Polish Spaces and Analytic Sets (open access)

Polish Spaces and Analytic Sets

A Polish space is a separable topological space that can be metrized by means of a complete metric. A subset A of a Polish space X is analytic if there is a Polish space Z and a continuous function f : Z —> X such that f(Z)= A. After proving that each uncountable Polish space contains a non-Borel analytic subset we conclude that there exists a universally measurable non-Borel set.
Date: August 1997
Creator: Muller, Kimberly (Kimberly Orisja)
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Presentation of Current Research on Partitions of Lines and Space (open access)

A Presentation of Current Research on Partitions of Lines and Space

We present the results from three papers concerning partitions of vector spaces V over the set R of reals and of the set of lines in V.
Date: December 1999
Creator: Nugen, Frederick T.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Use of the Power Method to Find Dominant Eigenvalues of Matrices (open access)

The Use of the Power Method to Find Dominant Eigenvalues of Matrices

This paper is the result of a study of the power method to find dominant eigenvalues of square matrices. It introduces ideas basic to the study and shows the development of the power method for the most well-behaved matrices possible, and it explores exactly which other types of matrices yield to the power method. The paper also discusses a type of matrix typically considered impossible for the power method, along with a modification of the power method which works for this type of matrix. It gives an overview of common extensions of the power method. The appendices contain BASIC versions of the power method and its modification.
Date: July 1992
Creator: Cavender, Terri A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Algebraic Number Fields (open access)

Algebraic Number Fields

This thesis investigates various theorems on polynomials over the rationals, algebraic numbers, algebraic integers, and quadratic fields. The material selected in this study is more of a number theoretical aspect than that of an algebraic structural aspect. Therefore, the topics of divisibility, unique factorization, prime numbers, and the roots of certain polynomials have been chosen for primary consideration.
Date: August 1991
Creator: Hartsell, Melanie Lynne
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Continuous, Nowhere-Differentiable Function with a Dense Set of Proper Local Extrema (open access)

A Continuous, Nowhere-Differentiable Function with a Dense Set of Proper Local Extrema

In this paper, we use the following scheme to construct a continuous, nowhere-differentiable function 𝑓 which is the uniform limit of a sequence of sawtooth functions 𝑓ₙ : [0, 1] → [0, 1] with increasingly sharp teeth. Let 𝑋 = [0, 1] x [0, 1] and 𝐹(𝑋) be the Hausdorff metric space determined by 𝑋. We define contraction maps 𝑤₁ , 𝑤₂ , 𝑤₃ on 𝑋. These maps define a contraction map 𝑤 on 𝐹(𝑋) via 𝑤(𝐴) = 𝑤₁(𝐴) ⋃ 𝑤₂(𝐴) ⋃ 𝑤₃(𝐴). The iteration under 𝑤 of the diagonal in 𝑋 defines a sequence of graphs of continuous functions 𝑓ₙ. Since 𝑤 is a contraction map in the compact metric space 𝐹(𝑋), 𝑤 has a unique fixed point. Hence, these iterations converge to the fixed point-which turns out to be the graph of our continuous, nowhere-differentiable function 𝑓. Chapter 2 contains the background we will need to engage our task. Chapter 3 includes two results from the Baire Category Theorem. The first is the well known fact that the set of continuous, nowhere-differentiable functions on [0,1] is a residual set in 𝐶[0,1]. The second fact is that the set of continuous functions on [0,1] which have a dense set …
Date: December 1993
Creator: Huggins, Mark C. (Mark Christopher)
System: The UNT Digital Library
Haar Measure on the Cantor Ternary Set (open access)

Haar Measure on the Cantor Ternary Set

The purpose of this thesis is to examine certain questions concerning the Cantor ternary set. The second chapter deals with proving that the Cantor ternary set is equivalent to the middle thirds set of [0,1], closed, compact, and has Lebesgue measure zero. Further a proof that the Cantor ternary set is a locally compact, Hausdorff topological group is given. The third chapter is concerned with establishing the existence of a Haar integral on certain topological groups. In particular if G is a locally compact and Hausdorff topological group, then there is a non-zero translation invariant positive linear form on G. The fourth chapter deals with proving that for any Haar integral I on G there exists a unique Haar measure on G that represents I.
Date: August 1990
Creator: Naughton, Gerard P. (Gerard Peter)
System: The UNT Digital Library
Properties of Power Series Rings (open access)

