Questions tagged [metric-spaces]
A metric space is a pair $(X,d)$, where $X$ is a set and $d:X \times X \to \mathbb{R}$ satisfies the following conditions for all $x,y,z \in X$. (Symmetry) $d(x,y)=d(y,x)$. (Identity of Indiscernibles) $d(x,y)=0$ if and only if $x=y$. (Triangle Inequality) $d(x,y)+d(y,z) \geq d(x,z)$.
476 questions
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Adjoint functor for thickening covers in metric spaces
Let $\mathbf{MetP}$ denote the metric space pairs $(X,E)$ with $X\subset E$, morphism $(X,E)\to (X',E')$ is an 1-Lipschitz map $f$ s.t. $f(X)\subset X'$. Let $\mathbf{MetPC}$ denote the pairs $(X, E, \...
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Example of connected, locally connected metric space that isn't path-connected?
I tried to construct a reasonable example for someone, meshing together various sorts of dust, but I either failed or wound up with sets whose separation properties are far too delicate for the ...
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Embeddings sets of functions into Lipschitz functions
Let $X$ be a set, $\mathcal{M}(X)$ denote the set of metrics on $X$, and fix a $\mathcal{F}\subseteq \mathbb{R}^{\mathcal{X}}$. Let $L \in\mathbb{R},\delta\ge 0$. For any metric $\rho$ on $X$, we ...
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Definition of length structure in Burago, Burago, Ivanov's "A Course in Metric Geometry" does not imply Exercise 2.1.4?
In Burago, Burago, Ivanov's "A Course in Metric Geometry" (Definition 2.1.1, page 26 and 27) a length structure on a topological space $X$ is defined as a pair $(A,L)$ where $A$ is a set of ...
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Reference request: Katetov's 1988 paper "On universal metric spaces"
I am reading Itaï Ben Yaacov's 2014 paper "The linear isometry group of the Gurarij space is universal", and it references a paper of Katětov's called "On universal metric spaces" ...
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Completion of a quasi-normed space
Let $X$ be a quasi-normed space, which is not necessarily complete.
This is a metric (with respect to the equivalent $p$-norm) space. So, we can consider the completion $\bar{X}$. However, for $x\in \...
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A natural metric on commutative rings
Let $R$ be a commutative ring. For an element $r\in R$, let $|r|$ denote the nilpotency degree of $r$. (If $r$ isn't nilpotent, we define $|r|=\infty$.)
For a pair of elements $x,y\in R$, define:
$$...
5
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A property between zero-dimensional and strongly zero-dimensional for metric spaces
I was recently reading Ordnungsfähigkeit total-diskontinuierlicher Räume by Herrlich which shows that a strongly zero-dimensional metrizable space is a LOTS.
I've noticed that in the article they go ...
2
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Has there been any study of normed semilattices?
First of all, I should confess that this is not my field of study. Recently, I encountered a situation where I had a (meet) semilattice $\mathcal{L}$ and a compatible valuation (positive semidefinite ...
4
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Is the compact-open topology Fréchet–Urysohn?
Let $(X, d)$ be a complete and separable metric space. Let $\mathcal C (X)$ be the space of all continuous real-valued functions on $X$. We endow $\mathcal C (X)$ with the topology induced by uniform ...
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Spaces of Lipschitz functions
$\DeclareMathOperator\Lip{Lip}X$ and $Y$ are compact metric spaces. $\Lip((X,d), (Y,\rho))$ is all Lipschitz
maps from $X$ to $Y$.
Is there a topology on $\Lip((X,d), (Y,\rho))$ that makes it a Baire ...
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Does every metric space of the form $X^2$ embed isometrically into some finitely iterated hyperspace of $X$?
This question occurred to me while I was writing my most recent answer.
Recall that given an extended metric space $(X,d)$ the hyperspace of $X$, which I'll write as $\def\Hc{\mathcal{H}}\Hc(X)$, is ...
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Find a fixed-point-free continuous map for a topological space $X\times X$ where $X$ has the fixed-point property
A topological space $X$ has the fixed-point property (FPP) if, for every continuous map $f:X\to X$, there is an element $x\in X$ such that $f(x) = x$.
The following is an example of a space $X$ with ...
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Covering Number of Tensorized Class
Let $\mathcal{F}_1,\mathcal{F}_2$ be sets of continuous functions from $[0,1]$ to $[0,\infty)$ and suppose that, for every $\varepsilon>0$, then $\varepsilon$-covering numbers in the uniform norm ...
