All Questions
5,934 questions
18
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6
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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 ...
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\...
18
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Elementary $\mathrm{Ext}^1$ intuition
$\DeclareMathOperator{\Hom}{\operatorname{Hom}}\DeclareMathOperator{\Ext}{\operatorname{Ext}}$I am wondering what sort of basic basic intuitive meaning $\Ext^1(M,N)$ has.
As a base case: if $M$ and $N$...
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 ...
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 ...
18
votes
1
answer
635
views
Is Carlitz's paper correct about the number of similarity classes of commuting matrices?
L. Carlitz has a paper, Classes of pairs of commuting matrices over a finite field, that computes the number of simultaneous similarity classes of of pairs of commuting matrices in $\operatorname{Mat}...
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 ...
18
votes
1
answer
3k
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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,...
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 ...
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 ...
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 $...
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 ...
17
votes
12
answers
5k
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Looking for an interesting problem/riddle involving triple integrals.
Does anyone know some good problem in real analysis, the solution of which involves triple integrals, and which is suitable for second semester Analysis students?
Thanks!
17
votes
2
answers
2k
views
The Lefschetz operator
Let $\omega=\sum_{i=1}^n dx_i\wedge dy_i\in\bigwedge^2(\mathbb{R}^{2n})^*$ be a standard symplectic form. The following result is due to Lefschetz:
For $k\leq n$, the Lefschetz operator
$L^{n-k}:\...
17
votes
2
answers
1k
views
"Insanely increasing" $C^\infty$ function with upper bound
Let $C^\infty$ denote the collection of functions $f:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$ such that for every positive integer $n$, the $n$-th derivative of $f$ exists. For $f\in C^\infty$ we set
$f^{(0)} = f$, ...
17
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Is every Schwartz function the product of two Schwartz functions?
A Schwartz function on $\mathbb R^d$ is a $C^\infty$ function, such that all differentials of order $k \ge 0$ decay faster than any polynomial. They include the class $C^\infty_c(\mathbb R^d)$ of ...
17
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is it consistent with ZFC that the real line is approachable by sets with no accumulation points?
Let $P$ denote the following proposition:
There exists a set $S$ of subsets of $\mathbb{R}$ such that
$S$ is totally ordered by inclusion;
each member of $S$ has no accumulation points;
the union of ...
17
votes
2
answers
905
views
Intersection of compact sets in the unit interval
Let $\mathscr K$ be an uncountable set such that every $K\in\mathscr K$ is a compact subset of $[0,1]$ with positive Lebesgue measure. Does it then follow that there exists an uncountable $\mathscr A\...
17
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Continuous functions of three variables as superpositions of two variable functions
Could we always locally represent a continuous function $F(x,y,z)$ in the form of $g\left(f(x,y),z\right)$ for suitable continuous functions $f$, $g$ of two variables? I am aware of Vladimir Arnold's ...
17
votes
2
answers
750
views
Approximation of smooth diffeomorphisms by polynomial diffeomorphisms?
Is it possible to (locally) approximate an arbitrary smooth diffeomorphism by a polynomial diffeomorphism?
More precisely: Let $f:\mathbb{R}^d\rightarrow\mathbb{R}^d$ be a smooth diffeomorphism for $d&...
17
votes
3
answers
1k
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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}...
17
votes
2
answers
1k
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Kolmogorov superposition for smooth functions
Kolmogorov superposition theorem states that a continuous function $f(x_1,\ldots,x_n)$ can be written as
$$f(x_1,\ldots,x_n)=\sum_{q=0}^{2n}\Phi_q\left(\sum_{p=1}^{n}\phi_{q,p}(x_p)\right)$$
for ...
17
votes
2
answers
2k
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"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} \...
17
votes
2
answers
1k
views
The GCD-matrix: generalizing a result of Smith?
Let $M$ be the $n\times n$ matrix, known as the GCD matrix, of entries $M_{ij}=\gcd(i,j)$. In the paper
H J S Smith, On the value of a certain arithmetical determinant, Proc. London Math. Soc. 7:208-...
17
votes
3
answers
2k
views
The minimum of a sum of absolute values of inner products in $\mathbb{R}^d$
Consider a collection of unit vectors $v_1, \ldots, v_n$ in $\mathbb{R}^d$ (we think of $n$ being much larger than $d$). I would like to minimize the sum:
$$\sum_{i\neq j}|\langle v_i,v_j\rangle|.$$
...
17
votes
3
answers
975
views
Evaluating the sum $f(x):=\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{1}{n! n^n}(-x^2)^n$ and estimating bounds
For real variable $x$, the function
\begin{equation}
f(x):=\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{1}{n! n^n}(-x^2)^n
\end{equation}
clearly has infinite radius of convergence and defines a $C^\infty$ function on $\...
17
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Linear algebra from the categorical point of view
Is there any book of Linear algebra in the modern language of Category theory?
I refer to the (systematic, formalist) study of the category whose objects are vector spaces and whose morphisms are ...
