All Questions
713 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
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
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
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
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
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
11
votes
1
answer
704
views
Examples of Baire Class $\xi+1$ but not $\xi$ functions for each countable ordinal $\xi.$
We say that $f:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$ is of Baire Class $1$ if it is a pointwise limit of a sequence of continuous functions.
One can generalize the definition above by taking pointwise limit of ...
- 623
11
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Converse of mean value theorem almost everywhere?
Let $f: \mathbb R \to \mathbb R$ be a $C^1$ function.
We say a point $c \in \mathbb R$ is a mean value point of $f$ if there exists an open interval $(a,b)$ containing $c$ such that $f’(c) = \frac{f(b)...
- 6,155
11
votes
2
answers
8k
views
About the Fourier transform of the logarithm function
I want to calculate / simplify:
$$\mathcal{F} (\ln(|x|)\mathcal{F(f)}(x))=\mathcal{F} (\ln(|x|)) \star f$$
where $\mathcal{F}$ is the Fourier transform ($\mathcal[f](\xi)=\int_{\mathbb R}f(x)e^{ix\...
- 1,199
11
votes
1
answer
3k
views
A sum of two binomial random variables
Let $p\in(0,1)$, $n$ a positive even integer, $k,l\in\{0,\dots,n\}$, and $X_k\sim \text{Binomial}(k,p)$, $Y_{n-k}\sim \text{Binomial}(n-k,1-p)$ independent random variables. I would like to prove that
...
- 947
11
votes
1
answer
436
views
How many numbers $\le x$ can be factorized into three numbers which form the sides of a triangle?
Note: Posting in MO since it was unanswered in MSE
Definition: We say that a natural number $n$ has triangular divisors if it has at least one triplet of divisors $n = d_1d_2d_3, 1 \le d_1 \le d_2 \...
- 5,470
11
votes
0
answers
320
views
Constructing an infinite chain of subsets of 'hyper' algebraic numbers?
This question is cross posted from MSE.
Let $F$ be a subset of $\mathbb{R}$ and let $S_F$ denote the set of values which satisfy some generalized polynomial whose exponents and coefficients are ...
- 211
11
votes
4
answers
4k
views
When is the infimum of an arbitrary family of measurable functions also measurable?
Let $(X,\Sigma,\mu)$ be a measure space and consider a family of $\mu$-measurable functions $f_i:X \to \mathbb{R}$ for $i$ lying in some index set $I$. Define $$f(x) = \inf_{i \in I} f_i(x)$$
I think ...
- 15.5k
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Proof of the "Neo-classical Inequality", a fractional extension of the binomial theorem
I came across the following inequality, dubbed the "Neoclassical Inequality" which holds uniformly in $p\geq 1$ and $n\in\mathbb N$:
$$\frac{1}{p^2}\sum_{j=0}^n\frac{a^{\frac{j}p}b^{\frac{n-j}p}}{\...
- 4,952
11
votes
1
answer
676
views
Entropy arguments used by Jean Bourgain
My question comes from understanding a probabilistic inequality in Bourgain's paper on Erdős simiarilty problem: Construction of sets of positive measure not containing an affine image of a given ...
- 196
11
votes
2
answers
425
views
Maximization of a cubic form over the $14$-dimensional sphere
For any integers $i$ and $j$ such as $1\le i<j\le6$, let $x_{ij}$ be a nonnegative real number.
Is it true that, given the condition
$$\sum_{1\le i<j\le6}x_{ij}^2=1,$$
the sum
$$\sum_{1\le i<...
- 128k
11
votes
1
answer
430
views
Cantor set intersecting a geometric sequence
I was working on a problem involving finding all points in the intersection of the Cantor set $C$ and the geometric sequence $\{ (2/3)^i \}_{i=1}^\infty$. The only points I have in this intersection ...
- 113
11
votes
8
answers
3k
views
Almost-converses to the AM-GM inequality
Let us consider the Arithmetic Mean -- Geometric Mean inequality for nonnegative real numbers:
$$ GM := (a_1 a_2 \ldots a_n)^{1/n} \le \frac{1}{n} \left( a_1 + a_2 + \ldots + a_n \right) =: AM. $$
...
- 531
10
votes
1
answer
817
views
Can a nowhere locally Hölder function be differentiable almost everywhere?
Fix $0 < \alpha < 1$. Suppose $f$ is nowhere locally $\alpha$-Hölder continuous - that is, it is not $\alpha$-Hölder on any open subinterval of $\mathbb R$. Is it possible for $f$ to be ...
- 6,155
10
votes
1
answer
385
views
When is this multiple integral finite?
Consider the following integral:
$$
I_k(\alpha)=\int_{[0,1]^k}|x_1-x_2|^{\alpha}|x_2-x_3|^{\alpha}\ldots|x_{k-1}-x_k|^{\alpha}|x_k-x_1|^{\alpha}d\mathbf{x}.
$$
where $k=2,3,4,\ldots$
The question is ...
