The caratheodory number for thek-core

Thek-core of the setS ⁿ is the intersection of the convex hull of all setsA S with ¦SA¦<-k. The Caratheodory number of thek-core is the smallest integerf (d,k) with the property thatx core _{kS, S} ⁿ implies the existence of a subsetT S such thatx core_kT and ¦T¦f (d, k). In this paper various properties off(d, k) are established.Research of this author was partially supported by Hungarian National Science Foundation grant no. 1812.     

Krasnosel'skii numbers for bounded finitely starlike sets inR d

For eachk andd, 1kd, definef(d, d)=d+1 andf(d, k)=2d if 1kd–1. The following results are established:Let be a uniformly bounded collection of compact, convex sets inR ^d . For a fixedk, 1kd, dim {MM in }k if and only if for some > 0, everyf(d, k) members of contain a commonk-dimensional set of measure (volume) at least.LetS be a bounded subset ofR ^d . Assume that for some fixedk, 1kd, there exists a countable family of (k–l)-flats {H _i :i1} inR ^d such that clS S {H_i i 1 } and for eachi1, (clS S) H _i has (k–1) dimensional measure zero. Every finite subset ofS sees viaS a set of positivek-dimensional measure if and only if for some>0, everyf(d,k) points ofS see viaS a set ofk-dimensional measure at least .The numbers off(d,d) andf(d, 1) above are best possible.Supported in part by NSF grant DMS-8705336.     

The steinitz lemma inl inf∞ sup2

Let (a, b) be a pair of non-negative numbers such that (1)a, b1 and (2)a+b3. Letu ₁,...,u _n be a sequence of vectors from the set {(x, y)R ²: |x|, |y|1}, withu ₁+...+u _n =0. It is shown that there is a permutation of indices such that all partial sumsu ₍₁₎+...+u _(k) lie in the rectangle |x|a, |y|b. Conditions (1) and (2) are also necessary.     

Reconstructing dimensions of intersections of convex sets

Denoting by dimA the dimension of the affine hull of the setA, we prove that if {K _i:i T} and {K _i ^j :i T} are two finite families of convex sets inR ⁿ and if dim {K _i :i S} = dim {K _i ^j :i S}for eachS T such that|S| n + 1 then dim {K _i :i T} = dim {K _i : {i T}}.     

Approximation of the Distribution of the Supremum of a Centered Random Walk. Application to the Local Score

Let (X _n ) _{n 0} be a real random walk starting at 0, with centered increments bounded by a constant K. The main result of this study is: |P(S _n n x)–P( sup_{0 u 1} B _u x)| C(n,K) n/n, where x 0, ² is the variance of the increments, S _n is the supremum at time n of the random walk, (B _u ,u 0) is a standard linear Brownian motion and C(n,K) is an explicit constant. We also prove that in the previous inequality S _n can be replaced by the local score and sup₀ u 1 B _u by sup₀ u 1|B _u |.     

Triple Positive Solutions for Multipoint Conjugate Boundary Value Problems

For the nth order nonlinear differential equation y ⁽ⁿ⁾(t)=f(y(t)), t [0,1], satisfying the multipoint conjugate boundary conditions, y ^(j)(a_i) = 0,1 i k, 0 j n _i - 1, 0 =a ₁ < a ₂ < < a _k = 1, and _i=1 ^k n _i =n, where f: [0, ) is continuous, growth condtions are imposed on f which yield the existence of at least three solutions that belong to a cone.     

Approximation under an arc length constraint

Let f C[a, b]. LetP be a subset ofC[a, b], L b – a be a given real number. We say thatp P is a best approximation tof fromP, with arc length constraintL, ifA[p] _b ^a [1 + (p(x)) ²]dx L andp – f q – f for allq P withA[q] L. represents an arbitrary norm onC[a, b]. The constraintA[p] L might be interpreted physically as a materials constraint.In this paper we consider the questions of existence, uniqueness and characterization of constrained best approximations. In addition a bound, independent of degree, is found for the arc length of a best unconstrained Chebyshev polynomial approximation.The work of L. L. Keener is supported by the National Research Council of Canada Grant A8755.     

About polytopes of valuations on finite distributive lattices

Let L be a finite distributive lattice and V(L) the real vector space of all valuations on L. We verify the conjecture of Geissinger that the extreme points of the convex polytope M(L)={v L : 0 v 1} are precisely the 0–1 valuations.     

Efficient Regular Polygon Dissections

We study the minimum number g(m,n) (respectively, p(m,n)) of pieces needed to dissect a regular m-gon into a regular n-gon of the same area using glass-cuts (respectively, polygonal cuts). First we study regular polygon-square dissections and show that n/2 -2 g(4,n) (n/2) + o(n) and n/4 g(n,4) (n/2) + o(n) hold for sufficiently large n. We also consider polygonal cuts, i.e., the minimum number p(4,n) of pieces needed to dissect a square into a regular n-gon of the same area using polygonal cuts and show that n/4 p(4,n) (n/2) + o(n) holds for sufficiently large n. We also consider regular polygon-polygon dissections and obtain similar bounds for g(m,n) and p(m,n).     

Randomly Weighted Sums of Subexponential Random Variables with Application to Ruin Theory

Let {X _k , 1 k n} be n independent and real-valued random variables with common subexponential distribution function, and let {k, 1 k n} be other n random variables independent of {X _k , 1 k n} and satisfying a _k b for some 0 < a b < for all 1 k n. This paper proves that the asymptotic relations P (max_{1 m n k=1} ^m _k X _k > x) P (sum _k=1 ⁿ _k X _k > x) sum _k=1 ⁿ P ( _k X _k > x) hold as x . In doing so, no any assumption is made on the dependence structure of the sequence { _k , 1 k n}. An application to ruin theory is proposed.     

