arXiv subjects

Jeffrey C. Lagarias

Publications and source records attributed to Jeffrey C. Lagarias.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2012

Level Sets of the Takagi Function: Local Level Sets

The Takagi function τ: [0, 1] \to [0, 1] is a continuous non-differentiable function constructed by Takagi in 1903. The level sets L(y) = {x : τ(x) = y} of the Takagi function τ(x) are studied by introducing a notion of local level set into which level sets are partitioned. Local level sets are simple to analyze, reducing questions to understanding the relation of level sets to local level sets, which is more complicated. It is known that for a "generic" full Lebesgue measure set of ordinates y, the level sets are finite sets. Here it is shown for a "generic" full Lebesgue measure set of abscissas x, the level set L(τ(x)) is uncountable. An interesting singular monotone function is constructed, associated to local level sets, and is used to show the expected number of local level sets at a random level y is exactly 3/2.

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arXiv2012

The 3x+1 Problem: An Annotated Bibliography, II (2000-2009)

The 3x+1 problem concerns iteration of the map T(n) =(3n+1)/2 if n odd; n/2 if n even. The 3x +1 Conjecture asserts that for every positive integer n>1 the forward orbit of n includes the integer 1. This paper is an annotated bibliography of work done on the 3x+1 problem published from 2000 through 2009, plus some later papers that were preprints by 2009. This is a sequel to an annotated bibliography on the 3x+1 problem covering 1963-1999. At present the 3x+1 Conjecture remains unsolved.

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arXiv2012

The maximal density of product-free sets in Z/nZ

This paper studies the maximal size of product-free sets in Z/nZ. These are sets of residues for which there is no solution to ab == c (mod n) with a,b,c in the set. In a previous paper we constructed an infinite sequence of integers (n_i)_{i > 0} and product-free sets S_i in Z/n_iZ such that the density |S_i|/n_i tends to 1 as i tends to infinity, where |S_i|$ denotes the cardinality of S_i. Here we obtain matching, up to constants, upper and lower bounds on the maximal attainable density as n tends to infinity.

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arXiv2012

On sets of integers which are both sum-free and product-free

We consider sets of positive integers containing no sum of two elements in the set and also no product of two elements. We show that the upper density of such a set is strictly smaller than 1/2 and that this is best possible. Further, we also find the maximal order for the density of such sets that are also periodic modulo some positive integer.

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arXiv2012

The Takagi Function and Its Properties

The Takagi function is a continuous non-differentiable function on [0,1] introduced by Teiji Takagi in 1903. It has since appeared in a surprising number of different mathematical contexts, including mathematical analysis, probability theory and number theory. This paper surveys the known properties of this function as it relates to these fields.

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arXiv2011

Product-free sets with high density

We show that there are sets of integers with asymptotic density arbitrarily close to 1 in which there is no solution to the equation ab=c, with a,b,c in the set. We also consider some natural generalizations, as well as a specific numerical example of a product-free set of integers with asymptotic density greater than 1/2.

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arXiv2011

The Integral of the Riemann xi-function

This paper studies the integral of the Riemann xi-function. More generally, it studies a one-parameter family of functions given by Fourier integrals and satisfying a functional equation. Members of this family are shown to have only finitely many zeros on the critical line, with the integral of the Riemann xi-function having exactly one zero on the critical line, at s = 1/2. The zeros of the integral of the xi-function are shown to lie arbitrarily far away from the critical line. An analogue of the de Bruijn-Newman constant is introduced for this family, and shown to be infinite.

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arXiv2011

Level Sets of the Takagi Function: Generic Level Sets

The Takagi function τ : [0, 1] \rightarrow [0, 1] is a continuous non-differentiable function constructed by Takagi in 1903. This paper studies the level sets L(y) = {x : τ(x) = y} of the Takagi function τ(x). It shows that for a full Lebesgue measure set of ordinates y, these level sets are finite sets, but whose expected number of points is infinite. Complementing this, it shows that the set of ordinates y whose level set has positive Hausdorff dimension is itself a set of full Hausdorff dimension 1 (but Lebesgue measure zero). Finally it shows that the level sets have a nontrivial Hausdorff dimension spectrum. The results are obtained using a notion of "local level set" introduced in a previous paper, along with a singular measure parameterizing such sets.