Properties of Power Series Rings

This thesis investigates some of the properties of power series rings. The material is divided into three chapters. In Chapter I, some of the basic concepts of rings which are a prerequisite to an understanding of the definitions and theorems which follow are stated. Simple properties of power series rings are developed in Chapter II. Many properties of a ring R are preserved when we attach the indeterminant x to form the power series ring R[[x]]. Further results of power series rings are examined in Chapter III. An important result illustrated in this chapter is that power series rings possess some of the properties of rings of polynomials.
Date: August 1990
Creator: O'Brien, Rita Marie
System: The UNT Digital Library
Duals and Reflexivity of Certain Banach Spaces (open access)

Duals and Reflexivity of Certain Banach Spaces

The purpose of this paper is to explore certain properties of Banach spaces. The first chapter begins with basic definitions, includes examples of Banach spaces, and concludes with some properties of continuous linear functionals. In the second chapter, dimension is discussed; then one version of the Hahn-Banach Theorem is presented. The third chapter focuses on dual spaces and includes an example using co, RI, and e'. The role of locally convex spaces is also explored in this chapter. In the fourth chapter, several more theorems concerning dual spaces and related topologies are presented. The final chapter focuses on reflexive spaces. In the main theorem, the relation between compactness and reflexivity is examined. The paper concludes with an example of a non-reflexive space.
Date: August 1991
Creator: Dahler, Cheryl L. (Cheryl Lewis)
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Eulerian Functions of Cyclic Groups, Dihedral Groups, and P-Groups (open access)

The Eulerian Functions of Cyclic Groups, Dihedral Groups, and P-Groups

In 1935, Philip Hall developed a formula for finding the number of ways of generating the group of symmetries of the icosahedron from a given number of its elements. In doing so, he defined a generalized Eulerian function. This thesis uses Hall's generalized Eulerian function to calculate generalized Eulerian functions for specific groups, namely: cyclic groups, dihedral groups, and p- groups.
Date: August 1992
Creator: Sewell, Cynthia M. (Cynthia Marie)
System: The UNT Digital Library
Weak and Norm Convergence of Sequences in Banach Spaces (open access)

Weak and Norm Convergence of Sequences in Banach Spaces

We study weak convergence of sequences in Banach spaces. In particular, we compare the notions of weak and norm convergence. Although these modes of convergence usually differ, we show that in ℓ¹ they coincide. We then show a theorem of Rosenthal's which states that if {𝓍ₙ} is a bounded sequence in a Banach space, then {𝓍ₙ} has a subsequence {𝓍'ₙ} satisfying one of the following two mutually exclusive alternatives; (i) {𝓍'ₙ} is weakly Cauchy, or (ii) {𝓍'ₙ} is equivalent to the unit vector basis of ℓ¹.
Date: December 1993
Creator: Hymel, Arthur J. (Arthur Joseph)
System: The UNT Digital Library
On Groups of Positive Type (open access)

On Groups of Positive Type

We describe groups of positive type and prove that a group G is of positive type if and only if G admits a non-trivial partition. We completely classify groups of type 2, and present examples of other groups of positive type as well as groups of type zero.
Date: August 1995
Creator: Moore, Monty L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Continuous, Nowhere-Differentiable Functions with no Finite or Infinite One-Sided Derivative Anywhere (open access)

Continuous, Nowhere-Differentiable Functions with no Finite or Infinite One-Sided Derivative Anywhere

In this paper, we study continuous functions with no finite or infinite one-sided derivative anywhere. In 1925, A. S. Beskovitch published an example of such a function. Since then we call them Beskovitch functions. This construction is presented in chapter 2, The example was simple enough to clear the doubts about the existence of Besicovitch functions. In 1932, S. Saks showed that the set of Besicovitch functions is only a meager set in C[0,1]. Thus the Baire category method for showing the existence of Besicovitch functions cannot be directly applied. A. P. Morse in 1938 constructed Besicovitch functions. In 1984, Maly revived the Baire category method by finding a non-empty compact subspace of (C[0,1], || • ||) with respect to which the set of Morse-Besicovitch functions is comeager.
Date: December 1994
Creator: Lee, Jae S. (Jae Seung)
System: The UNT Digital Library
Primitive Substitutive Numbers are Closed under Rational Multiplication (open access)

