Productivity—Target or Conceptual Tool?

The standard definition of “productivity” is shown to be deliberately ambiguous, and to conceal a number of difficulties in selecting an “output” for numerator and an “input” for denominator. The attempt to choose appropriate ones in a given situation leads to better understanding of the working of the organization.A distinction is drawn between effectiveness, efficiency and “profit” (in a rather general sense), and the circumstances in which it is desirable to study one or other of these are examined.Measures of any of these may be of value as a stimulus to better performance (at the risk of leading to attempts to improve the measure rather than the real situation). Alternatively, if they are sound enough statistically, they may be useful tools for analysing the factors that affect the efficient working of the organization.     

A type of matrix Padé approximant inspired by scalar component models

In this paper we define a type of matrix Padé approximant inspired by the identification stage of multivariate time series models considering scalar component models. Of course, the formalization of certain properties in the matrix Padé approximation framework can be applied to time series models and in other fields. Specifically, we want to study matrix Padé approximants as follows: to find rational representations (or rational approximations) of a matrix formal power series, with both matrix polynomials, numerator and denominator, satisfying three conditions: (a) minimum row degrees for the numerator and denominator, (b) an invertible denominator at the origin, and (c) canonical representation (without free parameters).     

The attractive Coulomb potential polynomials

TheJ matrix method in quantum mechanics developed by Heller, Reinhardt, and Yamani points to a set of orthogonal polynomials having a nonempty continuous spectrum in addition to an infinite discrete spectrum. Asymptotic methods are used to investigate the spectral properties of these polynomials. We also obtain generating functions for both numerator and denominator polynomials. The corresponding continued fraction is computed and the Stieltjes inversion formula is used to determine the distribution function.     

Commentary: Linking epistemology and semio-cognitive modeling in visualization

To situate the contributions of these research articles on visualization as an epistemological learning tool, we have employed mathematical, cognitive and functional criteria. Mathematical criteria refer to mathematical content, or more precisely the areas to which they belong: whole numbers (numeracy), algebra, calculus and geometry. They lead us to characterize the “tools” of visualization according to the number of dimensions of the diagrams used in experiments. From a cognitive point of view, visualization should not be confused with a visualization “tool,” which is often called “diagram” and is in fact a semiotic production. To understand how visualization springs from any diagram, we must resort to the notion of figural unity. It results methodologically in the two following criteria and questions: (1) In a given diagram, what are the figural units recognized by the students? (2) What are the mathematically relevant figural units that pupils should recognize? The analysis of difficulties of visualization in mathematical learning and the value of “tools” of visualization depend on the gap between the observations for these two questions. Visualization meets functions that can be quite different from both a cognitive and epistemological point of view. It can fulfill a help function by materializing mathematical relations or transformations in pictures or movements. This function is essential in the early numerical activities in which case the used diagrams are specifically iconic representations. Visualization can also fulfill a heuristic function for solving problems in which case the used diagrams such as graphs and geometrical figures are intrinsically mathematical and are used for the modeling of real problems. Most of the papers in this special issue concern the tools of visualization for whole numbers, their properties, and calculation algorithms. They show the semiotic complexity of classical diagrams assumed as obvious to students. In teaching experiments or case studies they explore new ways to introduce them and make use by students. But they lie within frameworks of a conceptual construction of numbers and meaning of calculation algorithms, which lead to underestimating the importance of the cognitive process specific to mathematical activity. The other papers concern the tools of mathematical visualization at higher levels of teaching. They are based on very simple tasks that develop the ability to see 3D objects by touch of 2D objects or use visual data to reason. They remain short of the crucial problem of graphs and geometrical figures as tools of visualization, or they go beyond that with their presupposition of students' ability to coordinate them with another register of semiotic representation, verbal or algebraic.     

