On the uniform density of C(X) ⊗ C(Y) in C(X × Y)

We prove that if X and Y are compact Hausdorff spaces, then every f ∈ C(X × Y)₊, i.e. f(x, y) ≥ 0 for all (x, y) ∈ X × Y, can be approximated uniformly from below and above by elements of the form , where f_i ∈ C(X)₊ and g_i ∈ C(Y)₊ for i = 1, 2, …, n. The proof uses only elementary topology. We use this result, in conjuction with Kakutani's M-spaces representation theorem, to obtain an alternative proof for a known property of Fremlin's Riesz space tensor product of Archimedean Riesz spaces.     

Counting descent pairs with prescribed tops and bottoms

Given sets X and Y of positive integers and a permutation σ=σ₁σ₂?σn∈Sn, an (X,Y)-descent of σ is a descent pair σi>σi+1 whose “top” σi is in X and whose “bottom” σi+1 is in Y. We give two formulas for the number of σ∈Sn with s(X,Y)-descents. is also shown to be a hit number of a certain Ferrers board. This work generalizes results of Kitaev and Remmel [S. Kitaev, J. Remmel, Classifying descents according to parity, math.CO/0508570; S. Kitaev, J. Remmel, Classifying descents according to equivalence , math.CO/0604455] on counting descent pairs whose top (or bottom) is equal to .     

Walking in circles

Consider the unit circle S¹ with distance function d measured along the circle. We show that for every selection of 2n points x₁,…,x_n,y₁,…,y_n∈S¹ there exists i∈{1,…,n} such that . We also discuss a game theoretic interpretation of this result.     

The maximum saving partition problem

The input to the MAXIMUM SAVING PARTITION PROBLEM consists of a set V={1,…,n}, weights w_i, a function f, and a family S of feasible subsets of V. The output is a partition (S₁,…,S_l) such that S_i∈S, and is maximized. We present a general -approximation algorithm, and improved algorithms for special cases of the function f.     

Likelihood ratio orderings of spacings of heterogeneous exponential random variables

Let X₁,X₂,…,X_n be independent exponential random variables such that X_i has failure rate λ for i=1,…,p and X_j has failure rate λ^* for j=p+1,…,n, where p≥1 and q=n-p≥1. Denote by D_i:n(p,q)=X_i:n-X_i-1:n the ith spacing of the order statistics , where X_0:n≡0. It is shown that D_i:n(p,q)?_lrD_i+1:n(p,q) for i=1,…,n-1, and that if λ?λ^* then , and for i=1,…,n, where ?_lr denotes the likelihood ratio order. The main results are used to establish the dispersive orderings between spacings.     

On a property of plane curves

Let γ:[0,1]→²[0,1] be a continuous curve such that γ(0)=(0,0), γ(1)=(1,1), and γ(t)∈²(0,1) for all t∈(0,1). We prove that, for each n∈N, there exists a sequence of points Ai, 0?i?n+1, on γ such that A₀=(0,0), An+1=(1,1), and the sequences and , 0?i?n, are positive and the same up to order, where π₁, π₂ are projections on the axes.     

Davenport constant with weights and some related questions, II

Let G be a finite abelian group of order n and let A⊆Z be non-empty. Generalizing a well-known constant, we define the Davenport constant of G with weight A, denoted by DA(G), to be the least natural number k such that for any sequence (x₁,…,xk) with xi∈G, there exists a non-empty subsequence (xj₁,…,xjl) and a₁,…,al∈A such that . Similarly, for any such set A, EA(G) is defined to be the least t∈N such that for all sequences (x₁,…,xt) with xi∈G, there exist indices j₁,…,jn∈N,1?j₁<?<jn?t, and ?₁,…,?n∈A with . In the present paper, we establish a relation between the constants DA(G) and EA(G) under certain conditions. Our definitions are compatible with the previous generalizations for the particular group G=Z/nZ and the relation we establish had been conjectured in that particular case.     

Bitableaux Bases for the Diagonally Invariant Polynomial Quotient Rings

LetR=Q[x₁, x₂, …, x_n,y₁, y₂, …, y_n,z₁, …, z_n,w₁, …, w_n], letR^S_n={P∈R:σP=P∀σ∈S_n} and letμandνbe hook shape partitions ofn. WithΔ_μ(X, Y) andΔ_ν(Z, W) being appropriately defined determinants, ∂_xibeing the partial derivative operator with respect tox_iandP(∂)=P(∂_x1, …, ∂_xn, ∂_y1, …, ∂_wn), define _{μ, ν}={P∈R^S_n:P(∂)Δ_μ(X, Y)Δ_ν(Z, W)=0}. A basis is constructed for the polynomial quotient ringR^S_n/_{μ, ν}that is indexed by pairs of standard tableaux. The Hilbert series ofR^S_n/_{μ, ν}is related to the Macdonaldq, t-Kostka coefficients.     

A short proof of a cross-intersection theorem of Hilton

Families A₁,…,A_k of sets are said to be cross-intersecting if for any A_i∈A_i and A_j∈A_j, i≠j. A nice result of Hilton that generalises the Erd?s-Ko-Rado (EKR) Theorem says that if r≤n/2 and A₁,…,A_k are cross-intersecting sub-families of , then

     

Solutions of polynomial Pell's equation

Let D=F²+2G be a monic quartic polynomial in Z[x], where . Then for F/G∈Q[x], a necessary and sufficient condition for the solution of the polynomial Pell's equation X²−DY²=1 in Z[x] has been shown. Also, the polynomial Pell's equation X²−DY²=1 has nontrivial solutions X,Y∈Q[x] if and only if the values of period of the continued fraction of are 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 14, 18, and 22 has been shown. In this paper, for the period of the continued fraction of is 4, we show that the polynomial Pell's equation has no nontrivial solutions X,Y∈Z[x].     