Improved Krasnosel'skii theorems for the dimension of the kernel of a starshaped set

We will establish the following improved Krasnosel'skii theorems for the dimension of the kernel of a starshaped set: For each k and d, 0 k d, define f(d,k) = d+1 if k = 0 and f(d,k) = max{d+1,2d–2k+2} if 1 k d.Theorem 1. Let S be a compact, connected, locally starshaped set in R^d, S not convex. Then for a k with 0 k d, dim ker S k if and only if every f(d, k) lnc points of S are clearly visible from a common k-dimensional subset of S.Theorem 2. Let S be a nonempty compact set in R^d. Then for a k with 0 k d, dim ker S k if and only if every f (d, k) boundary points of S are clearly visible from a common k-dimensional subset of S. In each case, the number f(d, k) is best possible for every d and k.     

Triangles in arrangements of lines

Givenn lines in the real projective plane, Grünbaum conjectures that, for n16, the numberp ₃ of triangular regions determined by the lines is at most 1/3n(n–1). We show that ifn7 thenp ₃ 8/21n(n–1)+2/7, we also point out that if no vertex is a point of intersection of exactly three of the lines, thenp ₃1/3n(n–1).Professor Gu died while on a visit to Poland in April 1997     

Gröbner bases and triangulations of the second hypersimplex

The algebraic technique of Gröbner bases is applied to study triangulations of the second hypersimplex (2,n). We present a quadratic Gröbner basis for the associated toric idealK(K _n ). The simplices in the resulting triangulation of (2,n) have unit volume, and they are indexed by subgraphs which are linear thrackles [28] with respect to a circular embedding ofK _n . Forn6 the number of distinct initial ideals ofI(K _n ) exceeds the number of regular triangulations of (2,n); more precisely, the secondary polytope of (2,n) equals the state polytope ofI(K _n ) forn5 but not forn6. We also construct a non-regular triangulation of (2,n) forn9. We determine an explicit universal Gröbner basis ofI(K _n ) forn8. Potential applications in combinatorial optimization and random generation of graphs are indicated.Research partially supported by a doctoral fellowship of the National University of Mexico, the National Science Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the U.S. Army Research Office (through ACSyAM/MSI, Cornell).     

A note on the independent domination number of subset graph

The independent domination number i(G) (independent number (G)) is the minimum (maximum) cardinality among all maximal independent sets of G. Haviland (1995) conjectured that any connected regular graph G of order n and degree 1/2n satisfies i(G) 2n/3 1/2. For 1 k l m, the subset graph S _m (k, l) is the bipartite graph whose vertices are the k- and l-subsets of an m element ground set where two vertices are adjacent if and only if one subset is contained in the other. In this paper, we give a sharp upper bound for i(S _m (k, l)) and prove that if k + l = m then Havilands conjecture holds for the subset graph S _m (k, l). Furthermore, we give the exact value of (S _m (k, l)).This work was supported by National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (19871036).     

Sukzessive Minima mit und ohne Nebenbedingungen

Given semi-normsf andg on ⁿ and a real number >0. Then the successive minima off under the constraintg are defined by _j : = inf {: there existj linear independent vectors inZ ⁿ withf andg}. The main theorem of this paper (Lagrange multiplier theorem) states that the successive minima of a certainnorm h on ⁿ (without constraints) coincide with the _j 's up to bounded factors. Moreover, this norm is constructed explicitly. Using Minkowski's wellknown theorem on successive minima and our result certain inequalities on simultaneous Diophantine approximations are derived.     

Primes in short intervals

Let (x) stand for the number of primes not exceedingx. In the present work it is shown that if 23/421,yx andx>x() then (x)–(x–y)>y/(100 logx). This implies for the difference between consecutive primes the inequalityp _n+1–p _n p _n ^23/42 .     

Measure ratio of equidecomposable sets

Let n 2. There are Lebesgue measurable sets A and B in ³ such that (B)/(A)=r and A _n B if and only if 2/n r n/2.     

On the best estimate for perimeters of plane sets with the angle property

We investigate the problem of finding the maximum length of perimeters of plane sets with fixed diameter d, such that every point of the boundary of the set is a vertex of an open angle of opening which does not intersect the set. First we consider plane curves which satisfy such angle property in a finite number of directions, and among them we find the one of maximum length. Then we prove that the perimeter of any plane set with the angle property is less than or equal to d(sin /2)^-2; this is the best estimate when /2.     

Limits of balayage measures

LetA be a subset of a balayage space (X,W) and a measure onX. It is shown that for every sequence _n of measures such that lim_nn and lim_{n n} ^A = the limit measure is of the formf+[(1-f)]^A for some (unique) Borel function 0f1_Cb(A). Furthermore, conditions are given such that any such functionf occurs.     

Finitely starlike sets whose F-stars have positive measure

Let and assume that there is a countable collection of lines {L _i : 1 i} such that (int cl S) and ((int cl S) S) L _i has one-dimensional Lebesgue measure zero, 1 i. Then every 4 point subset ofS sees viaS a set of positive two-dimensional Lebesgue measure if and only if every finite subset ofS sees viaS such a set. Furthermore, a parallel result holds with two-dimensional replaced by one-dimensional. Finally, setS is finitely starlike if and only if every 5 points ofS see viaS a common point. In each case, the number 4 or 5 is best possible.Supported in part by NSF grant DMS-8705336.