On the Small Squaring and Commutativity

Let G be a group and let k > 2 be an integer, such that (k²– 3)(k – 1) < |G|/15 if G is finite. Supposethat the condition |A²| k(k + 1)/2 + (k – 3)/2 is satisfiedby every it-element subset A G. Then G is abelian. The proofuses the structure of quasi-invariant sets.     

Convergence of Finite-Difference Schemes for Elliptic Equations with Variable Coefficients

We study the convergence of finite-difference schemes for second-orderelliptic equations with variable coefficients. We prove thatthe convergence rate in the discrete W₂¹ norm is of the orderh^{s –1} if the solution of the boundary value problem belongsto the Sobolev space W₂^s (1 < s 3).     

A Fourth-order Tridiagonal Finite Difference Method for General Two-point Boundary Value Problems with Non-linear Boundary Conditions

We present a fourth-order finite difference method for the generalsecond-order nonlinear differential equation y^" = f(x, y, y‘)subject to non-linear two-point boundary conditions g₁(y(a), — y^’()) = 0, g₂(y(b), y'(b)) = 0. When both the differential equation and the boundary conditionsare linear, the method leads to a tridiagonal linear system.We show that the finite difference method is O(h⁴)-convergent.Numerical examples are given to illustrate the method and itsfourth-order convergence. The present paper extends the methodgiven in Chawla (1978) to the case of non-linear boundary conditions.     

On Periodic Expansions of Pisot Numbers and Salem Numbers

Let ß > 1 be a real number, and let T_ßbe the associated ß-transformation of the unit interval[0,1) given by T_ß = ß (mod 1). We writeQ for the set of rational numbers, Q (ß) for the smallestsub-field of the reals containing ß, and Per (ß)for the set of (eventually) periodic points for T_ß,i.e. for the set of points whose orbits under T_ß,are finite. In this note we prove the following results: (1) If Q [0,1) Per (ß), then ß is eithera Pisot- or a Salem-number. (2) If ß is a Pisot-number, then Per (ß)= Q(ß) [0,1). The last section contains explicit formulae for the cardinalitiesof the sets {T^k_ß: k 0}, Q [0, 1), if ßsatisfies an equation ß² = nß + 1 with n 1. Present address: Mathematics Institute, University of Warwick,Coventry CV4 7AL.     

A fourth-order cubic spline method for linear second-order two-point boundary-value problems

A cubic spline method for linear second-order two-point boundary-valueproblems is analysed. The method is a Petrov-Galerkin methodusing a cubic spline trial space, a piecewise-linear test space,and a simple quadrature rule for the integration, and may beconsidered a discrete version of the H¹-Galerkin method. Themethod is fully discrete, allows an arbitrary mesh, yields alinear system with bandwidth five, and under suitable conditionsis shown to have an 0(h^4– rate of convergence in the W_p¹norm for i = 0, 1, 2, 1p. The H¹-Galerkin method and orthogonalspline collocation with Hermite cubics are also discussed.     

Finite-Element Approximation of Elliptic Equations with a Neumann or Robin Condition on a Curved Boundary

This paper considers a finite-element approximation of a second-orderself adjoint elliptic equation in a region Rⁿ (with n=2 or 3)having a curved boundary on which a Neumann or Robin conditionis prescribed. If the finite-element space defined over , a union of elements, has approximation power h^kin the L² norm, and if the region of integration is approximatedby ^h with dist (, ^h)Ch^k, then it is shown that one retains optimalrates of convergence for the error in the H¹ and L² norms, whetherQ^h is fitted or unfitted , provided that the numerical integration scheme has sufficientaccuracy.     

Determination of a Convex Body from Minkowski Sums of its Projections

For a convex body K in R^d and 1 K d – 1, let P_K (K)be the Minkowski sum (average) of all orthogonal projectionsof K onto k-dimensional subspaces of R^d. It is Known that theoperator P_k is injective if kd/2, k=3 for all d, and if k =2, d 14. It is shown that P_2k (K) determines a convex body K among allcentrally symmetric convex bodies and P_2k+1(K) determines aconvex body K among all bodies of constant width. Correspondingstability results are also given. Furthermore, it is shown thatany convex body K is determined by the two sets P_k (K) and P_k'(K) if 1 < k < k'. Concerning the range of P_k , 1 k d–2, it is shown that its closure (in the Hausdorff-metric)does not contain any polytopes other than singletons.     