- 87
10
votes
1
answer
379
views
Does a monotone subadditive $f: \mathcal{P}(\bf N)\to [0,1]$ admit a finite partition with values in $(0,1)$?
A function $f\colon \mathcal{P}(\mathbf{N})\to [0,1]$ is said to have the Darboux property whenever for all $X \subseteq \mathbf{N}$ and $y \in [0,f(X)]$, there exists $Y \subseteq X$ such that $f(Y)=...
- 1,511
10
votes
1
answer
899
views
Approximation of a compactly supported function by Gaussians
Let $f:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$ be a smooth function whose support is a closed interval, e.g. $\text{supp}(f)=[a,b]$. Then $f$ can be approximated (e.g. in $L^2$) by a linear combination of Gaussian ...
- 710
10
votes
2
answers
9k
views
When do maximum and expectation commute?
Hi, I'm looking for conditions on $G(t,x)$ such that
$$
\sup\limits_{t\in [0,1]}E[G(t,X)]=E[\sup\limits_{t\in [0,1]}G(t,X)]
$$
where $X$ is a random variable (it's easy to see that $\sup\limits_{t\in [...
- 111
10
votes
0
answers
172
views
Maximizing an integral w.r.t. a measure on the unit sphere
I would like to know if the answer to the following question is known.
Let $d \ge 3$. What is the value of
$$
\theta(d) := \max_{\mu} \int_{S^{d-1}} \int_{S^{d-1}} \cdots \int_{S^{d-1}} |x_1 \...
- 980
10
votes
1
answer
539
views
Is $Q_n(x)=\sigma_{n+1}(x)/\sigma_n(x)$ logarithmically convex on $\mathbf{R}$?
In 1975 J. van de Lune considered the monotony properties of the canonical Riemann Upper and Lower sums for $\int_0^1 t^xdt$, with $x>0$.
Writing $\sigma_n(x) := 1^x+2^x+\cdots+n^x$ these sums are
...
- 7,024
10
votes
1
answer
699
views
Reference request: Riesz potential $I_\alpha : L^{d/\alpha} \to \rm{BMO}$?
Let us denote the Riesz potential in $\mathbb R^d$ by
$$
I_\alpha (f)(x) := c_{d, \alpha} \int_{\mathbb R^d} \frac{f(y)}{|x-y|^{d-\alpha}}
\, dy.$$
By the classical Hardy-Littlewood-Sobolev theorem ...
- 632
10
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Counting norms on an infinite dimensional vector space
It is known that whenever E is a finite dimensional real vector space, there is only one norm on E up to equivalence (actually one non discrete vector space topology).
Is it known what happens when E ...
- 101
10
votes
1
answer
872
views
Current vs Varifold
I know the basic definitions concerning current and varifold, and they are generalization of submanifolds. What are their respective pros and cons? What are their crucial similarities and differences?
- 1,630
10
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Does Rolle's Theorem imply Dedekind completeness?
I think the answer to the title question is "yes", but Gerald Edgar, in his comment on Does antidifferentiability of continuous functions imply Dedekind completeness? , points out an article (actually ...
- 19.7k
10
votes
2
answers
597
views
How to determine the asymptotics of $\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} e^{-\frac{2^n}{x}}$
I'm generally interested in being able to find an asymptotic expansion of
$$ \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \left[ e^{- \frac{f(n)}{x}} \right] $$
As $x \rightarrow \infty$ and $f(n)$ is a smooth monotonically ...
- 2,689
10
votes
1
answer
594
views
Are the polynomials in $\{1/t\}$ dense in $L^2(0,1)$?
Added. My question in the title was solved (in the negative) by Nik Weaver (in the answer below) and Mateusz Kwaśnicki (in the comments). In both solutions, the reason is that the $L^2$ density fails ...
- 13.8k
10
votes
2
answers
1k
views
On equibounded sequences in $L^\infty$
Let $f_n: [0, 1] \to \mathbb R$ be a sequence of positive functions in $L^\infty$ (hence a fortiori in $L^1$) that are equibounded in $L^\infty$ norm - that is $\sup_{n \in \mathbb N} \|f_n\|_{L_\...
- 6,155
10
votes
2
answers
666
views
Reference request: Extensions of Wiener's Tauberian Theorem
Wiener's Tauberian Theorem says that linear combinations of translations of a function $f$ are dense in $L^1(\mathbb{R})$ if and only if the zero set of the Fourier transform of $f$ is empty. This is ...
- 710
10
votes
2
answers
766
views
When polynomial f(x^2) can be factored as g(x)·g(-x) ?
In relation to my question Expression for the sum of square roots of zeros of a polynomial
How to characterize polynomials $f(x)$ with rational coefficients such that $f(x^2)=g(x)\cdot g(-x)$ where $...
- 34.3k
10
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Within ZFC, is $2^{\aleph_0}<2^{\aleph_1}$ provable/independent?