Primitive Substitutive Numbers are Closed under Rational Multiplication

Lehr (1991) proved that, if M(q, r) denotes the set of real numbers whose expansion in base-r is q-automatic i.e., is recognized by an automaton A = (Aq, Ar, ao, δ, φ) (or is the image under a letter to letter morphism of a fixed point of a substitution of constant length q) then M(q, r) is closed under addition and rational multiplication. Similarly if we let M(r) denote the set of real numbers α whose base-r digit expansion is ultimately primitive substitutive, i.e., contains a tail which is the image (under a letter to letter morphism) of a fixed point of a primitive substitution then in an attempt to generalize Lehr's result we show that the set M(r) is closed under multiplication by rational numbers. We also show that M(r) is not closed under addition.
Date: August 1998
Creator: Ketkar, Pallavi S. (Pallavi Subhash)
System: The UNT Digital Library
Plane Curves, Convex Curves, and Their Deformation Via the Heat Equation (open access)

Plane Curves, Convex Curves, and Their Deformation Via the Heat Equation

We study the effects of a deformation via the heat equation on closed, plane curves. We begin with an overview of the theory of curves in R3. In particular, we develop the Frenet-Serret equations for any curve parametrized by arc length. This chapter is followed by an examination of curves in R2, and the resultant adjustment of the Frenet-Serret equations. We then prove the rotation index for closed, plane curves is an integer and for simple, closed, plane curves is ±1. We show that a curve is convex if and only if the curvature does not change sign, and we prove the Isoperimetric Inequality, which gives a bound on the area of a closed curve with fixed length. Finally, we study the deformation of plane curves developed by M. Gage and R. S. Hamilton. We observe that convex curves under deformation remain convex, and simple curves remain simple.
Date: August 1998
Creator: Debrecht, Johanna M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Physical Motivation and Methods of Solution of Classical Partial Differential Equations (open access)

Physical Motivation and Methods of Solution of Classical Partial Differential Equations

We consider three classical equations that are important examples of parabolic, elliptic, and hyperbolic partial differential equations, namely, the heat equation, the Laplace's equation, and the wave equation. We derive them from physical principles, explore methods of finding solutions, and make observations about their applications.
Date: August 1995
Creator: Thompson, Jeremy R. (Jeremy Ray)
System: The UNT Digital Library
Intuition versus Formalization: Some Implications of Incompleteness on Mathematical Thought (open access)

Intuition versus Formalization: Some Implications of Incompleteness on Mathematical Thought

This paper describes the tension between intuition about number theory and attempts to formalize it. I will first examine the root of the dilemma, Godel's First Incompleteness Theorem, which demonstrates that in any reasonable formalization of number theory, there will be independent statements. After proving the theorem, I consider some of its consequences on intuition, focusing on Freiling's "Dart Experiment" which is based on our usual notion of the real numbers as a line. This experiment gives an apparent refutation of the Axiom of Choice and the Continuum Hypothesis; however, it also leads to an equally apparent paradox. I conclude that such paradoxes are inevitable as the formalization of mathematics takes us further from our initial intuitions.
Date: August 1994
Creator: Lindman, Phillip A. (Phillip Anthony)
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Generalization of Sturmian Sequences: Combinatorial Structure and Transcendence (open access)

A Generalization of Sturmian Sequences: Combinatorial Structure and Transcendence

We investigate a class of minimal sequences on a finite alphabet Ak = {1,2,...,k} having (k - 1)n + 1 distinct subwords of length n. These sequences, originally defined by P. Arnoux and G. Rauzy, are a natural generalization of binary Sturmian sequences. We describe two simple combinatorial algorithms for constructing characteristic Arnoux-Rauzy sequences (one of which is new even in the Sturmian case). Arnoux-Rauzy sequences arising from fixed points of primitive morphisms are characterized by an underlying periodic structure. We show that every Arnoux-Rauzy sequence contains arbitrarily large subwords of the form V^2+ε and, in the Sturmian case, arbitrarily large subwords of the form V^3+ε. Finally, we prove that an irrational number whose base b-digit expansion is an Arnoux-Rauzy sequence is transcendental.
Date: August 1998
Creator: Risley, Rebecca N.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Properties of Bicentric Circles for Three-Sided Polygons (open access)

Properties of Bicentric Circles for Three-Sided Polygons

We define and construct bicentric circles with respect to three-sided polygons. Then using inherent properties of these circles, we explore both tangent properties, and areas generated from bicentric circles.
Date: August 1998
Creator: Heinlein, David J. (David John)
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Cohomology for the Nil Radical of a Complex Semisimple Lie Algebra (open access)

