All Questions
Tagged with real-analysis or linear-algebra
1,309 questions
38
votes
1
answer
10k
views
Infinite tensor products
Let $A$ be a commutative ring and $M_i, i \in I$ be a infinite family of $A$-modules. Define their tensor product $\bigotimes_{i \in I} M_i$ to be a representing object of the functor of multilinear ...
- 63.1k
91
votes
5
answers
124k
views
Eigenvalues of matrix sums
Is there a relationship between the eigenvalues of individual matrices and the eigenvalues of their sum? What about the special case when the matrices are Hermitian and positive definite?
I am ...
- 1,013
368
votes
31
answers
80k
views
Geometric interpretation of trace
This afternoon I was speaking with some graduate students in the department and we came to the following quandary;
Is there a geometric interpretation of the trace of a matrix?
This question ...
238
votes
10
answers
43k
views
If $f$ is infinitely differentiable then $f$ coincides with a polynomial
Let $f$ be an infinitely differentiable function on $[0,1]$ and suppose that for each $x \in [0,1]$ there is an integer $n \in \mathbb{N}$ such that $f^{(n)}(x)=0$. Then does $f$ coincide on $[0,1]$ ...
- 4,795
57
votes
6
answers
6k
views
Is the non-triviality of the algebraic dual of an infinite-dimensional vector space equivalent to the axiom of choice?
If $V$ is given to be a vector space that is not finite-dimensional, it doesn't seem to be possible to exhibit an explicit non-zero linear functional on $V$ without further information about $V$. The ...
- 3,511
46
votes
7
answers
10k
views
Are some numbers more irrational than others?
Some irrational numbers are transcendental, which makes them in some sense "more irrational" than algebraic numbers. There are also numbers, such as the golden ratio $\varphi$, which are poorly ...
- 1,823
20
votes
6
answers
42k
views
Eigenvalues of symmetric tridiagonal matrices
Suppose I have the symmetric tridiagonal matrix:
$$ \begin{pmatrix}
a & b_{1} & 0 & ... & 0 \\\
b_{1} & a & b_{2} & \ddots & \vdots \\\
0 & b_{2} & a & \...
17
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Kolmogorov superposition for smooth functions
Kolmogorov superposition theorem states that a continuous function $f(x_1,\ldots,x_n)$ can be written as
$$f(x_1,\ldots,x_n)=\sum_{q=0}^{2n}\Phi_q\left(\sum_{p=1}^{n}\phi_{q,p}(x_p)\right)$$
for ...
- 807
14
votes
2
answers
871
views
Are all maps $\mathbb{R}^2 \to \mathbb{R}^2$ with fixed singular values affine?
Let $f:\mathbb{R}^2 \to \mathbb{R}^2$ be a smooth map whose differential has fixed distinct singular values $0<\sigma_1<\sigma_2$ and an everywhere positive determinant (which is the product $\...
- 6,741
5
votes
1
answer
630
views
Infinite dimensional involutions: infinitely large sets of multivariate polynomials self-inverse under self-substitution
Examples of infinite dimensional involutions
Edit 2/25/23, as suggested by YCOR below: (Start)
The first return on a Google search on involution--from late Latin 'a rolling up'--gives the Oxford ...
- 10.5k
107
votes
9
answers
36k
views
solving $f(f(x))=g(x)$
This question is of course inspired by the question How to solve f(f(x))=cosx
and Joel David Hamkins' answer, which somehow gives a formal trick for solving equations of the form $f(f(x))=g(x)$ on a ...
- 41.4k
45
votes
5
answers
3k
views
An "analytic continuation" of power series coefficients
Cauchy residue theorem tells us that for a function
$$f(z) = \sum_{k \in \mathbb{Z}} a(k) z^k,$$
the coefficient $a(k)$ can be extracted by an integral formula
$$a(k) = \frac{1}{2\pi i}\oint f(z) z^{-...
- 1,324
8
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Ramanujan's Master Formula: A proof and relation to umbral calculus
The Ramanujan's master theorem states that:
$$
\int_0^{\infty}x^{s-1}\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\frac{(-1)^n}{n!}a_nx^ndx=\Gamma(s)a_{-s}
$$
I found a really strange proof recently on a personal blog:
Define
$...
- 302
47
votes
4
answers
8k
views
Does the fact that this vector space is not isomorphic to its double-dual require choice?
Let $V$ denote the vector space of sequences of real numbers that are eventually 0, and let $W$ denote the vector space of sequences of real numbers. Given $w \in W$ and $v \in V$, we can take their "...
- 3,982
42
votes
3
answers
5k
views
The probability for a symmetric matrix to be positive definite
Let me give a reasonable model for the question in the title. In ${\rm Sym}_n({\mathbb R})$, the positive definite matrices form a convex cone $S_n^+$. The probability I have in mind is the ratio $p_n=...
- 52.3k
40
votes
5
answers
10k
views
Is there a natural measures on the space of measurable functions?
Given a set Ω and a σ-algebra F of subsets, is there some natural way to assign something like a "uniform" measure on the space of all measurable functions on this space? (I suppose first ...
