All Questions
717 questions
8
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Non-zero smooth functions vanishing on a Cantor set
It is easy to give examples of continuous functions $f:[0,1]\to \mathbb R_+\cup\{0\}$ non-zero but vanishing on a Cantor set (ex: Can Cantor set be the zero set of a continuous function?). It is ...
- 1,805
7
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Properties of convolutions
Consider the function
$$f_{n}(x)=e^{-x^2}x^n.$$
and the function
$$h_p(x):=e^{-\vert x \vert^p}.$$
My goal is to analyze
$$ F_p(y):=\frac{(f_2*h_p)(y)}{(f_0*h_p)(y)}- \left(\frac{(f_1*h_p)(y) }{(f_0*...
- 173
7
votes
2
answers
582
views
"sinc-ing" integral
Let $a_1,\dots,a_n, b$ be positive real numbers.
*Question.** Is this true?
$$\int_{-\infty}^{\infty}\frac{\sin(bx+a_1x+\cdots+a_nx)}{x}\prod_{j=1}^n\frac{\sin(a_jx)}{a_jx}\,\,dx=\pi.$$
My ...
- 43.2k
7
votes
3
answers
841
views
Distance function to $\Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^n$ differentiable at $y\notin\Omega$ implies $\exists$ unique closest point
I am trying to show the following two statements are true:
(1) For any nonempty set $\Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^n$, the set $B$ consisting of points $y\notin\Omega$ where there is not a unique closest ...
- 323
5
votes
2
answers
242
views
Can we stay invertible while approximating linear maps in Sobolev spaces?
Let $\Omega \subseteq \mathbb{R}^n$ be an open bounded domain with a smooth boundary. Fix $1<p<n$.
Let $A \in W^{1,p}(\Omega;\text{End}(\mathbb{R}^n)) \cap C(\Omega;\text{End}(\mathbb{R}^n))$ ...
- 6,741
4
votes
1
answer
387
views
$\sum_{k=1}^n\frac{\sin kx}{k^\alpha} >0\quad\text{for all}\ n=1,2,3,\ldots\ \text{and}\ 0<x<\pi, \text{and}\ \alpha \ge 1$
The Fejer-Jackson inequality as follows:
$$\sum_{k=1}^n\frac{\sin kx}k>0\quad\text{for all}\ n=1,2,3,\ldots\ \text{and}\ 0<x<\pi.$$
I conjecture that the inequality as follows holds:
$$\sum_{...
- 1,776
3
votes
2
answers
949
views
Reference for proof that $C_b^* = rba$
The following theorem seems to have folk status:
The topological dual of the space $C_b(X)$ of bounded continuous functions on a topological space $X$ is isomorphic to the space $rba(X)$ of finite, ...
- 459
1
vote
1
answer
190
views
Inequality and integral
Let $p(u,x):=(4 \pi u)^{-1/2}e^{-\frac{x^2}{4u}},u>0,x \in \mathbb{R}.$
Let $\mathcal{E}:=\{\phi \in C_c^\infty (\mathbb{R}),\operatorname{supp}(\phi) \subset B(0,1),\|\phi\|_\infty \leq 1\}.$
...
- 573
0
votes
2
answers
364
views
Can one show $\left|\frac{2(\zeta'(x))^2-\zeta''(x)\zeta(x)}{\zeta^3(x)}\right|\leq \frac{2}{(x-\frac{1}{2})^2}$ for $x\in\mathbb{R}\cap [1,\infty)$?
I have found that $\left|\frac{2(\zeta'(x))^2-\zeta''(x)\zeta(x)}{\zeta^3(x)}\right|\leq \frac{2}{(x-\frac{1}{2})^2}$ for all real $x$ such that $x>1$ seems to be true. I have plotted the ...
- 178
155
votes
4
answers
18k
views
Does there exist a bijection of $\mathbb{R}^n$ to itself such that the forward map is connected but the inverse is not?