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arXiv2011

Smooth solutions to the abc equation: the xyz Conjecture

This paper studies integer solutions to the ABC equation A+B+C=0 in which none of A, B, C has a large prime factor. Set H(A,B, C)= max(|A|,|B|,|C|) and set the smoothness S(A, B, C) to be the largest prime factor of ABC. We consider primitive solutions (gcd(A, B, C)=1) having smoothness no larger than a fixed power p of log H. Assuming the abc Conjecture we show that there are finitely many solutions if p<1. We discuss a conditional result, showing that the Generalized Riemann Hypothesis (GRH) implies there are infinitely many primitive solutions when p>8. We sketch some details of the proof of the latter result.

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arXiv2011

Convergence of the restricted Nelder-Mead algorithm in two dimensions

The Nelder-Mead algorithm, a longstanding direct search method for unconstrained optimization published in 1965, is designed to minimize a scalar-valued function f of n real variables using only function values, without any derivative information. Each Nelder-Mead iteration is associated with a nondegenerate simplex defined by n+1 vertices and their function values; a typical iteration produces a new simplex by replacing the worst vertex by a new point. Despite the method's widespread use, theoretical results have been limited: for strictly convex objective functions of one variable with bounded level sets, the algorithm always converges to the minimizer; for such functions of two variables, the diameter of the simplex converges to zero, but examples constructed by McKinnon show that the algorithm may converge to a nonminimizing point. This paper considers the restricted Nelder-Mead algorithm, a variant that does not allow expansion steps. In two dimensions we show that, for any nondegenerate starting simplex and any twice-continuously differentiable function with positive definite Hessian and bounded level sets, the algorithm always converges to the minimizer. The proof is based on treating the method as a discrete dynamical system, and relies on several techniques that are non-standard in convergence proofs for unconstrained optimization.

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arXiv2011

The 3x+1 problem: An annotated bibliography (1963--1999) (sorted by author)

The 3x+ 1 problem concerns iteration of the map on the integers given by T(n) = (3n+1)/2 if n is odd; T(n) = n/2 if n is even. The 3x+1 Conjecture asserts that for every positive integer n > 1 the forward orbit of n under iteration by T includes the integer 1. This paper is an annotated bibliography of work done on the 3x+1 problem and related problems from 1963 through 1999. At present the 3x+1 Conjecture remains unsolved.

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arXiv2010

The Lerch Zeta Function I. Zeta Integrals

This is the first of four papers that study algebraic and analytic structures associated to the Lerch zeta function. This paper studies "zeta integrals" associated to the Lerch zeta function using test functions, and obtains functional equations for them. Special cases include a pair of symmetrized four-term functional equations for combinations of Lerch zeta functions, found by A. Weil, for real parameters (a,c) with 0< a, c< 1. It extends these functions to real a, and c, and studies limiting cases of these functions where at least one of a and c takes the values 0 or 1. A main feature is that as a function of three variables (s, a, c), with a, c being real variables, the Lerch zeta function has discontinuities at integer values of a and c. For fixed s, the function is discontinuous on part of the boundary of the closed unit square in the (a,c)-variables, and the location and nature of these discontinuities depend on the real part of s. Analysis of this behavior is used to determine membership of these functions in L^p([0,1]^2, da dc) for 1 \le p < \infty, as a function of the real part of s. The paper also defines generalized Lerch zeta functions associated to the oscillator representation, and gives analogous four-term functional equations for them.

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arXiv2010

The Lerch Zeta Function II. Analytic Continuation

This is the second of four papers that study algebraic and analytic structures associated with the Lerch zeta function. In this paper we analytically continue it as a function of three complex variables. We that it is well defined as a multivalued function on the manifold M equal to C^3 with the hyperplanes corresponding to integer values of the two variables a and c removed. We show that it becomes single valued on the maximal abelian cover of M. We compute the monodromy functions describing the multivalued nature of this function on M, and determine various of their properties.