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Is any arc in a metric space "essentially" expanding?
Let $(X,d)$ be a geodesic metric space (it is all right to assume $X$ is compact), let $\gamma:[0,1]\to X$ be an injective, continuous map. Is there a geodesic metric $d_2$ on $X$ which is equivalent ...
13
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Does the statement that every sequentially compact metric space is compact imply the axiom of countable choice?
I know that the statement that every sequentially compact pseudometric space is compact implies the axiom of countable choice (H. Herrlich, Axiom of Choice, 2006). How about in the realm of metric ...
3
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Cantor sets without small clopen balls
Every topological copy $C$ of the Cantor set inside $\mathbb R$ (with the inherited euclidean metric) has arbitrarily small clopen balls centered at arbitrary point. The same is true if $C$ is ...
4
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Non-existence of any cluster point of the sequence $(y_j)$ in a cofinally Bourbaki complete metric space
I am studying the paper, New Types of Completeness in Metric Spaces (Annales Academiæ Scientiarum Fennicæ Mathematica, Vol. 39, 2014, pp. 733–758 doi:10.5186/aasfm.2014.3934). I am currently working ...
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Is every metric on $[0,1]^n$ satisfying the midpoint property induced by a norm?
Let $\Omega\subseteq\mathbb{R}^n$ be a bounded open convex set. A metric $d:\Omega\times\Omega\rightarrow\mathbb{R}^n$ satisfies the midpoint property if for any $x,y\in\Omega$, we have
$$d(x,m) = d(y,...
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When do the "Gaifman metrics" not vary much?
Given a structure $\mathfrak{A}=(A;...)$ in a finite language $\Sigma$, let $\Phi_\mathfrak{A}$ be the set of all finite tuples of $\Sigma$-formulas $\overline{\varphi}$ such that $\mathfrak{A}_{\...
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Homeomorphism of tangent spaces of Alexandrov spaces
Let $f\colon X\to Y$ be a homeomorphism of finite dimensional Alexandrov spaces with curvature bounded below.
Question: Is it true that for any point $p\in X$ the tangent spaces $T_pX$ and $T_{f(p)}Y$ ...
4
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Is metric entropy characterized by dense subsets?
Let $X\subseteq Y$ be a dense subset of a metric space $(Y,\rho)$. Let $\varepsilon>0$, $A\subseteq Y$ and let $N(A,\varepsilon)$ denote the external $\varepsilon$-covering number of $A$; i.e. the ...
0
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Are there known structural obstructions or theorems about partial-distance Katětov expansions that might fail to encode a TSP for large instances?
I have been experimenting with a partial-distance encoding of the decision version of the Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) using a combination of Katětov–Urysohn ideas and what I have been calling “...
1
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215
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Approximate metric midpoints and uniform classification of Banach spaces
The approximate midpoint method is a classical technique in nonlinear theory that was developed by Enflo to show that $\ell_{1}$ and $L_{1}$ are not uniformly homeomorphic.
Let $(M,d)$ be a metric ...
0
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131
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Moebius bands collapsing to segment
Let $M$ be a (compact) Moebius band. Let $\{g_i\}$ be a sequence of Riemannian metrics on $M$ with uniformly bounded below Gauss curvature and such that the boundary of $M$ is geodesically convex.
Is ...
4
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232
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Does every compact metric space admit a finite contracting family of maps?
Let $X$ be a metric space. A collection $\mathcal F$ of maps $X\to X$ (not necessarily continuous) is called contracting if
$$\forall \varepsilon>0\ \exists n\in\mathbb N\ \forall f_1,\dots,f_n\in\...
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Finite-Dvoretzky theorem variant with codomain of prespecified dimension
Let $n,k\in \mathbb{N}_+$ and $F_k\subset \ell^n_2$ be a $k$-points subset of $\ell_n^2:=(\mathbb{R}^n,\|\cdot\|_2)$. How well can $F_k$ be bi-Lipschitzly embedded into $\ell^N_{\infty}$?
...
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Smallest enclosing balls
Let $(M, d)$ be a metric space. For a finite subset $\sigma$, we define $r(\sigma)$ to be inf$\{s: \exists y\in M \text{ such that }\sigma\subseteq B[y, s]\}$, here $B[y, s]=\{x\in M: d(y, x)\leq s\}$....
