All Questions
745 questions
28
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Prove that $\left(\frac{x^n+1}{x^{n-1}+1}\right)^n+\left(\frac{x+1}{2}\right)^n\geq x^n+1$
Let $x>0$ and $n$ be a natural number. Prove that:
$$\left(\frac{x^n+1}{x^{n-1}+1}\right)^n+\left(\frac{x+1}{2}\right)^n\geq x^n+1.$$
This question is very similar to many contests problems, but ...
- 1,054
28
votes
4
answers
2k
views
For a continuous function $f:\mathbb{R}^{+}\to\mathbb{R}^{+}$ does $(f(x)-f(y)) (f(\frac{x+y}{2}) - f(\sqrt{xy}))=0$ imply that $f$ is constant?
Suppose that $f: \mathbb{R}^+ \to \mathbb{R}^+$ is a continuous function such that for all positive real numbers $x,y$ the following is true :
$$(f(x)-f(y)) \left ( f \left ( \frac{x+y}{2} \right ) - ...
- 850
26
votes
4
answers
2k
views
$\binom{x}{2}+\binom{x}{4}+\cdots+\binom{x}{2u}$ is a convex function on $[0,+\infty)$?
Let $f(x)=\binom{x}{2}+\binom{x}{4}+\cdots+\binom{x}{2u}$, where $u\in\mathbb{Z}^+$ and $\binom{x}{l}=\frac{x(x-1)\dots(x-l+1)}{l!}$ for all $l\in\mathbb{Z}^+$.
Then can we prove $f(x)$ is a convex ...
- 271
26
votes
3
answers
16k
views
the dual space of C(X) (X is noncompact metric space)
It is well known that when $X$ is a compact space (or locally compact space), the dual space of $C(X)=\{f |f:
X\rightarrow \mathbb{C} \text{ is continuous and bounded} \}$ is $M(X)$, the space of ...
- 1,706
26
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Sum of Gaussian pdfs
I learned from a colleague that if one sums translates of the Gaussian density $f(x)=(2\pi)^{-1/2}e^{-x^2/2}$ translated by the integers (i.e. one considers $F(x)=\sum_{n\in\mathbb Z}f(x+n)$), the ...
- 23.2k
26
votes
2
answers
12k
views
About the definition of Borel and Radon measures
I am trying to understand the notion of Radon measure, but I am a little bit lost with the different conventions used in the litterature.
More precisely, I have a doubt about the very definition of ...
- 281
25
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Writing a function on $\mathbb{R}$ as a sum of two injections
Let $f: \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ be a function. It is well-known that, using transfinite recursion with a well-ordering of $\mathbb{R}$, one can construct two injective functions $g,h: \...
- 4,265
23
votes
1
answer
706
views
Which ordered fields are homeomorphic to their power?
It is well known that $\mathbb{R}^2\ncong \mathbb{R}$. It is also known that $\mathbb{Q}^2\cong \mathbb{Q}$. It is a corollary to Sierpiński's theorem which states that every countable metric space ...
- 6,741
23
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Does the average primeness of natural numbers tend to zero?
This question was posted in MSE. It got many upvotes but no answer hence posting it in MO.
A number is either prime or composite, hence primality is a binary concept. Instead I wanted to put a value ...
- 5,470
23
votes
4
answers
5k
views
Is $\ x\! \cdot\!\tan(x)\ $ integrable in elementary functions?
I'm teaching Calculus and my students asked me to calculate the integral of $\ x\! \cdot\!\tan(x)$.
I spent quite a lot of effort to do this, but I'm now even not sure if the integral could be ...
- 1,437
22
votes
2
answers
652
views
Does every positive continuous function have a non-negative interpolating polynomial of every degree?
Let $f:[a,b] \to (0,\infty)$ be a continuous function. Then is it necessarily true that for every $n\ge 1$, we can find $n+1$ distinct points $\{x_0,x_1,...,x_n\}$ in $[a,b]$ such that the ...
- 1,209
22
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Rigorous justification for this formal solution to $f(x+1)+f(x)=g(x)$
Let $g\in C(\Bbb R)$ be given, we want to find a solution $f\in C(\Bbb R)$ of the equation
$$
f(x+1) + f(x) = g(x).
$$
We may rewrite the equation using the right-shift operator $(Tf)(x) = f(x+1)$...