Convergence of a Ritz Approximation for the Steady State Heat Flow Problem

Let u be the true solution of the steady state heat flow problemwith Dirichlet boundary conditions. Let U be the Ritz approximationto u, from the smooth Hermite space of order two. We establishthat the L2-norm of the discretization error, U—u, tendsto zero like h⁴ as h 0. This order of convergence is independentof the sequence of partitions chosen, as long as the mesh sizeh 0.     

Differentiable Peak-Interpolation on Bounded Domains with Smooth Boundary

Let D be a bounded domain in Cⁿ with C² boundary, and, for 1 k , let A^k(D) be the algebra of functions holomorphic on Dand C^k on a neighbourhood of . It is shown that each peak-interpolation set for A^k(D) is afinite set.     

Free Groups of Outer Commutator Varieties of Groups

If F is a free group, 1 < i j 2i and i k i + j + 1 thenF/[_j(F), _i(F), _k(F)] is residually nilpotent and torsion-free.This result is extended to 1 < i j 2i and i k 2i + 2j.It is proved that the analogous Lie rings, L/[L^j, Lⁱ, L^k] whereL is a free Lie ring, are torsion-free. Candidates are foundfor torsion in L/[L^j, Lⁱ, L^k] whenever k is the least of {i,j, k}, and the existence of torsion in L/[L^j, Lⁱ, L^k] is provedwhen i, j, k 5 and k is the least of {i, j, k}.     

Small Sets which meet all the n-Term Arithmetic Progressions in the Interval [1, n2]

For any positive integers n and k, let f(n, k) denote the smallestsize of a subset of the integer interval I =[l, n] which meetsall the k-term arithmetic progressions contained in I. We showthat n+(1/2)n^1/2–2 < f(n²,n) , where p is the largest prime n, and for any real number x,[x] is the least integer x.     

ON THE INTEGRAL GALOIS MODULE STRUCTURE OF CYCLIC EXTENSIONS OF p-ADIC FIELDS

We strengthen results of Miyata on the integral Galois modulestructure of totally ramified cyclic Kummer extensions K ofdegree pⁿ of a p-adic field k. Let c₁(K/k) be the first ramificationnumber of K/k, and let c(K/k) be the least non-negative residueof c₁(K/k) modulo pⁿ. Suppose that K is of the form k() with^pn k and val _K(–1)>0, (val _K(–1), p)= 1. Thenthe valuation ring of K is free over its associated order ifc(K/k) divides p^m–1 for some m with 1mn; the converseholds if n= 2; and is a Hopf order (or a Gorenstein order)if and only if c(K/k) = pⁿ–1.     

The Range of Possible Values of f(x)

The purpose of this paper is to explain how to compute the rangeof possible values of a function of one variable, f(x), givenvalues of the function at n distinct points x₁ < x₂ <... < x_M–1 < x_M, and given a finite bound on thekth derivative of f: ||f^(k)|| L, 1 k n.     

Existence of Periodic Solutions in Nonlinear Asymmetric Oscillations

The existence of periodic solutions for the nonlinear asymmetricoscillator x' + x⁺ – rßx^– = h(t),(' =d/dt (is discussed, where , rß are positive constantssatisfying for some positive integer n N and h(t) L (0,2) is 2-periodic with x^±= max {±x,0}. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification34C10, 34C25.     

The Fast Numerical Solution of Very Large Elliptic Difference Schemes

Let L_kv_k = g_k be a system of difference equations discretizingan elliptic boundary value problem. Assume the system to be"very large", that means that the number of unknowns exceedsthe capacity of storage. We present a method for solving theproblem with much less storage requirement. For two-dimensionalproblems the size of the needed storage decreases from O(h^–2)to (or even O(h^–5/4)). The computational work increasesonly by a factor about six. The technique can be generalizedto nonlinear problems. The algorithm is also useful for computerswith a small number of parallel processors.     