The Cohomology for the Nil Radical of a Complex Semisimple Lie Algebra

Let g be a complex semisimple Lie algebra, Vλ an irreducible g-module with high weight λ, pI a standard parabolic subalgebra of g with Levi factor £I and nil radical nI, and H*(nI, Vλ) the cohomology group of Λn'I ⊗Vλ. We describe the decomposition of H*(nI, Vλ) into irreducible £1-modules.
Date: May 1994
Creator: Sawyer, Cameron C. (Cameron Cunningham)
System: The UNT Digital Library
Ádám's Conjecture and Its Generalizations (open access)

Ádám's Conjecture and Its Generalizations

This paper examines idam's conjuecture and some of its generalizations. In terms of Adam's conjecture, we prove Alspach and Parson's results f or Zpq and ZP2. More generally, we prove Babai's characterization of the CI-property, Palfy's characterization of CI-groups, and Brand's result for Zpr for polynomial isomorphism's. We also prove for the first time a characterization of the CI-property for 1 SG, and prove that Zn is a CI-Pn-group where Pn is the group of permutation polynomials on Z,, and n is square free.
Date: August 1990
Creator: Dobson, Edward T. (Edward Tauscher)
System: The UNT Digital Library
Hyperspaces of Continua (open access)

Hyperspaces of Continua

Several properties of Hausdorff continua are considered in this paper. However, the major emphasis is on developing the properties of the hyperspaces 2x and C(X) of a Hausdorff continuum X. Preliminary definitions and notation are introduced in Chapter I. Chapters II and III deal with the topological structure of the hyperspaces and the concept of topological convergence. Properties of 2x and C(X) are investigated in Chapter IV, while Chapters V and VI are devoted to the Hausdorff continuum X. Chapter VII consists of theorems pertaining to Whitney maps and order arcs in 2x. Examples of C(X) are provided in Chapter VIII. Inverse sequences of Hausdorff continua and of their hyperspaces are considered in Chapter IX.
Date: August 1990
Creator: Simmons, Charlotte
System: The UNT Digital Library
Manifolds, Vector Bundles, and Stiefel-Whitney Classes (open access)

Manifolds, Vector Bundles, and Stiefel-Whitney Classes

The problem of embedding a manifold in Euclidean space is considered. Manifolds are introduced in Chapter I along with other basic definitions and examples. Chapter II contains a proof of the Regular Value Theorem along with the "Easy" Whitney Embedding Theorem. In Chapter III, vector bundles are introduced and some of their properties are discussed. Chapter IV introduces the Stiefel-Whitney classes and the four properties that characterize them. Finally, in Chapter V, the Stiefel-Whitney classes are used to produce a lower bound on the dimension of Euclidean space that is needed to embed real projective space.
Date: August 1990
Creator: Green, Michael Douglas, 1965-
System: The UNT Digital Library
Explicit Multidimensional Solitary Waves (open access)

Explicit Multidimensional Solitary Waves

In this paper we construct explicit examples of solutions to certain nonlinear wave equations. These semilinear equations are the simplest equations known to possess localized solitary waves in more that one spatial dimension. We construct explicit localized standing wave solutions, which generate multidimensional localized traveling solitary waves under the action of velocity boosts. We study the case of two spatial dimensions and a piecewise-linear nonlinearity. We obtain a large subset of the infinite family of standing waves, and we exhibit several interesting features of the family. Our solutions include solitary waves that carry nonzero angular momenta in their rest frames. The spatial profiles of these solutions also furnish examples of symmetry breaking for nonlinear elliptic equations.
Date: August 1990
Creator: King, Gregory B. (Gregory Blaine)
System: The UNT Digital Library
Homotopies and Deformation Retracts (open access)

Homotopies and Deformation Retracts

This paper introduces the background concepts necessary to develop a detailed proof of a theorem by Ralph H. Fox which states that two topological spaces are the same homotopy type if and only if both are deformation retracts of a third space, the mapping cylinder. The concepts of homotopy and deformation are introduced in chapter 2, and retraction and deformation retract are defined in chapter 3. Chapter 4 develops the idea of the mapping cylinder, and the proof is completed. Three special cases are examined in chapter 5.
Date: December 1990
Creator: Stark, William D. (William David)
System: The UNT Digital Library