Simple continued fractions and cutting sequences

Abstract

The connection between cutting sequences of a directed geodesic in the tessellated hyperbolic plane ?², the modular group Γ = PSL(2, ?) and the simple continued fractions of an end point w of the geodesic have been established by Series [13]. In this paper we represent the simple continued fractions of w ∈ ? and the “L” and “R” codes of the cutting sequence in terms of modular and extended modular transformations. We will define a T ₀-path on a graph whose vertices are the set of Farey triangles, as the equivalent of the cutting sequence. The relationship between the directed geodesic with end point w on ?, the Farey tessellation and the simple continued fraction expansion of w ∈ ? _∞ then follows easily as a consequence of this redefinition. Finite, infinite and periodic simple continued fractions are subsequently examined in this light.     

NEVILLE-TYPE VECTOR VALUED RATIONAL INTERPOLANTS

A new kind of vector valued rational interpolants is established by means ofSamelson inverse, with scalar numerator and vector valued denominator. It is essen-tially different from that of Graves-Morris(1983), where the interpolants are constructedby Thiele-type continued fractions with vector valued numerator and scalar denomina-tor. The new approach is more suitable to calculate the value of a vector valued functionfor a .qiven point. And an error formula is also .qiven and proven.     

Convex dual for quadratic concave fractional programs

For a fractional program with a quadratic numerator and an arbitrary concave denominator, a new convex dual program is derived. Concepts of conjugate duality are used to obtain an explicit representation of the dual.The authors are grateful to two anonymous referees and the Associate Editor for their comments.     

A universal dimension formula for complex simple Lie algebras

We present a universal formula for the dimension of the Cartan powers of the adjoint representation of a complex simple Lie algebra (i.e., a universal formula for the Hilbert functions of homogeneous complex contact manifolds), as well as several other universal formulas. These formulas generalize formulas of Vogel and Deligne and are given in terms of rational functions where both the numerator and denominator decompose into products of linear factors with integer coefficients. We discuss consequences of the formulas including a relation with Scorza varieties.     

The divisor of a generalized analytic function

For generalized analytic functions, we define the order of a zero and prove the following division theorem: if the orders of zeros of the numerator majorize those of the denominator, then the fraction is a generalized analytic function. Translated fromMatematicheskie Zametki, Vol. 61, No. 5, pp. 655–661, May, 1997. Translated by V. E. Nazaikinskii     

ON THE GENERALIZED INVERSE NEVILLE—TYPE MATRIX—VALUED RATIONAL INTERPOLANTS

A new kind of matrix-valued rational interpolants is recursively established by means of generalized Samelson iverse for matrices,with scalar numerator and matrix-valued denominatror.In this respect,it is essentially different form that of the previous works [7,9],where the matrix-valued rational interpolants is in Thiele-type continued fraction form with matrix-valued numerator and scalar denominator.For both univariate and bivariate cases,sufficient conditions for existence,characterisation and univquenese in some sense are proved respectively,and an error formula for the univariate interpolating function is also given.The results obtained in this paper are illustrated with some numerical examples.     

Topological X-rays and MRIs

We use the Implicit Function Theorem to establish a result of non-existence of limit to a certain class of functions of several variables. We consider functions given by quotients such that both the numerator and denominator functions are null at the limit point. We show that the non-existence of the limit of such function is related with the gradient vectors of the numerator and denominator functions. We prove the limit does not exist if the dimension of the vector subspace spanned by the gradient vectors is ≥1.     

Multivariate Padé approximants revisited

Several definitions of multivariate Padé approximants have been introduced during the last decade. We will here consider all types of definitions based on the choice that the coefficients in numerator and denominator of the multivariate Padé approximant are defined by means of a linear system of equations. In this case a determinant representation for the multivariate Padé approximant exists. We will show that a general recursive algorithm can be formulated to compute a multivariate Padé approximant given by any definition of this type. Here intermediate results in the recursive computation scheme will also be multivariate Padé approximants. Up to now such a recursive computation of multivariate Padé approximants only seemed possible in some special cases.     