Let $(X,\tau), (Y,\sigma)$ be two topological spaces. We say that a map $f: \mathcal{P}(X)\to \mathcal{P}(Y)$ between their power sets is connected if for every $S\subset X$ connected, $f(S)\subset Y$ ...
- 39k
141
votes
17
answers
38k
views
Why is differentiating mechanics and integration art?
It is often said that "Differentiation is mechanics, integration is art." We have more or less simple rules in one direction but not in the other (e.g. product rule/simple <-> integration by parts/...
- 5,935
72
votes
9
answers
16k
views
Why do functions in complex analysis behave so well? (as opposed to functions in real analysis)
Complex analytic functions show rigid behavior while real-valued smooth functions are flexible. Why is this the case?
- 1,093
68
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Continuous maps which send intervals of $\mathbb{R}$ to convex subsets of $\mathbb{R}^2$
Let $f : \mathbb{R} \longrightarrow \mathbb{R}^2$ be a continuous map which sends any interval $I \subseteq \mathbb{R}$ to a convex subset $f(I)$ of $\mathbb{R}^2$. Is it true that there must be a ...
- 629
54
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Does every real function have this weak continuity property?
In my research I came across the following question :
Is it true that for every real function $f:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$, there exists a real sequence $(x_n)_n$, taking infinitely many values, ...
- 4,074
51
votes
4
answers
17k
views
Function satisfying $f^{-1} =f'$
How many functions are there which are differentiable on $(0,\infty)$ and that satisfy the relation $f^{-1}=f'$?
- 4,795
49
votes
3
answers
6k
views
The Hardy Z-function and failure of the Riemann hypothesis
David Feldman asked whether it would be reasonable for the Riemann hypothesis to be false, but for the Riemann zeta function to only have finitely many zeros off the critical line. I very rashly ...
- 13.1k
41
votes
6
answers
9k
views
"Long-standing conjectures in analysis ... often turn out to be false"
The title is a quote from a Jim Holt article entitled, "The Riemann zeta conjecture and the laughter of the primes" (p. 47).1
His example of a "long-standing conjecture" is the Riemann hypothesis,...
34
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Ruling out the existence of a strange polynomial
Does there exist a polynomial $f \in \mathbb{Z}[x,y]$ such that
$$\displaystyle f(a,b) > 0 \text{ for all } a,b \in \mathbb{Z}$$
and
$$\displaystyle \liminf_{(x,y) \in \mathbb{R}^2} f(x,y) = -\...
- 26.9k
31
votes
4
answers
8k
views
Counterexamples to differentiation under integral sign?
I'm exploring differentiation under the integral sign (I want to be much faster and more assured in doing this common task). So one thing I'm interested in is good counterexamples, where both ...
- 313
30
votes
4
answers
3k
views
A counterexample for Sard's theorem in $C^1$ regularity
I can't seem to find an example of a function $f \colon \mathbb{R}^2\to \mathbb{R}$ which is $C^1$ and such that the set of its critical values is not of zero measure.
What examples are there?
$...
- 478
29
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Is pi = log_a(b) for some integers a, b > 1?
Are there integers $a, b > 1$ such that $\pi = \log_a(b)$?
Or equivalently: are there integers $a,b > 1$ such that $a^\pi = b$?
Note that the transcendence of $\pi$ makes this a problem - ...
- 19.6k
28
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Does $a_n=\prod^n_{k=1}(1-e^{k\alpha \pi i})$ converge to zero when $\alpha$ is irrational?
I came across a problem concerning about the convergence of products. I wonder if the complex series $a_n=\prod^n_{k=1}(1-e^{k\alpha \pi i})$ converges to zero when $\alpha$ is irrational. Of course, ...
- 1,565
27
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Is this a known question about the expression of a function on $\Bbb R^2$ as an infinite sum of products?
The question below was posted on Mathematics Stack Exchange. It received no answer, and I do not expect any direct answer to it here. However, the question seems to me a natural one. Thus I wonder ...