- 1,475
18
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Number of unique determinants for an NxN (0,1)-matrix
I'm interested in bounds for the number of unique determinants of NxN (0,1)-matrices. Obviously some of these matrices will be singular and therefore will trivially have zero determinant. While it ...
- 359
127
votes
4
answers
32k
views
Slick proof?: A vector space has the same dimension as its dual if and only if it is finite dimensional
A very important theorem in linear algebra that is rarely taught is:
A vector space has the same dimension as its dual if and only if it is finite dimensional.
I have seen a total of one proof of ...
122
votes
5
answers
27k
views
Is the series $\sum_n|\sin n|^n/n$ convergent?
Problem. Is the series $$\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{|\sin(n)|^n}n$$convergent?
(The problem was posed on 22.06.2017 by Ph D students of H.Steinhaus Center of Wroclaw Polytechnica. The promised prize for ...
- 4,535
74
votes
15
answers
18k
views
$f(f(x))=\exp(x)-1$ and other functions "just in the middle" between linear and exponential
The question is about the function $f(x)$ so that $f(f(x))=\exp (x)-1$.
The question is open ended and it was discussed quite recently in the comment thread in Aaronson's blog here http://...
- 24.7k
68
votes
4
answers
9k
views
explicit big linearly independent sets
In the following, I use the word "explicit" in the following sense: No choices of bases (of vector spaces or field extensions), non-principal ultrafilters or alike which exist only by Zorn's Lemma (or ...
- 63.1k
46
votes
4
answers
8k
views
Why could Mertens not prove the prime number theorem?
We know that
$$
\sum_{n \le x}\frac{1}{n\ln n} = \ln\ln x + c_1 + O(1/x)
$$
where $c_1$ is a constant. Again Mertens' theorem says that the primes $p$ satisfy
$$
\sum_{p \le x}\frac{1}{p} = \ln\ln ...
- 5,470
29
votes
6
answers
10k
views
how to find/define eigenvectors as a continuous function of matrix?
I asked this (with background) here
https://stats.stackexchange.com/questions/38494/principal-component-analysis-bootstrap-and-probability-of-eigenvalue-collision
but did not really get any answers. ...
- 2,600
26
votes
2
answers
9k
views
Maximal ideals in the ring of continuous real-valued functions on ℝ
For a compact space $K$, the maximal ideals in the ring $C(K)$ of continuous real-valued functions on $K$ are easily identified with the points of $K$ (a point defines the maximal ideal of functions ...
- 6,734
25
votes
9
answers
6k
views
Function with range equal to whole reals on every open set
There is an example of a function that is unbounded on every open set. Just take $f(n/m) = m$ for coprime $n$ and $m$ and $f(irrational) = 0$.
I want to generalize this in a way to get a function ...
- 2,821
23
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Density of smooth functions under "Hölder metric"
This question came up when I was doing some reading into convolution squares of singular measures. Recall a function $f$ on the torus $T = [-1/2,1/2]$ is said to be $\alpha$-Hölder (for $0 < \alpha ...
- 505
15
votes
2
answers
851
views
What are the periodic Dyck paths?
I changed the thread completely so that everything is now elementary linear algebra.
A Dyck path of length $n$ is a list of positive integers $[c_1,c_2,...,c_n]$ with $c_i -1 \leq c_{i+1}$ for all $i$...
- 26.5k
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Extending an assignment property from Q to R (or C)
Property of any odd number of nonnegative integers:
Given $x_1 \leq \cdots \leq x_{2n + 1}$ with each $x_i \in \mathbb{Z}_{\geq 0}$, suppose that for any $x_i$ we remove, the remaining numbers can be ...
- 7,831
10
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Formal power series is Taylor expansion of rational function iff Hankel determinants vanish?
Let $$ u(T)=\sum_{n = 0}^\infty a_nT^n$$ be a formal power series over a field $K$. Then why does $u(T)$ lie in $K(T)$ (i.e. is the Taylor expansion of a rational function) if and only if there is an $...
user97565
5
votes
1
answer
499
views
Hausdorff dimension of the graph of a BV function
Let $u: \Omega\subset \mathbb{R}^N \to \mathbb{R}^M$ be a $BV$ function.
Is the Hausdorff dimension of the graph of $u$ equal to $N$? How can we prove it?
Update.
In an answer to this post, it ...
- 839
4
votes
5
answers
4k
views
About adding a negative definite rank-1 matrix to a symmetric matrix
If $B$ is a symmetric matrix then how do its eigenvalues compare to the eigenvalues of $B - vv^T$? ( where $v$ is a vector of the same dimension as $B$)
I guess that the eigenvalues of $B - vv^T$ ...
- 1,893
102
votes
21
answers
15k
views
Proofs of the uncountability of the reals
Recently, I learnt in my analysis class the proof of the uncountability of the reals via the Nested Interval Theorem (Wayback Machine). At first, I was excited to see a variant proof (as it did not ...