- 1,245
21
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Almost everywhere differentiability for a class of functions on $\mathbb{R}^2$
A while ago, I came across the following problem, which I was not able to resolve one way or the other.
Let $f,g\colon\mathbb{R}^2\to\mathbb{R}$ be continuous functions such that $f(t,x)$ and $g(t,...
- 17.1k
21
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Real rootedness of a polynomial
Let's consider $m$ and $n$ arbitrary positive integers, with $m\leq n$, and the polynomial given by:
$$ P_{m,n}(t) := \sum_{j=0}^m \binom{m}{j}\binom{n}{j} t^j$$
I've found with Sage that for every $...
- 1,889
21
votes
1
answer
564
views
Partitions of ${\rm Sym}(\mathbb{N})$ induced by convergent, but not absolutely convergent series
Let $(a_n) \subset \mathbb{R}$ be a sequence such that the series
$\sum_{n=1}^\infty a_n$ converges, but does not converge absolutely.
Then there is a partition of the symmetric group ${\rm Sym}(\...
- 19.6k
21
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Boundedness of sum of sin(sin(n))
Playing with desmos I have accidentally noticed that the sequence of partial sums
$$\left\{ \sum_{n=1}^{N}\sin(\sin(n)) : N\geq 1 \right\}$$
is bounded.
However, I did not succeed in proving this ...
20
votes
1
answer
686
views
Can all partial sums $\sum_{k=1}^n f(ka)$ where $f(x)=\log|2\sin(x/2)|$ be non-negative?
Let $f(x)=\log|2\sin(x/2)|$ (the normalizing factor $2$ is chosen to have the average over the period equal to $0$). Does there exist $a>0$ such that all sums $\sum_{k=1}^n f(ak)\ge 0$? The ...
- 61.9k
19
votes
3
answers
1k
views
What standard Banach space is isomorphic to the completion of this different normed structure on $\ell^1$?
A colleague asked me the following question:
"What can one do with the following norm on $\ell^1$: $|x|=\int_1^2 |x|_pdp$ where $| \;\; |_p$ is the standard norm on $\ell_p$?"
This ...
- 356
19
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Floors of powers of reals, how much do the first few determine the next?
Call an integer sequence $\mathbf{x}=\left( x_1,x_2,\cdots \right)$ feasible if it is $f(r)=\left(\lfloor r \rfloor, \lfloor r^2 \rfloor, \lfloor r^3 \rfloor,
\ldots, \lfloor r^n \rfloor, \ldots \...
- 30.1k
19
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Strange result about convexity
$f \in C^2([0,1])$ with $f''$ convex and $f(0) = f'(0) = f''(0) = 0$.
Is it true that : $f''(1)+6f(1)\geq 4f'(1)$ ?
Source: AoPS
- 4,074
18
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Generalization of Darboux's Theorem
Darboux's Theorem. If $f:[a,b]\to\mathbb R$ is differentiable and $f'(a)<\xi<f'(b)$, then there exists a $c\in (a,b)$, such that $\,f'(c)=\xi$.
Does any of the following generalizations
Let $U\...
- 2,933
18
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Comparing "axiomatized function spaces"
This was previously asked and bountied at math.stackexchange with no response. I've also tweaked the language for clarity; see the edit history for the broader context, and note that the existing ...
- 21.2k
17
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Hlawka inequality for determinants of positive definite matrices
It is mentioned here that if $A, B, C\in M_{n}(\mathbb C)$ are positive semidefinite, then $$\det (A+B+C)+\det C\ge \det (A+C)+\det (B+C)$$ (quoted from this article) and the special case ($C=\bf 0$) $...
- 13.4k
17
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Decoupling a double integral
I came across this question while making some calculations.
QUESTION. Can you find some transformation to "decouple" the double integral as follows?
$$\int_0^{\frac{\pi}2}\int_0^{\frac{\pi}...
- 43.2k
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
17
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Explicit and fast error bounds for polynomial approximation
Main Question
This question is about finding explicit, calculable, and fast error bounds when approximating continuous functions with polynomials to a user-specified error tolerance.
