Math 2.0

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Euclidean algorithm in a Euclidean domain

Let RR be a Euclidean domain with Euclidean function δ\delta and let a,b∈Ra, b \in R. The Euclidean algorithm sets r0=ar_0 = a and r1=br_1 = b. While rk≠0r_k \neq 0, it divides rk−1r_{k-1} by rkr_k and lets rk+1r_{k+1} be the remainder. The values δ(rk)\delta(r_k) decrease strictly, so the algorithm stops with some rn+1=0r_{n+1} = 0. The last nonzero remainder rnr_n is a greatest common divisor of aa and bb, if b≠0b \neq 0.

Builds on Euclidean domain, Greatest common divisor in an integral domain

Uniqueness of solutions for Lipschitz vector fields

Let DD be an open subset of ℝ×ℝn\mathbb{R} \times \mathbb{R}^n and let f:D→ℝnf : D \to \mathbb{R}^n be continuous. Assume that ff is locally Lipschitz in xx. That is, each point of DD has a neighbourhood V⊆DV \subseteq D and a constant K≥0K \ge 0 such that ∥f(t,x)−f(t,y)∥≤K∥x−y∥\|f(t, x) - f(t, y)\| \le K \|x - y\| whenever (t,x),(t,y)∈V(t, x), (t, y) \in V. Let II be an interval, and let γ1,γ2:I→ℝn\gamma_1, \gamma_2 : I \to \mathbb{R}^n be two solutions of x′=f(t,x)x' = f(t, x) whose graphs lie in DD. If γ1(t0)=γ2(t0)\gamma_1(t_0) = \gamma_2(t_0) for one t0∈It_0 \in I, then γ1(t)=γ2(t)\gamma_1(t) = \gamma_2(t) for all t∈It \in I.

Builds on Lipschitz condition, Solution of an ordinary differential equation, Grönwall's inequality, Initial value problem

Conjunction

Conjunction is the logical operation "and". It joins two propositions into one proposition that is true only when both parts are true.

First integral

A first integral, or constant of motion, of a system of differential equations is a function of the state that stays constant along each solution. Energy, linear momentum and angular momentum are common examples in mechanics. See the definition.

A function with nonnegative derivative is increasing

Let II be an interval and let f ⁣:I→ℝf \colon I \to \mathbb{R} be continuous, and differentiable at each interior point of II. If f′(x)≥0f'(x) \ge 0 for each interior point xx of II, then ff is increasing on II. That is, f(x)≤f(y)f(x) \le f(y) for x≤yx \le y in II.

Builds on Mean value theorem

Parallelogram law

Let VV be an inner product space over ℝ\R or ℂ\C, with the induced norm ∥⋅∥\norm{\cdot}. Then, for all x,y∈Vx, y \in V, ∥x+y∥2+∥x−y∥2=2∥x∥2+2∥y∥2.\norm{x + y}^2 + \norm{x - y}^2 = 2 \norm{x}^2 + 2 \norm{y}^2.

Builds on Norm induced by an inner product

Vector field

A vector field on a subset of ℝn\mathbb{R}^n assigns a vector of ℝn\mathbb{R}^n to each point of the subset. It models quantities with a direction and a size at each point, such as the velocity of a fluid or a force field.

Builds on Vector-valued function, Euclidean space

Negation

Negation is the logical operation that changes a proposition into its opposite. The negation of a true proposition is false, and the negation of a false proposition is true.

Convex set

A set of points is convex if it contains the whole segment between each two of its points. A solid ball and a solid cube are convex; a crescent is not.

Open set

An open set is a member of a topology. In a metric space, a set is open when each of its points has a small ball around it that stays in the set.

