All Questions

7k views

Direct proof of irrationality?

There are plenty of simple proofs out there that $\sqrt{2}$ is irrational. But does there exist a proof which is not a proof by contradiction? I.e. which is not of the form: Suppose $a/b=\sqrt{2}$ ...
578 views

Applications of modular forms outside Number Theory? [closed]

Are there applications of modular forms to areas other than Number Theory (and Galois Theory) such as Combinatorics, Algebraic Topology, Algebraic Geometry, Theoretical Physics,...?
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Minimum of Milnor number for the curve singularities of fixed multiplicity

An element $F\in \mathbb{C}[[x,y]]$ defines a germ of plane curve. We assume $F(0,0)=0$. The multiplicity $mult$ of the germ is defined to be a minimal number $i$ such that $F\in m^i$ where $m=(x,y)$ ...
917 views

Unprovable statements S where the only way to prove S is to assume S

Motivation: Incompleteness (and various independence statements) is about unprovable statements. One natural way to make an unprovable statement provable is to assume it as a new axiom. But this feels ...
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264 views

Decomposition of symmetric homogeneous polynomials

Can every symmetric polynomial of degree $r$ in $d$ variables that has no constant term be written as a sum of the $r$th powers of linear polynomials in $d$ variables and a homogeneous polynomial of ...
5k views

801 views

Non-separable Banach space

The vector space $C_b(\mathbb R)$ of bounded continuous functions on $\mathbb R$ is non-separable: it is possible to produce a direct proof of this fact, mimicking the standard proof for the ...
61 views

notation for vector product in the space

The notation for vector (a.k.a. cross) product in $\mathbb{R}^3$ I usually see is $\times$. However, some places use $\wedge$ instead, which IMHO creates a lot of confusion, as $\wedge$ usually is ...
89 views

Solutions of an nonlinear evolution problem

We consider the following continuous-time nonlinear evolution problem $$\begin{cases} \dot{y}(t)=Ay(t)+F(y(t),u(t)),\quad t\geq0\\y(0)=f\in\mathcal{X}\end{cases}$$ where ...
391 views

Continuous extensions reals and to p-adic numbers

Assume $f\colon \mathbb Q\to \mathbb Q$ is a function which admits continuous extensions $f_0\colon\mathbb R\to \mathbb R$ and $f_p\colon \mathbb Q_p\to \mathbb Q_p$ for each prime $p$. Is ...
432 views

If G is a finite group, I understand that the category of RO(G)-graded spectra, when rationalized, becomes Quillen equivalent to the category of Mackey functors valued in chain complexes of rational ...
8k views

Research statement in PhD applications--how much is too much?

I intend, in the somewhat near future, to engage preparing my graduate school applications for next year. I have worked hard to secure a solid application as far as coursework, grades, ...
973 views

Is $x^p-x+1$ always irreducible in $F_p[x]$?

It seems that for any prime number $p$ and for any non-zero element $a$ in the finite field $\mathbb F_p$, the polynomial $x^p-x+a$ is irreducible over $\mathbb F_p$. (It is of course obvious that ...
115 views

Defining Global Choice in terms of strong limit cardinals over $ZF$

In his answer to user33038's mathoverflow question "What axioms are stronger than the Axiom of choice?", Prof. Hamkins writes: "What's more, the axiom of choice is equivalent over $ZF$ to the ...
449 views
+100

Small quotients of smooth numbers

Assume that $N=2^k$, and let $\{n_1, \dots, n_N\}$ denote the set of square-free positive integers which are generated by the first $k$ primes, sorted in increasing order. Question: what is a good ...
32k views

Math puzzles for dinner [closed]

You're hanging out with a bunch of other mathematicians - you go out to dinner, you're on the train, you're at a department tea, et cetera. Someone says something like "A group of 100 people at a ...
1k views

A ring such that all projectives are stably free but not all projectives are free?

This question is motivated by this recent question. Suppose $R$ is commutative, Noetherian ring and $M$ a finitely generated $R$-module. Let $FD(M)$ and $PD(M)$ be the shortest length of free and ...
1k views

Heuristic argument for the prime number theorem?

Here is a bad heuristic argument for the prime number theorem. Let n be a positive integer and assume that PNT holds up to n. Then n itself is prime if and only if for each prime p<n the event p|n ...
1k views

Topple height of randomly stacked bricks

What is the expected height of a stack of unit-length bricks, each one stacked on the previous with a uniformly random shift within $\pm \delta$? The stack topples if the center of gravity of the top ...
524 views

Determining conjugacy class of a subgroup from intersection with conjugacy classes

Is a subgroup of a finite group uniquely determined, up to conjugation, by the subset of conjugacy classes of the larger group that it intersects?
4k views

Is PA consistent? do we know it?

1) (By Goedel's) One can not prove, in PA, a formula that can be interpreted to express the consistency of PA. (Hopefully I said it right. Specialists correct me, please). 2) There are proofs ...
422 views

Aysmptotic comparison of L^2 sections versus generating sections

Let $s_1,\ldots, s_k$ be linearly independent global holomorphic sections of a holomorphic line bundle $E$ over a compact algebraic manifold $X$, with volume form $\Omega$. For $m$ large, let ...
3k views

Has decidability got something to do with primes?

Note: I have modified the question to make it clearer and more relevant. That makes some of references to the old version no longer hold. I hope the victims won't be furious over this. Motivation: ...
435 views

What is the geometric fixed points of an (equivariant) Eilenberg Maclane Spectrum?

The following was posted to math.stackexchange to no avail: http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/908756/an-exercise-in-homology-computation-what-is-the-geometric-fixed-points-of-an-e The question ...
Let $g \geq 2$, and consider the moduli space $\bar M_{g,n}$ of stable n-pointed curves of genus g. There is a natural forgetful map to $\bar M_g$, which forgets the markings and contracts any ...