- 2,437
27
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Integral $\int_0^1 \int_0^1 \cdots \int_0^1\frac{x_{1}^2+x_{2}^2+\cdots+x_{n}^2}{x_{1}+x_{2}+\cdots+x_{n}}dx_{1}\, dx_{2}\cdots \, dx_{n}=?$
How to evaluate this integral:
$$\int_0^1 \int_0^1 \cdots \int_0^1\frac{x_{1}^2+x_{2}^2+\cdots+x_{n}^2}{x_{1}+x_{2}+\cdots+x_{n}}dx_{1}\, dx_{2}\cdots \, dx_{n}=?$$
I'm making use of the integral ...
- 389
26
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Analogues of Luzin's theorem
If $X$ is a compact metric space and $\mu$ is a Borel probability measure on $X$, then the space $C(X)$ of continuous real-valued functions on $X$ is a closed nowhere dense subset of $L^\infty(X,\mu)$,...
- 8,903
26
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Does Arzelà-Ascoli require choice?
Inspired by a recent Math.SE question entitled Where do we need the axiom of choice in Riemannian geometry?, I was thinking of the Arzelà--Ascoli theorem. Let's state a very simple version:
...
- 29.7k
25
votes
2
answers
2k
views
$f^3,f^2$ are the cube and quadratic of f respectively and both infinite differentiable on $R$,how to show so is $f$
Let $f$ be a real function with domain R.
If $f^2$ and $f^3$ are both infinitely differentiable on R,
how to prove $f$ is infinitely differentiable on R?
I have been thinking about this problem for a ...
- 295
25
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Evaluation of an $n$-dimensional integral
I asked the same question on math.se but got no answer there. Since it pertains to my current research, I decided to ask here:
Let $n\in 2\mathbb{N}$ be an even number. I want to evaluate
$$I_n
:=
\...
- 453
23
votes
9
answers
2k
views
Nonseparable counterexamples in analysis
When asking for uncountable counterexamples in algebra I noted that in functional analysis there are many examples of things that “go wrong” in the nonseparable setting. But most of the examples I'm ...
22
votes
2
answers
2k
views
When are Fourier coefficients monotonic?
Given some sufficiently smooth function $f$ what conditions would be sufficient for its Fourier coefficients, as defined by
$$
\hat{f}(n) := \int_{0}^{2\pi}\cos(nx)f(x)\ dx, \quad \text{for } n = 1,2,\...
- 595
22
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is a real power series that maps rationals to rationals defined by a rational function?
Suppose that the function $p(x)$ is defined on an open subset $U$ of $\mathbb{R}$ by a power series with real coefficients. Suppose, further, that $p$ maps rationals to rationals. Must $p$ be defined ...
- 6,199
22
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Are functions of bounded variation a.e. differentiable?
In general, it is well known that, on the real line, say on $[0,1]$, if a function $f$ is of (pointwise) bounded variation, meaning that
$$
\sum_{i=1}^n |f(x_i)-f(x_{i-1})| <+\infty
$$
for every ...
- 608
21
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Density of polynomials in $C^k(\overline\Omega)$
Let $\Omega$ be an open and bounded subset of $\mathbb{R}^2$ and let $C^k(\Omega)$, $1\leq k<\infty$, be the space of functions $f$ with continuous derivatives of order $\leq k$ in $\Omega$, ...
- 4,034
21
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Approximate intermediate value theorem in pure constructive mathematics
The ordinary intermediate value theorem (IVT) is not provable in constructive mathematics. To show this, one can construct a Brouwerian "weak counterexample" and also promote it to a precise ...
- 66.8k
17
votes
4
answers
1k
views
In choiceless constructivism: If $f'=0$ then is $f$ constant?
Prove, without any Choice principles or Excluded Middle, that if a pointwise differentiable function has derivative $0$ everywhere, then it is constant. The function in this case maps $\mathbb R$ to $\...
- 4,943
17
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Continuous functions of three variables as superpositions of two variable functions
Could we always locally represent a continuous function $F(x,y,z)$ in the form of $g\left(f(x,y),z\right)$ for suitable continuous functions $f$, $g$ of two variables? I am aware of Vladimir Arnold's ...