17
votes
1
answer
668
views
A coincidence or a fact: determinants of two matrices
While playing around with the MO question Determinant with factorials is not 0? about a determinant of the Hankel matrix of entries $(i+j-2)!$, having the value $\prod_{k=0}^{n-1}k!^2$, I stumbled on ...
17
votes
2
answers
3k
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The Riemann hypothesis as a problem in analysis
The recent post("Long-standing conjectures in analysis ... often turn out to be false") prompted me to think about a question which I have not given much though before: to what extent the ...
17
votes
1
answer
794
views
Is there a continuous function $f:\mathbb R^\omega\to\mathbb R$ with injective restriction $f|\mathbb Q^\omega$?
Question. Is there a continuous function $f:\mathbb R^\omega\to\mathbb R$ whose restriction $f|\mathbb Q^\omega$ is injective?
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 ...
17
votes
4
answers
10k
views
Prime/undecomposable matrices
Prime matrices as defined in the following paper Prime matrices P. F. RIVETT AND N. I. P. MACKINNON carry over many properties of factorization as in natural numbers to matrices over the field of ...
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): ...
17
votes
1
answer
580
views
Aperiodic monotile in $\mathbb{R}$
Motivation. Recently a group of researchers found an aperiodic monotile in $\mathbb{R}^2$, answering a long-standing question. There are many results in higher dimensions, so let's explore the lower ...
17
votes
4
answers
1k
views
In choiceless constructivism: If $f'=0$ then is $f$ constant?
Prove, without any Choice principles or Excluded Middle, that if a pointwise differentiable function has derivative $0$ everywhere, then it is constant. The function in this case maps $\mathbb R$ to $\...
17
votes
1
answer
3k
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Integrals of pullbacks and the Inverse function theorem(s?)
The usual story goes like this:
Smooth picture (?):
For a smooth bijection $\phi: M \to N$ between $n$-manifolds the following
is true:
$\phi^{-1}$ is a local diffeomorphism a.e.
...
17
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Is this statement which relates the Fourier transform of a function to its singularities correct?
I am working on a problem, which would possibly relate the Fourier transform/series with the jump singularities of the function where the function itself or one of its derivatives jump. ((some kind of ...
16
votes
6
answers
2k
views
Alternative proofs sought after for a certain identity
Here is an identity for which I outlined two different arguments. I'm collecting further alternative proofs, so
QUESTION. can you provide another verification for the problem below?
Problem. Prove ...
16
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Can integration spoil real-analyticity?
Is there an example of a function $f:(a,b)\times(c,d)\to\mathbb{R}$, which is real analytic in its domain, integrable in the second variable, and such that the function
$$ g:(a,b)\to\mathbb{R},\qquad ...
16
votes
2
answers
2k
views
An analogue of the exponential function by replacing infinite series with improper integral
For every positive real number $x$ we define $$E(x)= \int_0^{\infty} x^t/t!\,\mathrm dt$$
where $t!=\Gamma(t+1)$. This is motivated by classical exponential function.
Is this function well defined (...
16
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Reference for a linear algebra result
I asked the following question (https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/1487961/reference-for-every-finite-subgroup-of-operatornamegl-n-mathbbq-is-con) on math.stackexchange.com and received no ...
16
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Which functions have all derivatives everywhere positive?
Consider the class of functions from $\mathbb R$ to $\mathbb R$, such that the function is positive everywhere and its $n$th derivative is positive everywhere for all $n$.
The only examples I can ...
16
votes
4
answers
3k
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How many minors I need to check to conclude all minors will vanish ?
Given a $m \times n$ matrix $n>m$, I was trying to check if all its $m \times m$ minor vanish.
I remember hearing that one really does not need to check all possible minors in order to conclude ...
16
votes
7
answers
6k
views
Understanding Gibbs's inequality
Short version
Gibbs's inequality is a simple inequality for real numbers, usually
understood information-theoretically. In the jargon, it states that
for two probability measures on a finite set, ...
16
votes
2
answers
1k
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How to generalize the various vector calculus theorems to distributions?
Here is a list of vector calculus identities; in the proof of these identities, we all assume that these functions are $𝐶^𝑘$ in an open set, and we usually use these identities to calculate ...
16
votes
3
answers
1k
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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)! < \...
16
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Is the $W^{1, \infty}$ limit of differentiable functions also differentiable?
Let $f_n$ be a sequence of differentiable functions on $[0, 1]$ with
$f_n \to f$ uniformly for some (necessarily) continuous $f$.
$f'_n - g \to 0$ in $L^{\infty}$ for some measurable $g$.
Is it true ...
16
votes
1
answer
686
views
Fourier's proof of reality of all roots of Bessel function $J_0(x)$
In his "Théorie de chaleur" Fourier proves that the zeros of Bessel function $J_0(x)$ are all real.
I want to ask if there is a modern version of this proof exist in literature?
If someone ...
16
votes
3
answers
1k
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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 ...