|
Engel Expansion
The Engel expansion of a positive real number ''x'' is the unique non-decreasing sequence of positive integers (a_1,a_2,a_3,\dots) such that :x=\frac+\frac+\frac+\cdots = \frac\!\left(1 + \frac\!\left(1 + \frac\left(1+\cdots\right)\right)\right) For instance, Euler's number ''e'' has the Engel expansion :1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, ... corresponding to the infinite series :e=\frac+\frac+\frac+\frac+\frac+\cdots Rational numbers have a finite Engel expansion, while irrational numbers have an infinite Engel expansion. If ''x'' is rational, its Engel expansion provides a representation of ''x'' as an Egyptian fraction. Engel expansions are named after Friedrich Engel, who studied them in 1913. An expansion analogous to an Engel expansion, in which alternating terms are negative, is called a Pierce expansion. Engel expansions, continued fractions, and Fibonacci observe that an Engel expansion can also be written as an ascending variant of a continued fraction: :x = \cfra ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Positive Real Number
In mathematics, the set of positive real numbers, \R_ = \left\, is the subset of those real numbers that are greater than zero. The non-negative real numbers, \R_ = \left\, also include zero. Although the symbols \R_ and \R^ are ambiguously used for either of these, the notation \R_ or \R^ for \left\ and \R_^ or \R^_ for \left\ has also been widely employed, is aligned with the practice in algebra of denoting the exclusion of the zero element with a star, and should be understandable to most practicing mathematicians. In a complex plane, \R_ is identified with the positive real axis, and is usually drawn as a horizontal ray. This ray is used as reference in the polar form of a complex number. The real positive axis corresponds to complex numbers z = , z, \mathrm^, with argument \varphi = 0. Properties The set \R_ is closed under addition, multiplication, and division. It inherits a topology from the real line and, thus, has the structure of a multiplicative topological group or ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Riemann Zeta Function
The Riemann zeta function or Euler–Riemann zeta function, denoted by the Greek letter (zeta), is a mathematical function of a complex variable defined as \zeta(s) = \sum_^\infty \frac = \frac + \frac + \frac + \cdots for and its analytic continuation elsewhere. The Riemann zeta function plays a pivotal role in analytic number theory and has applications in physics, probability theory, and applied statistics. Leonhard Euler first introduced and studied the function over the reals in the first half of the eighteenth century. Bernhard Riemann's 1859 article "On the Number of Primes Less Than a Given Magnitude" extended the Euler definition to a complex variable, proved its meromorphic continuation and functional equation, and established a relation between its zeros and the distribution of prime numbers. This paper also contained the Riemann hypothesis, a conjecture about the distribution of complex zeros of the Riemann zeta function that many mathematicians consider th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Interval (mathematics)
In mathematics, a real interval is the set of all real numbers lying between two fixed endpoints with no "gaps". Each endpoint is either a real number or positive or negative infinity, indicating the interval extends without a bound. A real interval can contain neither endpoint, either endpoint, or both endpoints, excluding any endpoint which is infinite. For example, the set of real numbers consisting of , , and all numbers in between is an interval, denoted and called the unit interval; the set of all positive real numbers is an interval, denoted ; the set of all real numbers is an interval, denoted ; and any single real number is an interval, denoted . Intervals are ubiquitous in mathematical analysis. For example, they occur implicitly in the epsilon-delta definition of continuity; the intermediate value theorem asserts that the image of an interval by a continuous function is an interval; integrals of real functions are defined over an interval; etc. Interval ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Almost All
In mathematics, the term "almost all" means "all but a negligible quantity". More precisely, if X is a set (mathematics), set, "almost all elements of X" means "all elements of X but those in a negligible set, negligible subset of X". The meaning of "negligible" depends on the mathematical context; for instance, it can mean finite set, finite, countable set, countable, or null set, null. In contrast, "almost no" means "a negligible quantity"; that is, "almost no elements of X" means "a negligible quantity of elements of X". Meanings in different areas of mathematics Prevalent meaning Throughout mathematics, "almost all" is sometimes used to mean "all (elements of an infinite set) except for finite set, finitely many". This use occurs in philosophy as well. Similarly, "almost all" can mean "all (elements of an uncountable set) except for countable set, countably many". Examples: * Almost all positive integers are greater than 1012. * Almost all prime numbers are odd (2 is the only ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Exponential Growth
Exponential growth occurs when a quantity grows as an exponential function of time. The quantity grows at a rate directly proportional to its present size. For example, when it is 3 times as big as it is now, it will be growing 3 times as fast as it is now. In more technical language, its instantaneous rate of change (that is, the derivative) of a quantity with respect to an independent variable is proportional to the quantity itself. Often the independent variable is time. Described as a function, a quantity undergoing exponential growth is an exponential function of time, that is, the variable representing time is the exponent (in contrast to other types of growth, such as quadratic growth). Exponential growth is the inverse of logarithmic growth. Not all cases of growth at an always increasing rate are instances of exponential growth. For example the function f(x) = x^3 grows at an ever increasing rate, but is much slower than growing exponentially. For example, w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Coefficient