Mean value inequality

Let U⊆ℝnU \subseteq \mathbb{R}^n be open, let f ⁣:U→ℝmf \colon U \to \mathbb{R}^m be differentiable on UU, and let x,y∈Ux, y \in U be points such that the segment [x,y]={x+t(y−x):0≤t≤1}[x, y] = \{x + t (y - x) : 0 \le t \le 1\} lies in UU. Suppose that M≥0M \ge 0 and ∥Df(z)∥≤M\|Df(z)\| \le M for each z∈[x,y]z \in [x, y], where ∥Df(z)∥=sup⁡∥h∥≤1∥Df(z)h∥\|Df(z)\| = \sup_{\|h\| \le 1} \|Df(z) h\| is the operator norm. Then ∥f(y)−f(x)∥≤M ∥y−x∥.\|f(y) - f(x)\| \le M \, \|y - x\|.

Builds on Differentiable function of several variables, Euclidean space

Sign of a permutation

The sign of a permutation is +1+1 or −1-1, according to the parity of the number of transpositions in a decomposition of the permutation. The sign map is a homomorphism from SnS_n to {1,−1}\{1, -1\}.

Power of a point

The power of a point with respect to a circle is the square of its distance to the centre minus the square of the radius. It is positive outside the circle, zero on the circle and negative inside.

Prime factorization

The prime factorization of a positive integer writes it as a product of prime numbers. The problem of integer factorization is to find this product for a given integer. The definition of a prime factorization gives the precise form.

Transitive action

A group action is transitive when it has exactly one orbit. Then each point can be moved onto each other point by some element of the group.

Newton's law of cooling

Let T(t)T(t) be the temperature of a body at time tt. Let TaT_a be the constant temperature of the surroundings, and let k>0k > 0 be a constant. Newton's law of cooling is the equation T′(t)=−k(T(t)−Ta).T'(t) = -k \left(T(t) - T_a\right). With the initial condition T(0)=T0T(0) = T_0, its unique solution is T(t)=Ta+(T0−Ta) e−kt.T(t) = T_a + (T_0 - T_a)\, e^{-k t}.

Builds on Initial value problem, Exponential growth and decay

Casorati–Weierstrass theorem

Let c∈ℂc \in \mathbb{C}, let r>0r > 0, and let ff be holomorphic on the punctured disc 0<∣z−c∣<r0 < |z - c| < r. Assume that cc is an essential singularity of ff. Then for each δ\delta with 0<δ<r0 < \delta < r, the image f({z:0<∣z−c∣<δ})f(\{z : 0 < |z - c| < \delta\}) is dense in ℂ\mathbb{C}. Thus for each w∈ℂw \in \mathbb{C} there is a sequence zn→cz_n \to c with zn≠cz_n \neq c and f(zn)→wf(z_n) \to w.

Builds on Essential singularity, Riemann's theorem on removable singularities

Isometry

An isometry is a map between metric spaces that keeps all distances.

Nullcline

A nullcline of a system of autonomous equations xj′=fj(x)x_j' = f_j(x) is a set on which one component fjf_j of the vector field vanishes. The equilibrium points of the system are the common points of all the nullclines. See the definition.

Chebyshev's inequality

Let XX be a real random variable with finite mean μ\mu and finite variance σ2\sigma^2. Then for each a>0a > 0, P(∣X−μ∣≥a)≤σ2a2.P(|X - \mu| \ge a) \le \frac{\sigma^2}{a^2}. Equivalently, if σ>0\sigma > 0, then P(∣X−μ∣≥kσ)≤1/k2P(|X - \mu| \ge k\sigma) \le 1/k^2 for each k>0k > 0.

Builds on Markov's inequality, Variance, Standard deviation

Monotone sequence

A monotone sequence is a real sequence that never decreases or never increases. A bounded monotone sequence always converges. The node monotone sequence gives the precise definition.

Characteristic function of a sum of independent random variables

Let X1,…,XnX_1, \dots, X_n be independent real random variables, and let S=X1+⋯+XnS = X_1 + \dots + X_n. Then for each t∈ℝt \in \mathbb{R}, the characteristic functions satisfy φS(t)=φX1(t) φX2(t)⋯φXn(t).\varphi_S(t) = \varphi_{X_1}(t) \, \varphi_{X_2}(t) \cdots \varphi_{X_n}(t).

Builds on Characteristic function, Expectation of a product of independent random variables, Independence of random variables