On Finite and InfiniteCk-A-Determinacy

Let f: (Rⁿ,0) (R^p,0) be a C map-germ. We define f to be finitely,or -, A-determined, if there exists an integer m such that allgerms g with j^mg(0) = j^mf(0), or if all germs g with the sameinfinite Taylor series as f, respectively, are A-equivalentto f. For any integer k, 0 k < , we can consider A' sC^kcounterpart (consisting of C^k diffeomorphisms) A^(k), and wecan define the notion of finite, or -,A^(k)-determinacy in asimilar manner. Consider the following conditions for a C germf: (a_k) f is -A^(k)-determined, (b_k) f is finitely A^(k)-determined,(t) , (g) there exists a representative f : U R^p defined on some neighbourhood U of 0 in Rⁿ such thatthe multigerm of f is stable at every finite set , and (g') every f' with j f'(0)=j f(0) satisfiescondition (g). We also define a technical condition which willimply condition (g) above. This condition is a collection ofp+1 Lojasiewicz inequalities which express that the multigermof f is stable at any finite set of points outside 0 and onlybecomes unstable at a finite rate when we approach 0. We willdenote this condition by (e). With this notation we prove thefollowing. For any C map germ f:(Rⁿ,0) (R^p,0) the conditions(e), (t), (g') and (a) are equivalent conditions. Moreover,each of these conditions is equivalent to any of (a_k) (p+1 k < , (b_k) (p+1 k < ). 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification:58C27.     

Discontinuous Galerkin finite element approximation of quasilinear elliptic boundary value problems I: the scalar case

^** Email: Paul.Houston{at}mcs.le.ac.uk^*** Email: Janice.Robson{at}comlab.ox.ac.uk^**** Email: Endre.Suli{at}comlab.ox.ac.uk We develop a one-parameter family of hp-version discontinuousGalerkin finite element methods, parameterised by [–1,1], for the numerical solution of quasilinear elliptic equationsin divergence form on a bounded open set ^d, d 2. In particular,we consider the analysis of the family for the equation –·{µ(x, |u|)u} = f(x) subject to mixed Dirichlet–Neumannboundary conditions on . It is assumed that µ is a real-valuedfunction, µ C( x [0, )), and thereexist positive constants m_µ and M_µ such that m_µ(t– s) µ(x, t)t – µ(x, s)s M_µ(t– s) for t s 0 and all x . Using a result from the theory of monotone operators for any valueof [–1, 1], the corresponding method is shown to havea unique solution u_DG in the finite element space. If u C¹() H^k(), k 2, then with discontinuous piecewise polynomials ofdegree p 1, the error between u and u_DG, measured in the brokenH¹()-norm, is (h^s–1/p^k–3/2), where 1 s min {p+ 1, k}.     

Correction: on the Intersection Matrices of Curves lying on Irregular Algebraic Surfaces

Professor W. F. Hammond has kindly drawn my attention to a blunderin 4 of the above paper. He referred to the ( – 2r) xß submatrix D of the skew-symmetric matrix displayednear the top of page 181, of which it is asserted that it issquare and non-singular, and pointed out that, from the factthat the matrix of which D forms part is regular, it may onlybe deduced that the columns of D are linearly independent; thatis, it only follows that – 2r ß. The validity of the equation – 2r = ß is essentialto the succeeding argument and, fortunately, may be establishedby alternative means. Using the nomenclature of the paper, wehave on F the set ₁^*, ..., _2r^*, ₁^*, ..., _ß^* of independent3-cycles (independent because they cut independent 1-cycleson the curve C), which may be completed, to form a basis forsuch cycles on F, by a further set ₁', ..., _2q–2r–pof independent 3-cycles, each of which meets C in a cycle homologousto zero on C. The cycles ₁^*, ..., ^* are invariant cycles andare independent on F so that, if > 2r + ß, thereis a non-trivial linear combination ^* of these having zero intersectionon C with each of the cycles ₁^*, ..., _2r^*, ₁^*, ..., _ß^*.Thus we have. (^* ._k^*)c = 0 = (^* ._i^*)c i.e. (^* ._k^*) = 0 = (^* ._i^* on F (1 k 2r; 1 i ß). Furthermore, (_j . C) 0 on C and we have (^* ._j .C)_C = 0 i.e. (^* ._j) = 0 on F (1 j 2q – 2r – ß). It now follows that ^* 0 on F (for it has zero intersectionwith every member of a basic set of 3-cycles on F). But thiscondradicts the assumption that ^* is a non-trivial linear combinationof the independent cycles ₁^*, ...,^*; and hence < 2r + ß.     