In mathematics, a coefficient is a Factor (arithmetic), multiplicative factor involved in some Summand, term of a polynomial, a series (mathematics), series, or any other type of expression (mathematics), expression. It may be a Dimensionless quantity, number without units, in which case it is known as a numerical factor. It may also be a constant (mathematics), constant with units of measurement, in which it is known as a constant multiplier. In general, coefficients may be any mathematical expression, expression (including Variable (mathematics), variables such as , and ). When the combination of variables and constants is not necessarily involved in a product (mathematics), product, it may be called a ''parameter''. For example, the polynomial 2x^2-x+3 has coefficients 2, −1, and 3, and the powers of the variable x in the polynomial ax^2+bx+c have coefficient parameters a, b, and c. A , also known as constant term or simply constant, is a quantity either implicitly attach ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Theta Function
In mathematics, theta functions are special functions of several complex variables. They show up in many topics, including Abelian varieties, moduli spaces, quadratic forms, and solitons. Theta functions are parametrized by points in a tube domain inside a complex Lagrangian Grassmannian, namely the Siegel upper half space. The most common form of theta function is that occurring in the theory of elliptic functions. With respect to one of the complex variables (conventionally called ), a theta function has a property expressing its behavior with respect to the addition of a period of the associated elliptic functions, making it a quasiperiodic function. In the abstract theory this quasiperiodicity comes from the cohomology class of a line bundle on a complex torus, a condition of descent. One interpretation of theta functions when dealing with the heat equation is that "a theta function is a special function that describes the evolution of temperature on a segment do ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Q-analog
In mathematics, a ''q''-analog of a theorem, identity or expression is a generalization involving a new parameter ''q'' that returns the original theorem, identity or expression in the limit as . Typically, mathematicians are interested in ''q''-analogs that arise naturally, rather than in arbitrarily contriving ''q''-analogs of known results. The earliest ''q''-analog studied in detail is the basic hypergeometric series, which was introduced in the 19th century. ''q''-analogs are most frequently studied in the mathematical fields of combinatorics and special functions. In these settings, the limit is often formal, as is often discrete-valued (for example, it may represent a prime power). ''q''-analogs find applications in a number of areas, including the study of fractals and multi-fractal measures, and expressions for the entropy of chaotic dynamical systems. The relationship to fractals and dynamical systems results from the fact that many fractal patterns have the symme ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Incomplete Gamma Function
In mathematics, the upper and lower incomplete gamma functions are types of special functions which arise as solutions to various mathematical problems such as certain integrals. Their respective names stem from their integral definitions, which are defined similarly to the gamma function but with different or "incomplete" integral limits. The gamma function is defined as an integral from zero to infinity. This contrasts with the lower incomplete gamma function, which is defined as an integral from zero to a variable upper limit. Similarly, the upper incomplete gamma function is defined as an integral from a variable lower limit to infinity. Definition The upper incomplete gamma function is defined as: \Gamma(s,x) = \int_x^ t^\,e^\, dt , whereas the lower incomplete gamma function is defined as: \gamma(s,x) = \int_0^x t^\,e^\, dt . In both cases is a complex parameter, such that the real part of is positive. Properties By integration by parts we find the recurrence relati ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mathematical Proof
A mathematical proof is a deductive reasoning, deductive Argument-deduction-proof distinctions, argument for a Proposition, mathematical statement, showing that the stated assumptions logically guarantee the conclusion. The argument may use other previously established statements, such as theorems; but every proof can, in principle, be constructed using only certain basic or original assumptions known as axioms, along with the accepted rules of inference. Proofs are examples of exhaustive deductive reasoning that establish logical certainty, to be distinguished from empirical evidence, empirical arguments or non-exhaustive inductive reasoning that establish "reasonable expectation". Presenting many cases in which the statement holds is not enough for a proof, which must demonstrate that the statement is true in ''all'' possible cases. A proposition that has not been proved but is believed to be true is known as a conjecture, or a hypothesis if frequently used as an assumption for ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jeffrey Shallit
Jeffrey Outlaw Shallit (born October 17, 1957) is an American computer scientist and mathematician. He is an active number theorist and a noted critic of intelligent design. He is married to Anna Lubiw, also a computer scientist. Early life and education Shallit was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1957. His father was journalist Joseph Shallit, the son of Jewish immigrants from Vitebsk, Russia (now in Belarus). His mother was Louise Lee Outlaw Shallit, a writer. He has one brother, Jonathan Shallit, a music professor. Shallit earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in mathematics from Princeton University in June 1979. He received a Ph.D., also in mathematics, from the University of California, Berkeley, in June 1983. His doctoral thesis was entitled ''Metric Theory of Pierce Expansions'' and his advisor was Manuel Blum. Advocacy Since 1996, Shallit has held the position of Vice-President of Electronic Frontier Canada. In 1997, he gained attention for the public ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alfréd Rényi
Alfréd Rényi (20 March 1921 – 1 February 1970) was a Hungarian mathematician known for his work in probability theory, though he also made contributions in combinatorics, graph theory, and number theory. Life Rényi was born in Budapest to Artúr Rényi and Borbála Alexander; his father was a mechanical engineer, while his mother was the daughter of philosopher and literary critic Bernhard Alexander; his uncle was Franz Alexander, a Hungarian-American psychoanalyst and physician. He was prevented from enrolling in university in 1939 due to the anti-Jewish laws then in force, but enrolled at the University of Budapest in 1940 and finished his studies in 1944. At this point, he was drafted to forced labour service, from which he managed to escape during transportation of his company. He was in hiding with false documents for six months. Biographers tell an incredible story about Rényi: after half of a year in hiding, he managed to get hold of a soldier's uniform and march ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