EDIT (Apr. 23): ...
- 697
17
votes
2
answers
2k
views
"Find $\lim_{n \to \infty}\frac{x_n}{\sqrt{n}}$ where $x_{n+1}=x_n+\frac{n}{x_1+x_2+\cdots+x_n}$" -where does this problem come from?
Recently, I encountered this problem:
"Given a sequence of positive number $(x_n)$ such that for all $n$,
$$x_{n+1}=x_n+\frac{n}{x_1+x_2+\cdots+x_n}$$
Find the limit $\lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \...
- 327
16
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is there always a way up?
I am trying to find a simple criterion for a real continuous function $f$ on a connected, open subset $U$ of $\mathbb R^n$ that would imply the following property (P)
For any $x, y \in U$ such that $f(...
- 1,608
16
votes
3
answers
1k
views
A natural center of a convex weakly compact set in Banach space
Question: Let $S$ be a convex weakly compact set in Banach space $H$. Propose a natural way to define the unique center $O \in S$.
Motivation: A lot! For example, in game theory $S$ can be a set of ...
- 161
16
votes
3
answers
1k
views
A kernel 'more analytic' than $\exp(-x^2)$
I am looking for an analytic function $F: \mathbb{R} \rightarrow (0,\infty)$ with $\int_{\mathbb{R}} F(x) \, dx = 1$ and the property, that $\sum\limits_{k=0}^{\infty} |c_k| \varepsilon^k (2k)! < \...
- 1,295
16
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Are continuous functions almost completely determined by their modulus of continuity?
Given a function $f: \mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$, we define its left modulus of continuity, $L(f): \mathbb{R} \times (0, \infty)\to [0,\infty]$ by
$$L(f)(x, e) := \sup \{d \ge 0 \,:\, f((x, x+d)) \...
- 2,069
16
votes
1
answer
661
views
Does every real function have this weak derivation property?
After this question : Does every real function have this weak continuity property?
Natrualy there are an other (more difficult) :
Is it true that for every real function $f:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}...
- 4,074
15
votes
1
answer
904
views
Bijection $f: \mathbb R^n \to \mathbb R^n$ that maps connected onto connected sets must map closed connected onto closed connected sets?
Willie Wong asked here (MO) and here (MSE) very interesting question.
As he phrased it:
Let $(X,\tau), (Y,\sigma)$ be two topological spaces. We say that a map $f: \mathcal{P}(X)\to \mathcal{P}(Y)$ ...
- 225
15
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Where does the Lebesgue differentiation theorem fail?
The Lebesgue differentiation theorem says that for certain metric spaces $X$ (see below), any Borel measure $\mu$ that is finite on bounded sets and any $f: X \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ locally $\mu$-...
- 1,368
15
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Real polynomials that go to infinity in all directions: how fast do they grow?
Let $f(x_1, \cdots, x_n) \in \mathbb{R}[x_1, \cdots, x_n]$ be a polynomial. Define property $\mathbf{P}$ to be the property that there exists a compact set $K \subset \mathbb{R}^n$ and a positive ...
- 26.9k
15
votes
3
answers
903
views
Tauberian theorem $\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}e^{-\lambda_{k}t}c_{k} \xrightarrow{t\to 0} \sum_{k=1}^{\infty}c_{k} $
I am trying to prove or disprove
$$\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}e^{-\lambda_{k}t}c_{k} \xrightarrow{t\to 0} \sum_{k=1}^{\infty}c_{k} ,$$
where $\sum c_{k}<\infty, \sum c_{k}^{2}<\infty\text{ and }\frac{\...
- 5,474
15
votes
0
answers
749
views
Prove $\int_{0}^{\infty} \cos(\omega x) \exp(-x^{\alpha}) \, {\rm d} x \ge {\alpha^2 \sqrt{\pi} \over 8} \exp \left( -\frac{\omega^2}{4} \right)$
I would like to prove that
$$\int_{0}^{\infty} \cos(\omega x) \exp(-x^{\alpha}) \, {\rm d} x \ge
{\alpha^2 \sqrt{\pi} \over 8} \exp \left( -\frac{\omega^2}{4} \right)$$
for any $\omega > 0$ and $...