- 2,855
81
votes
10
answers
9k
views
Existence of a zero-sum subset
Some time ago I heard this question and tried playing around with it. I've never succeeded to making actual progress. Here it goes:
Given a finite (nonempty) set of real numbers, $S=\{a_1,a_2,\dots, ...
- 85.6k
53
votes
7
answers
51k
views
Determinant of sum of positive definite matrices
Say $A$ and $B$ are symmetric, positive definite matrices. I've proved that
$$\det(A+B) \ge \det(A) + \det(B)$$
in the case that $A$ and $B$ are two dimensional. Is this true in general for $n$-...
- 541
52
votes
7
answers
6k
views
On an example of an eventually oscillating function
For $x\in(0,1)$, put
$$f(x):=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}(-1)^{n}x^{2^{n}}.$$
This function possesses interesting properties. It grows monotonically from $0$ up to certain point. Then it starts to oscillate ...
- 2,188
46
votes
2
answers
8k
views
"Closed-form" functions with half-exponential growth
Let's call a function f:N→N half-exponential if there exist constants 1<c<d such that for all sufficiently large n,
cn < f(f(n)) < dn.
Then my question is this: can we prove that no ...
- 9,823
45
votes
11
answers
23k
views
real symmetric matrix has real eigenvalues - elementary proof
Every real symmetric matrix has at least one real eigenvalue. Does anyone know how to prove this elementary, that is without the notion of complex numbers?
- 579
43
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Square root of a positive $C^\infty$ function.
Suppose $f$ is a $C^\infty$ function from the reals to the reals that is never negative. Does it have a $C^\infty$ square root? Clearly the only problem points are those at which $f$ vanishes.
- 907
39
votes
8
answers
13k
views
Can Cantor set be the zero set of a continuous function?
More generally, can the zero set $V(f)$ of a continuous function $f : \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ be nowhere dense and uncountable? What if $f$ is smooth?
Some days ago I discovered that in this proof ...
- 5,339
38
votes
13
answers
5k
views
Continuous relations?
What might it mean for a relation $R\subset X\times Y$ to be continuous, where $X$ and $Y$ are topological spaces? In topology, category theory or in analysis? Is it possible, canonical, useful?
I ...
- 862
38
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Binomial again, and again
Let $\lceil a\rceil=$ the smallest integer $\geq a$, otherwise known as the ceiling function. When the arguments are real, interpret $\binom{a}b$ using the Euler's gamma function, $\Gamma$.
Recently, ...
- 43.2k
34
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What are the algebras for the double dualization monad?
Let $k$ be a field, and let $\mathbf{Vect}$ denote the category of vector spaces (possibly infinite-dimensional) over $k$. Taking duals gives a functor $(\ )^*\colon \mathbf{Vect}^{\mathrm{op}} \to \...
- 27.7k
28
votes
5
answers
4k
views
Does Smith normal form imply PID?
Let $R$ be a nonzero commutative ring with $1$, such that all finite matrices over $R$ have a Smith normal form. Does it follow that $R$ is a principal ideal domain?
If this fails, suppose we ...
user5810
28
votes
4
answers
5k
views
Jacobi's equality between complementary minors of inverse matrices
What's a quick way to prove the following fact about minors of an invertible matrix $A$ and its inverse?
Let $A[I,J]$ denote the submatrix of an $n \times n$ matrix $A$ obtained by keeping only the ...
- 4,466
27
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Kasteleyn's formula for domino tilings generalized?
It seems a marvel when a bunch of irrational numbers "conspire" to become rational, even better an integer. An elementary example is $\prod_{j=1}^n4\cos^2\left(\pi j/(2n+1)\right)=1$.
Kasteleyn's ...
- 43.2k
26
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Sizes of bases of vector spaces without the axiom of choice
Assuming the axiom of choice does not hold we have that there is a vector space without a basis. The situation can be, in some sense, worse. It is consistent that there are vector spaces that have two ...
- 39.7k
26
votes
5
answers
8k
views
Proof that no differentiable space-filling curve exists
Could someone provide a reference or a sketch of a proof that no differentiable space-filling curve exists?
Or piecewise differentiable?
Must every continuous space-filling curve be nowhere ...
- 151k
25
votes
1
answer
4k
views
What kind of random matrices have rapidly decaying singular values?
I've been told that in machine learning it's common to compute the singular value decomposition of matrices in order to throw out all information in the matrix except that corresponding to, say, the $...
- 118k
25
votes
4
answers
7k
views
"Natural" pairings between exterior powers of a vector space and its dual
Let $V$ be a finite-dimensional vector space over a field $k$, $v_1, \dotsc v_n \in V$ a set of vectors, and $f_1, \dotsc f_n \in V^{\ast}$ a set of covectors. Up to permutation, there seem to be at ...
- 118k
20
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Euler numbers and permanent of matrices
Motivated by Question 402249 of Zhi-Wei Sun, I consider the permanent of matrices
$$e(n)=\mathrm{per}\left[\operatorname{sgn} \left(\tan\pi\frac{j+k}n \right)\right]_{1\le j,k\le n-1},$$
where $n$ is ...
- 884