}$ version of the classical Weierstrass preparation theorem,says that if $f(t,x)$ is a $C^{\infty}$ function of $(t,x)\in\mathbb{R}^{n+1}$ near ...
- 1,644
18
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Generalization of Darboux's Theorem
Darboux's Theorem. If $f:[a,b]\to\mathbb R$ is differentiable and $f'(a)<\xi<f'(b)$, then there exists a $c\in (a,b)$, such that $\,f'(c)=\xi$.
Does any of the following generalizations
Let $U\...
- 2,933
18
votes
2
answers
630
views
Is the notion of fixed point property for topological spaces an absolute notion?
Recall that a topological space $X$ has the fixed point property (FPP) if any continuous function $f: X\to X$ has a fixed point.
Is the notion of FPP for topological spaces an absolute notion? More ...
- 32.1k
18
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Problems in advanced calculus
I have been teaching Advanced Calculus at the University of Pittsburgh for many years. The course is intended both for advanced undergraduate students and the first year graduate students who have to ...
18
votes
2
answers
574
views
Existence of an antiderivative function on an arbitrary subset of $\mathbb{R}$
Let $f:\mathbb{R}\to \mathbb{R}$ be continuous at $x$ for every $x\in I$ where $I\subset \mathbb R$ could be arbitrary. Does there always exist a function $F:\mathbb{R}\to \mathbb{R}$ differentiable ...
- 1,503
18
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Characterisation of bell-shaped functions
This is an open problem that I learned from Thomas Simon. I will completely understand if the question is judged as non-research level (and it is indeed not related to my research), but I believe a ...
- 17.2k
18
votes
1
answer
3k
views
How bad can the second derivative of a convex function be?
One can easily construct an example of a measurable function $f:(a,b)\to \mathbb{R}$ which satisfies the following property:
$$\label{p}\tag{P}
f\notin L^1(I),\ \mbox{for each interval}\ I\subset (a,...
- 409
18
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Comparing "axiomatized function spaces"
This was previously asked and bountied at math.stackexchange with no response. I've also tweaked the language for clarity; see the edit history for the broader context, and note that the existing ...
- 21.1k
18
votes
2
answers
1k
views
An Entropy Inequality (generalized)
Let $X,Y$ be probability measures on $\{1,2,\dots,n\}$. For $0\le \alpha \le 1$, set $K=\sum_i X(i)^\alpha Y(i)^{1-\alpha}$ so that $Z:=\frac{1}{K}X^\alpha Y^{1-\alpha}$ is also a probability measure ...
- 351
18
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Does there exist a continuous open map from the closed annulus to the closed disk?
(Originally from MSE, but crossposted here upon suggestion from the comments)
In this MSE post, user Moishe Kohan provides an example of a non-continuous open and closed ("clopen") function $...
- 831
18
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Function of two sets intersection
Let $U$ be the set of all nonempty subsets of $[0,1]$ that are a union of finitely many closed intervals (where an "interval" that is a single point does not count as an interval). Does ...
- 1,209
17
votes
1
answer
986
views
Can two-point sets be Borel?
Recall that a two-point set is a subset of the plane which meets every line in exactly two points. Such a set was first constructed by Mazurkiewicz in 1914.
I wonder if the following question of ...
- 32.1k