- 178
15
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Characterizing $\mathbf{R}$ as an ordered group
A standard characterization of $\mathbf{R}$ uses the order and the field structure: any linearly ordered field that is archimedean and complete is isomorphic to $(\mathbf{R}, +, \times, <)$ as an ...
- 18.7k
15
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Asymptotic expansion of $\sum\limits_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{x^{2n+1}}{n!{\sqrt{n}} }$
I've been trying to find an asymptotic expansion of the following series
$$C(x) = \sum\limits_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{x^{2n+1}}{n!{\sqrt{n}} }$$
and
$$L(x) = \sum\limits_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{x^{2n+1}}{...
- 153
14
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Do these matrix rings have non-zero elements that are neither units nor zero divisors?
First, a disclaimer: This is a repost of a question I asked on stackexchange (no answer there).
Let $R$ be a commutative ring (with $1$) and $R^{n \times n}$ be the ring of $n \times n$ matrices with ...
- 1,197
14
votes
1
answer
416
views
Lipschitz property of the determinant
$\newcommand{\A}{\mathcal A}\newcommand{\Tr}{\operatorname{tr}}$For $c$ and $C$ such that $0<c<C<\infty$, let $\A_{d;c,C}$ denote the set of all symmetric positive-definite real $d\times d$ ...
- 128k
14
votes
1
answer
900
views
“Taylor series” is to “Volterra series” as “Padé approximant” is to _________?
Padé approximants are often better than Taylor series at representing a function. Given a Taylor series, one can use Wynn's epsilon algorithm to easily produce the Padé approximants to it.
Volterra ...
- 4,897
14
votes
1
answer
481
views
A question on a real sequence
Let $\{a_n\}_{n\ge1}$ be a real sequence that decays faster than any algebraic speed, that is, $\lim_{n\to \infty} n^pa_n = 0$ for every positive integer $p$. Assume that $$\sum_{n\ge 1}(n+1)^kn^ka_n =...
- 903
14
votes
2
answers
996
views
Does there exist some $C$ independent of $n$ and $f$ such that $ \|f''\|_p \geq Cn^2 \| f \|_p$, where $1 \leq p\leq \infty$?
Let $f$ be a trigonometric polynomial on the circle $\mathbb{T}$ with $\hat{f}(j) = 0$ for all $j \in \mathbb{Z}$ with $\lvert j \rvert < n$. Does there exist some $C$ independent of $n$ and $f$ ...
- 141
14
votes
2
answers
807
views
Integral of power of binomials equal to sum of power of binomials?
Inspired by this MO question about integrating binomial coefficients and the answers, I was wondering whether integrating powers of binomial coefficients also relates to the respective sums. And ...
- 4,014
14
votes
3
answers
2k
views
How to prove $e^x\left|\int_x^{x+1}\sin(e^t) \,\mathrm d t\right|\le 1.4$?
Related question asked by me on Math SE a few days ago: How to prove $e^x\left|\int_x^{x+1}\sin(e^t) \,\mathrm d t\right|\le 1.4$?
A few days ago, somebody asked How to prove $ \mathrm{e}^x\left|\...
- 1,326
14
votes
0
answers
633
views
Classes of (non-continuous) functions with the fixed point property
Let $K$ be a convex body in $ R^d$. (Say, a ball, say a cube...) For which classes $ \cal C$ of functions, every function $ f \in {\cal C}$ which takes $K$ into itself admits a fixed point in $K$.
...
- 24.7k
13
votes
6
answers
4k
views
Finding f such that f(f(x))=g(x) given g
Suppose $g(x)$ is a smooth increasing function defined for $x \ge 0$ such that $g(x) \ge x$ for all $x$. Does there exist a function $f$ with similar properties such that $f(f(x))=g(x)$ for all $x \ge ...
- 15.4k
13
votes
7
answers
35k
views
Real analysis has no applications?
I'm teaching an undergrad course in real analysis this Fall and we are using the text "Real Mathematical Analysis" by Charles Pugh. On the back it states that real analysis involves no "applications ...
13
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is the exponential function the sole solution to these equations?
Let us take the exponential function $\lambda^z$ where $0 < \lambda < 1$. There are many great uniqueness conditions this holomorphic function satisfies. For example, it is the only function ...
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