So, I ask whether from the ZFC axioms one can prove X that every uncountable set has strictly more than continuum many subsets, or whether X is independent of the ZFC axioms. Note that (within ZFC) ...
- 3,584
10
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Can the integration of integrable sections of a measurable function of two variables ever result in a non-measurable function?
I spent some time searching MathOverflow for a problem that would resemble the one given below, but it turned out to be a rather futile endeavor. I was led to this problem in my attempts to construct ...
- 1,396
9
votes
1
answer
359
views
Relaxation of notion of positive definite function
A function $f:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$ is called positive definite (in the semigroup sense) if for all $n\geq 1$ and $x_1,\ldots,x_n\in\mathbb{R}$ pairwise different the matrix $(f(x_i+x_j))_{i,j=1}^n$...
- 3,031
9
votes
1
answer
652
views
Scaling in Mehta's integral
The following expression is known as Mehta's integral and deeply connected to random matrix theory:
$$\frac{1}{(2\pi)^{n/2}}\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \cdots \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \prod_{i=1}^n e^{-...
- 124
9
votes
1
answer
10k
views
Can the supremum of continuous functions be discontinuous on a set of positive measure? [closed]
Given a sequence of continuous functions $f_n(x)$, all defined on a compact set $D$ and assuming $f_n(x)$ is uniformly bounded. Let $f(x) = sup_n f_n(x)$.
It is clear that $f(x)$ is not necessarily ...
- 93
9
votes
2
answers
652
views
Is $\mathbb{Q}$ the orbit of a rational function under iteration?
In this previous post I asked for the smallest set of continuous real functions that could generate $\mathbb Q$ by iteration starting from $0$. Surprisingly one continuous function suffices.
In the ...
- 4,862
9
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Does the Weierstrass function have a point of increase?
Problem
The Weierstrass function $W(x)$ is given by
$W(x)=\sum_{n\geq 0} a^n \cos(b^n \pi x)$
where $0< a <1$ and $b$ is an odd integer such that $ab > 1+3\pi/2$.
A function $f:\mathbb{R}\...
- 491
9
votes
1
answer
621
views
Uniqueness of solutions of Young differential equations
Consider the following one dimensional Young differential equation:
\begin{align*}
&Y_t=\int_0^t Y_s dX_s,\quad t\in[0,1];\\
&Y_0=0.
\end{align*}
Here the driving process $X$ is a bounded ...
- 931
9
votes
1
answer
917
views
A Besicovitch-type Covering Theorem
In the book The Geometry of Domains in Spaces by Krantz and Parks, the authors proved the weak $(1,1)$-type estimate of the maximal function $M_\mu f$, where $\mu$ is a Radon measure, using their ...
- 1,245
9
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Is every finite Borel measure on a locally compact Hausdorff, $\sigma$-compact and separable space automatically regular?
The conditions stated in the question seem mouthful and a bit arbitrary, so let me provide some backgrounds.
Definition
Let $\mu$ be a Borel measure on a topological space. We say:
$\...
- 83
9
votes
4
answers
2k
views
How may I find all continuous and bounded functions g with the following property?
Find all continuous and bounded functions $g$
with :
$$\forall x \in \mathbb R, 4g(x)=g(x+1)+g(x-1)+g(x+\pi)+g(x-\pi).$$
I have posted this question here, but received no answer.
- 4,074
9
votes
1
answer
499
views
Subspaces of $L^2(0,1)$ dense on every truncation $L^2(c,1)$
It may be better to move this to a separate question.
Let me call a linear subspace $V \subset L^2(0,1)$ to be tame if, for every linear subspace $W \subset V$, either $W$ is dense in $L^2(0,1)$, or ...
- 13.8k
9
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is there a differentiable but nonsmooth version of the continuous Implicit Function Theorem?
From the result discussed in Does the inverse function theorem hold for everywhere differentiable maps? (which I'll call the differentiable nonsmooth Inverse Function Theorem) one can obtain a ...
- 2,049
9
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Smallest root of a degree 3 polynomial
Is it true that the smallest root $t$ of the polynomial
$$
20 t^3 - 30 t^2 + (12 - 4 \cos^2 \alpha - 4 \cos^2 \beta - 4 \cos^2 \gamma) t + \cos^2 \alpha + \cos^2 \beta + \cos^2 \gamma - 2 \cos \alpha \...
- 171
9
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Stokes theorem with corners
I've found the following version of Stokes' theorem in G. Stolzenberg's lecture notes 19:
Notation:
for $1 \le n \le m$
$\Lambda(m, n) = \{ \lambda: \{1,...,n\} \rightarrow \{1,...,m\} \ | \ \...
- 103
9
votes
2
answers
552
views
Asymptotic behavior of Sturm-Liouville eigenvalues
I have two questions.
Consider the operator $Av = -v'' + a(x)v$ on $I = (0, L)$, with zero Dirichlet condition and $a \in C([0, L])$.
Let $(\lambda_n)$ denote the sequence of eigenvalues of $A$....
- 369