- 3,599
17
votes
3
answers
2k
views
The minimum of a sum of absolute values of inner products in $\mathbb{R}^d$
Consider a collection of unit vectors $v_1, \ldots, v_n$ in $\mathbb{R}^d$ (we think of $n$ being much larger than $d$). I would like to minimize the sum:
$$\sum_{i\neq j}|\langle v_i,v_j\rangle|.$$
...
- 2,288
17
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Is this statement which relates the Fourier transform of a function to its singularities correct?
I am working on a problem, which would possibly relate the Fourier transform/series with the jump singularities of the function where the function itself or one of its derivatives jump. ((some kind of ...
- 698
16
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Can integration spoil real-analyticity?
Is there an example of a function $f:(a,b)\times(c,d)\to\mathbb{R}$, which is real analytic in its domain, integrable in the second variable, and such that the function
$$ g:(a,b)\to\mathbb{R},\qquad ...
- 353
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 ...
- 6,155
15
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Can the Riemann integral be defined through a closure/completion process?
Let us consider real-valued functions on the bounded interval $[0,1]$. A "step function" means an element of the vector space spanned by indicator functions of (points and) intervals in $[0,1]$ (the ...
- 32.5k
15
votes
0
answers
409
views
Is there a continuous map $f:\mathbb R^\omega\to\mathbb R^\omega$ with dense countable preimage $f^{-1}(\mathbb Q^\omega)$?
Let $\mathbb Q^\omega_0:=\{(x_i)_{i\in\omega}\in\mathbb Q^\omega:\exists n\in\omega\;\forall m\ge n\;\;x_m=0\}$ and observe that $\mathbb Q^\omega_0$ is a countable dense set in $\mathbb R^\omega$ (...
- 41.8k
15
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Is the sequence of Apéry numbers a Stieltjes moment sequence?
Consider the sequence of Apéry numbers
$$
A_n = \sum_{k=0}^n \binom{n}{k}\binom{n+k}{k}\sum_{j=0}^k \binom{k}{j}^3
= \sum_{k=0}^n \binom{n}{k}^2\binom{n+k}{k}^2 .
$$
In an email, physicist Alan Sokal ...
- 41.1k
14
votes
6
answers
3k
views
What's a natural candidate for an analytic function that interpolates the tower function?
I know that there are analytic functions whose composition with itself is the exponential function, the so-called functional square root of the exponential function, with the additional property that ...
- 4,466
14
votes
2
answers
540
views
Are all well behaved "mean" functions on $\mathbb{R}^+$ equivalent?
Given a set $S$, a function $M: S\times S \rightarrow S$ is a mean if it satisfies the properties:
$M(a,a)=a\qquad$ (identity)
$M(a,b)=M(b,a)\qquad$ (commutativity).
and possibly
$M(M(a,b),M(a,c))=...
- 5,103
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
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
4
answers
2k
views
Seeking a Geometric Proof of a Generalized Alternating Series' Convergence
Let $z \in \mathbb{C} \backslash \lbrace 1 \rbrace$ with $|z| = 1$. We consider the following infinite series, which necessarily converges:
$$S(z) := \sum_{n = 1}^{\infty}\frac{z^n}{n}$$
Note that $S(...
- 7,831
11
votes
1
answer
704
views
Is $\mathfrak j_{2:1}=\mathfrak{j}_{2:2}$ in ZFC?
A function $f:\omega\to\omega$ is called
$\bullet$ 2-to-1 if $|f^{-1}(y)|\le 2$ for any $y\in\omega$;
$\bullet$ almost injective if the set $\{y\in \omega:|f^{-1}(y)|>1\}$ is finite.
Let us ...
- 41.8k
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Has anyone seen this series?
I come across the following infinite series.
$$
\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{t^n}{n!\: n^{a}}, \quad\text{for $t>0$ and $a>0$}.
$$
In particular, I am interested in the case where $a=1/4$.
...
- 1,649