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For a finite square matrix A over a field, its characteristic polynomial p(t)=det(tI−A)=tⁿ+cₙ₋₁tⁿ⁻¹+⋯+c₀ satisfies p(A)=Aⁿ+cₙ₋₁Aⁿ⁻¹+⋯+c₀I=0.
Mathematical statementMathematics & logicNilpotent and Jordan-block exponentialsIf Nʳ=0 and A=λI+N, then eᵗᴬ=e^(λt)Σₖ₌₀ʳ⁻¹tᵏNᵏ/k!.
MethodPhysics · Mathematics & logicFixed points and local dynamical stabilityFor an autonomous smooth system ẋ=f(x), equilibria satisfy f(x*)=0 and nearby perturbations obey δẋ≈Jδx, J_ij=∂f_i/∂x_j at x*.
Mathematical statementPhysics · Mathematics & logicElementary equilibrium bifurcation modelsA bifurcation is a qualitative change in a parameterized dynamical system.
ModelMathematics & logicHigher categories through nerves and inner hornsThe nerve of an ordinary category has n-simplices given by chains of n composable arrows; inner horns have unique fillers encoding composition.
DefinitionMathematics & logicA nonlinear existence theorem: subcritical NLSFor i u-t=−Delta-u−lambda|u|^alpha u on R-n, real lambda and 0<alpha<4/n, every L2 initial datum has a unique local mild solution in C([0,T];L2) intersected with L-q(0,T;L^(alpha+2)), where q=4(alpha+2)/(n alpha).
Mathematical statementMathematics & logicBanach spaces and the role of completenessA normed real or complex vector space is Banach when every norm-Cauchy sequence converges in that space.
DefinitionMathematics & logicBounded operators and continuous dualsA linear map T:X→Y between normed spaces is continuous exactly when ||Tx|| ≤ C||x|| for some finite C.
DefinitionMathematics & logicHilbert spaces and orthonormal expansionsA Hilbert space is complete in the norm induced by a real or complex inner product.
DefinitionMathematics & logicProjection onto a closed Hilbert subspaceFor a closed linear subspace M of a Hilbert space H, every x has a unique decomposition x=P-M x+z with P-M x in M and z orthogonal to M.
Mathematical statementMathematics & logicRiesz representation for Hilbert functionalsEvery continuous linear functional ell on a Hilbert space has a unique representing vector y with ell(x)=<x,y>, and ||ell||=||y||.
Mathematical statementMathematics & logicWeak convergence versus norm convergenceWeak convergence x-n→x in a Hilbert space means <x-n,y>→<x,y> for every fixed y.
DefinitionMathematics & logicTest-function topology and distributionsA distribution on an open U in R-n is a continuous linear functional on smooth compactly supported test functions.
DefinitionMathematics & logicDistribution derivatives and jump sourcesDistribution derivatives transfer differentiation to a test function with the integration-by-parts sign.
MethodMathematics & logicManifolds, compatible charts and tangent spacesA smooth n-manifold has locally Euclidean charts with smooth invertible transition maps, together with Hausdorff and second-countable topology.
DefinitionMathematics & logicCotangent vectors, tensors and pullbackA covector is a linear functional on the tangent space, and a tensor is multilinear on tangent/cotangent inputs.
DefinitionMathematics & logicExterior forms and the exterior derivativeDifferential k-forms are smooth alternating covariant tensors.
DefinitionMathematics & logicGeneralized Stokes with boundary orientationOn a compact oriented smooth n-manifold with boundary, integrating d-omega equals integrating omega on the induced oriented boundary, for a smooth (n−1)-form.
Mathematical statementMathematics & logicde Rham cohomology and a non-exact closed formde Rham cohomology quotients closed k-forms by exact k-forms.
Mathematical statementMathematics & logicHodge theory: topology meets elliptic analysisOn a compact smooth Riemannian manifold without boundary, every de Rham class has a unique harmonic representative.
Mathematical statementMathematics & logicGalois criterion for solving by radicalsOver a field of characteristic zero, a polynomial is solvable by radicals exactly when its splitting-field Galois group is solvable.
Mathematical statementMathematics & logicA concrete radical extension with group S3For x³−2 over Q, the splitting field is Q(cube-root(2),zeta-3), has degree six and Galois group S3.
Mathematical statementMathematics & logicCyclotomic fields and abelian Galois groupsFor a primitive n-th root zeta-n, Gal(Q(zeta-n)/Q) is isomorphic to the units modulo n by a↦(zeta-n↦zeta-n^a), and the degree is Euler phi(n).
Mathematical statementMathematics & logicLinear representations and Maschke decompositionA representation of a finite group G is a homomorphism G→GL(V).
Mathematical statementMathematics & logicCharacter orthogonality and the S3 tableFor complex finite-group representations, chi(g)=tr rho(g) is constant on conjugacy classes and irreducible characters are orthonormal under the group average.
Mathematical statementMathematics & logicConditional expectation on a sigma-algebraFor integrable X and a sub-sigma-algebra G, E[X|G] is a G-measurable integrable random variable whose integral over every event in G equals that of X.
DefinitionMathematics & logicFiltrations, adapted processes and martingalesA discrete martingale M-n is adapted to increasing sigma-algebras F-n, is integrable at every time, and obeys E[M-(n+1)|F-n]=M-n.
DefinitionMathematics & logicMartingale convergence and uniform integrabilityA discrete nonnegative supermartingale converges almost surely to a finite integrable limit. Its expectations also converge, but their limit can differ from the expectation of the almost-sure limit.
Mathematical statementMathematics & logicOptional sampling and why stopping mattersFor a martingale and bounded stopping times S≤T, E[M-T|F-S]=M-S.
Mathematical statementMathematics & logicSobolev spaces and weak boundary dataW^(k,p)(Omega) consists of L-p functions with distribution derivatives through order k also in L-p; H^k denotes p=2.
Definition