A Criterion for Finite Topological Determinacy of Map-Germs

Let f, g: (Rⁿ, 0) (R^p, 0) be two C map-germs. Then f and gare C⁰-equivalent if there exist homeomorphism-germs h and lof (Rⁿ, 0) and (R^p, 0) respectively such that g = l f h^–1.Let k be a positive integer. A germ f is k-C⁰-determined ifevery germ g with j^k g(0) = j^k f(0) is C⁰-equivalent to f. Moreover,we say that f is finitely topologically determined if f is k-C⁰-determinedfor some finite k. We prove a theorem giving a sufficient conditionfor a germ to be finitely topologically determined. We explainthis condition below. Let N and P be two C manifolds. Consider the jet bundle J^k(N,P) with fiber J^k(n, p). Let z in J^k(n, p) and let f be suchthat z = j^kf(0). Define Whether (f) < k depends only on z, not on f. We can thereforedefine the set Let W^k(N, P) be the subbundle of J^k(N, P) with fiber W^k(n, p).Mather has constructed a finite Whitney (b)-regular stratificationS^k(n, p) of J^k(n, p) – W^k(n, p) such that all strata aresemialgebraic and K-invariant, having the property that if S^k(N,P) denotes the corresponding stratification of J^k(N, P) –W^k(N, P) and f C(N, P) is a C map such that j^kf is multitransverseto S^k(N, P), j^kf(N) W^k(N, P) = and N is compact (or f is proper),then f is topologically stable. For a map-germ f: (Rⁿ, 0) (R^p, 0), we define a certain ojasiewiczinequality. The inequality implies that there exists a representativef: U R^p such that j^kf(U – 0) W^k (Rⁿ, R^p = and suchthat j^kf is multitransverse to S^k (Rⁿ, R^p) at any finite setof points S U – 0. Moreover, the inequality controlsthe rate j^kf becomes non-transverse as we approach 0. We showthat if f satisfies this inequality, then f is finitely topologicallydetermined. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification: 58C27.     

Asymptotics for the Heat Content of a Planar Region with a Fractal Polygonal Boundary

Let k 3 be an integer. For 0<s<1, let D_s R² be the setthat is constructed iteratively as follows. Take a regular openk-gon with sides of unit length, attach regular open k-gonswith sides of length s to the middles of the edges, and so on.At each stage of the iteration the k-gons that are added area factor s smaller than the previous generation and are attachedto the outer edges of the family grown so far. The set D_s isdefined to be the interior of the closure of the union of allthe k-gons. It is easy to see that there must exist some s_k> 0 such that no k-gons overlap if and only if 0 < s s_k. We derive an explicit formula for s_k. The set D_s is open, bounded, connected and has a fractal polygonalboundary. Let denote the heat content of D_s at time t when D_s initially has temperature 0and D_s is kept at temperature 1. We derive the complete short-timeexpansion of up to terms that are exponentially small in 1/t. It turns out that there arethree regimes, corresponding to 0<s<1/(k–1), s=1/(k–1),and 1/(k–1)<s s_k. For s 1/(k–1) the expansionhas the form where p_s is a log (1/s²)-periodic function, d_s=log (k–1)/log(1/s) is a similarity dimension, A_s and B are constants relatedto the edges and vertices, respectively, of D_s, and r_s is anerror exponent. For s=1/(k–1), the t^1/2-term carries anadditional log t. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification: 11D25,11G05, 14G05.