Technical Note: Reduction of rational integrals related to linear and convex quadrilateral finite elements

We reduce a rational function of bivariate nth degree polynomial numerator with a linear denominator to a simple bivariate polynomial of degree (n ? 1) and a rational function of a single variate nth degree polynomial numerator with the same bivariate linear denominator. This has very greatly contributed to the evaluation of (n + 1)(n + 2)/2 rational integrals in bivariates to mere (n + 1) rational integral of a single variate and an integration of simple polynomial in bivariates. Thus the effort of integration is reduced several times and leads to simple analytical expressions in terms of the nodal coordinates. In order to illustrate the numerical process two examples are considered. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 18: 759–770, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/num.10026.     

Theoretical and Empirical Properties of the Genetic Algorithm as a Numerical Optimizer

Abstract

We investigate the basic form of the genetic algorithm as an optimization technique. Its failure to maximize a simple function of a string of 50 binary variables prompts a closer study of Holland's “schema theorem” and we find the implications of this result to be much weaker than are often claimed. Further theoretical results and exact calculations for simple problems provide an understanding of how the genetic algorithm works and why it failed in our original application. We show that the algorithm can be fine tuned to succeed in that problem but only by introducing features that could cause serious difficulties in harder problems.     

A new proof of Ramanujan’s modular equation relating R(q) with R(q 5)

We give a new proof of Ramanujan’s modular identity relating R(q) with R(q ⁵), where R(q) is the famous Rogers–Ramanujan continued fraction. Our formulation is stronger than those of preceding authors; in particular, we give for the first time identities for the expressions appearing in the numerator and the denominator of Ramanujan’s identity. A related identity for R(q) that has partition-theoretic connections is also proved.     

一种基于函数值的二元有理插值函数及其性质

利用带参数的仅以被插函数的函数值作为插值条件的一元有理插值方法,构造了一种分母为双二次的仪基于函数值的二元有理双三次插值函数,插值函数具有简洁的显示表示,插值函数中含有四个参数,当这些参数满足一定条件时,插值曲而在插值区域上C1光滑.由于插值函数中含有参数,这样可以在插值数据不变的情况下通过对参数的选择进行插值曲面的局部修改,最后讨论了插值函数的一些性质.     

Learning about multiplication by comparing algorithms: “One times one,but actually they are ten times ten”

Multiplication algorithms in primary school are still frequently introduced with little attention to meaning. We present a case study focusing on a third grade class that engaged in comparing two algorithms and discussing “why they both work”. The objectives of the didactical intervention were to foster students' development of mathematical meanings concerning multiplication algorithms, and their development of an attitude to judge and compare the value and efficiency of different algorithms. Underlying hypotheses were that it is possible to promote the simultaneous unfolding of the semiotic potential of two algorithms, considered as cultural artifacts, with respect to the objectives of the didactical intervention, and to establish a fruitful synergy between the two algorithms. As results, this study sheds light onto the new theoretical construct of “bridging sign”, illuminating students’ meaning-making processes involving more than one artifact; and it provides important insight into the actual unfolding of the hypothesized potential of the algorithms.     

Approximation by simple partial fractions and their generalizations

We consider a multiple interpolation by Padé simple partial fractions and propose a method for calculating the values of rational functions and polynomials on the basis of approximation by special rational functions (their numerator and denominator are represented as the differences between two simple partial fractions). We obtain an extrapolation formula for an analytic function h(z) in a neighborhood of the origin. For an extrapolation tool we use the expressions Σ _k λ _k h(λ _k z), where λ _k are calculated by a certain algorithm and are independent of the choice of h. Bibliography: 17 titles.     

Vector-valued Rational Interpolants II

Formulae for rational interpolation of vector data (in a spaceC^[d]) at distinct points are given. Its confluent case of vector-valuedPadé approximation is shown to be equivalent to the Germanpolynomial approximation problem. Formulae are given for thevector of numerator polynomials and for the denominator polynomial.A continued fraction interpolant for vector data is also given.The methods are characterized by their requirement that certaindistinguished directions in the space C^[d] form part of thespecification. The case of matrix Padé approximants forthe partial realization problem is explicitly discussed.