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arXiv2009

Stochastic Models for the 3x+1 and 5x+1 Problems

This paper discusses stochastic models for predicting the long-time behavior of the trajectories of orbits of the 3x+1 problem and, for comparison, the 5x+1 problem. The stochastic models are rigorously analyzable, and yield heuristic predictions (conjectures) for the behavior of 3x+1 orbits and 5x+1 orbits.

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arXiv2008

Cyclic systems of simultaneous congruences

This paper considers solutions (x_1, x_2, ..., x_n) to the cyclic system of n simultaneous congruences r (x_1x_2 ...x_n)/x_i = s (mod |x_i|), for fixed nonzero integers r,s with r>0 and gcd(r,s)=1. It shows this system has a finite number of solutions in positive integers x_i >1 having gcd(x_1x_2...x_n, s)=1, obtaining a sharp upper bound on the maximal size of the solutions in many cases. This bound grows doubly-exponentially in n. It shows there are infinitely many such solutions when the positivity restriction is dropped, when r=1, and not otherwise. The problem is reduced to the study of integer solutions of a three parameter family of Diophantine equations r(1/x_1 + 1/x_2 + ...+ 1/x_n)- s/(x_1x_2...x_n) = m, with parameters (r,s,m).

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arXiv2008

Ternary expansions of powers of 2

Paul Erdos asked how frequently the ternary expansion of 2^n omits the digit 2. He conjectured this happens only for finitely many values of n. We generalize this question to consider iterates of two discrete dynamical systems. The first is over the real numbers, and considers the integer part of lambda 2^n for a real input lambda. The second is over the 3-adic integers, and considers the sequence lambda 2^n for a 3-adic integer input lambda. We show that the number of input values that have infinitely many iterates omitting the digit 2 in their ternary expansion is small in a suitable sense. For each nonzero input we give an asymptotic upper bound on the number of the first k iterates that omit the digit 2, as k goes to infinity. We also study auxiliary problems concerning the Hausdorff dimension of intersections of multiplicative translates of 3-adic Cantor sets.

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arXiv2006

Dynamics of a family of piecewise-linear area-preserving plane maps I. Rational rotation numbers

This paper studies the behavior under iteration of the maps T_{ab}(x,y) = (F_{ab}(x)-y,x) of the plane R^2, in which F_{ab}(x)=ax if x>=0 and bx if x<0. The orbits under iteration correspond to solutions of the nonlinear difference equation x_{n+2}= 1/2(a-b)|x_{n+1}| + 1/2(a+b)x_{n+1} - x_n. This family of piecewise-linear maps has the parameter space (a,b)\in R^2. These maps are area-preserving homeomorphisms of R^2 that map rays from the origin into rays from the origin. The action on rays defines a map S_{ab} of the circle, which has a well-defined rotation number. This paper characterizes the possible behaviors of T_{ab} under iteration when the rotation number is rational. It characterizes cases where the map T_{ab} is a periodic map.

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arXiv2006

Dynamics of a family of piecewise-linear area-preserving plane maps III. Cantor set spectra

This paper studies the behavior under iteration of the maps T_{ab}(x,y) = (F_{ab}(x)- y, x) of the plane R^2, in which F_{ab}(x)= ax if x>0 and bx if x<0. These maps are area-preserving homeomorphisms of the plane that map rays from the origin into rays from the origin. Orbits of the map correspond to solutions of the nonlinear difference equation x_{n+2}= 1/2(a-b)|x_{n+1}| + 1/2(a+b)x_{n+1} - x_n. This difference equation can be written in an eigenvalue form for a nonlinear difference operator of Schrodinger type, in which μ= 1/2(a-b) is viewed as fixed and the energy E=2- 1/2(a+b). The paper studies the set of parameter values where T_{ab} has at least one nonzero bounded orbit, which corresponds to an l_{\infty} eigenfunction of the difference operator. It shows that the for transcendental μthe set of allowed energy values E for which there is a bounded orbit is a Cantor set. Numerical simulations suggest that this Cantor set have positive one-dimensional measure for all real values of μ.

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