An Erd?s-Ko-Rado theorem for partial permutations

Let [n] denote the set of positive integers {1,2,…,n}. An r-partial permutation of [n] is a pair (A,f) where A⊆[n], |A|=r and f:A→[n] is an injective map. A set A of r-partial permutations is intersecting if for any (A,f), (B,g)∈A, there exists x∈A∩B such that f(x)=g(x). We prove that for any intersecting family A of r-partial permutations, we have .It seems rather hard to characterize the case of equality. For 8?r?n-3, we show that equality holds if and only if there exist x₀ and ε₀ such that A consists of all (A,f) for which x₀∈A and f(x₀)=ε₀.     

Maps preserving the nilpotency of products of operators

Let B(X) be the algebra of all bounded linear operators on the Banach space X, and let N(X) be the set of nilpotent operators in B(X). Suppose ?:B(X)→B(X) is a surjective map such that A,B∈B(X) satisfy AB∈N(X) if and only if ?(A)?(B)∈N(X). If X is infinite dimensional, then there exists a map f:B(X)→C?{0} such that one of the following holds:

(a)

There is a bijective bounded linear or conjugate-linear operator S:X→X such that ? has the form A?S[f(A)A]S^-1.

(b)

The space X is reflexive, and there exists a bijective bounded linear or conjugate-linear operator S : X′ → X such that ? has the form A ? S[f(A)A′]S⁻¹.

If X has dimension n with 3 ? n < ∞, and B(X) is identified with the algebra M_n of n × n complex matrices, then there exist a map f:M_n→C?{0}, a field automorphism ξ:C→C, and an invertible S ∈ M_n such that ? has one of the following forms:

     

Stochastic properties of INID progressive Type-II censored order statistics

Let X_1:n≤X_2:n≤?≤X_n:n denote the order statistics of random variables X₁,X₂,…,X_n which are independent but not necessarily identically distributed (INID), and let K₁,K₂ be two integer-valued random variables, independent of {X₁,…,X_n}, such that 1≤K₁≤K₂≤n. It is shown that if K₁ has a log-concave probability function and SI(K₂|K₁) then RTI(X_K2:n|X_K1:n), and if K₂ has a log-concave probability function and SI(K₁|K₂) then LTD(X_K1:n|X_K2:n), where SI, RTI and LTD are three notions of bivariate positive dependence. Based on these, we obtain that RTI and LTD whenever 1≤i<j≤m, where are progressive Type-II censored order statistics from INID random variables {X₁,…,X_n}. Furthermore, one result concerning the likelihood ratio ordering of the progressive Type-II censored order statistics is also given.     

Maps preserving the spectrum of generalized Jordan product of operators

Let A₁,A₂ be standard operator algebras on complex Banach spaces X₁,X₂, respectively. For k?2, let (i₁,…,i_m) be a sequence with terms chosen from {1,…,k}, and define the generalized Jordan product

     

Non-simultaneous blow-up of n components for nonlinear parabolic systems

This paper deals with non-simultaneous and simultaneous blow-up for radially symmetric solution (u₁,u₂,…,un) to heat equations coupled via nonlinear boundary (i=1,2,…,n). It is proved that there exist suitable initial data such that ui(i∈{1,2,…,n}) blows up alone if and only if qi+1<pi. All of the classifications on the existence of only two components blowing up simultaneously are obtained. We find that different positions (different values of k, i, n) of ui−k and ui leads to quite different blow-up rates. It is interesting that different initial data lead to different blow-up phenomena even with the same requirements on exponent parameters. We also propose that ui−k,ui−k+1,…,ui blow up simultaneously while the other ones remain bounded in different exponent regions. Moreover, the blow-up rates and blow-up sets are obtained.     

A generalization of the Strassen converse

This note is devoted to a generalization of the Strassen converse. Let gn:R^∞→[0,∞], n?1 be a sequence of measurable functions such that, for every n?1, and for all x,y∈R^∞, where 0<C<∞ is a constant which is independent of n. Let be a sequence of i.i.d. random variables. Assume that there exist r?1 and a function ?:[0,∞)→[0,∞) with limt→∞?(t)=∞, depending only on the sequence such that lim supn→∞gn(X₁,X₂,…)=?(Er|X|) a.s. whenever Er|X|<∞ and EX=0. We prove the converse result, namely that lim supn→∞gn(X₁,X₂,…)<∞ a.s. implies Er|X|<∞ (and EX=0 if, in addition, lim supn→∞gn(c,c,…)=∞ for all c≠0). Some applications are provided to illustrate this result.     

Borel-plus-powers monomial ideals

Let S=K[x₁,…,x_n] be a standard graded polynomial ring over a field K. In this paper, we show that the lex-plus-powers ideal has the largest graded Betti numbers among all Borel-plus-powers monomial ideals with the same Hilbert function. In addition in the case of characteristic 0, by using this result, we prove the lex-plus-powers conjecture for graded ideals containing , where p is a prime number.