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A geometrically-constrained Wasserstein distance
Let $X$ be a non-empty finite set, let $\mathcal{M}(X)$ denote the set of metrics on $X$ for which if $\rho\in \mathcal{M}(X)$ then $\rho(x,y)\ge 1$ for all $x,y\in X,\, x\neq y$ (i.e. distinct points ...
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Given a metric space $M$ and $a,b \in M$, does there exist a compatible metric $d$ under which $d(a,c)+d(c,b) = d(a,b)$ for all $c \in M$?
Every separable metric space $M$ embeds homeomorphically in the Hilbert cube $H = [0,1]^\omega$. Since the cube is $2$-homogeneous (indeed $n$-homogeneous for any $n$) we can assume any two given ...
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Terminology: What do I call a local equivalence class of metrics?
Let $X$ be a locally compact topological space. On each compact subset $K$ of $X$ I have a Lipschitz-equivalence class of metrics on $K$, call this equivalence class $M_K$, satisfying the obvious ...
3
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Reference request for Cauchy completeness of generalized metric spaces
I am looking for a reference to where basic properties of Cauchy completeness are developed for generalized metric spaces whose distance is in a commutative linear quantale (or equivalently a complete ...
4
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Spaces Admitting Geodesic "Tilings"
Let $(X,d)$ be a uniquely geodesic intrinsic metric space, for any $N\in \mathbb{N}_+$ let $\Delta_N:=\{w\in [0,1]^N: \,\sum_{n=1}^N\, w_n=1\}$.
Background:
Let $\eta:\Delta_N\times X^n \to X$ be a ...
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Does a quadratic form depend locally Lipschitz-continuously on the related ellipse?
Let $Q_+$ be the space of positive definite quadratic forms on $\mathbb R^2$, equipped with the metric arising from thinking of it as an open subset of $\mathbb R^3$.
Let $E$ be the set of ellipses in ...
13
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Is every $\mathbb{Q}$-metrizable space also ultrametrizable?
Suppose that $(X,d)$ is a metric space such that $d$ has range contained in the rationals $\mathbb{Q}$.
Question: is it true that $X$ is ultrametrizable?
Additional info (edited 30/12/2024):
This ...
1
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0
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How would the shape of a circle be different if we change it this way?
What if we define a circle not as the set of points with the distance $R$ from the center, but rather as a set of points which have at least one geodesic path to the center of the length $R$?
Will the ...
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Can a space with the following properties exist? Any examples?
Can a space with the following properties exist? Any examples?
The number of geodesic paths between any two points is infinite but countable.
The infimum of the geodesic path lengths between any two ...
4
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Given a metric space $X$, is there a natural way to view the quasi-isometry group $QI(X)$ as a topological group?
Given a metric space $(X,d)$, we define $QI(X)$ as the set of quasi-isometries $f : X \to X$, modulo the equivalence relation
$$
f \sim g \ \ \ \ \text{ if and only if } \ \ \ \sup_{x \in X} \ d(f(x)...
14
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Is there an 'unnatural' topological construction of an algebraically closed field of positive characteristic?
It's well known that while there is a natural topological construction of a nearly algebraically closed field of characteristic $0$, algebraically closed fields of positive characteristic seemingly ...
3
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For $\mathbb R^n \times Q \cong \mathbb R^m \times Q $ must $n = m$? ($Q$ is the Hilbert cube)
There are several theorems describing the topology on hyperspaces of convex subsets of $\mathbb R^n$ under the Hausdorff metric. For example Antonyan and Jonard-Pérez prove the space of compact convex ...
0
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1
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Metric for measuring linearity of finite set of points in $R^2$
Suppose one has $n > 2$ points in $R^2$, and one wants to measure "how linear" they are.
I want a metric such that (a) if all the points are in fact on the same line, the metric gives 1, (...
0
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1
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Is every subgroup closed in this complete, nondiscrete topological group?
Another question on Mathoverflow (here: Complete topological groups in which all subgroups are closed) asks if there exists a complete, nondiscrete topological group $G$ such that all subgroups of $G$...
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$d(x,y) = \min\{|x_1−y_1|+|x_2−y_2|, 1−|x_1−y_1|+|x_2−(1−y_2)|\}$ defines a metric on $[0,1)\times[0,1]$? [closed]
For $x,y \in [0,1)\times[0,1]$, let $d(x,y)$ be the minimum of $|x_1−y_1|+|x_2−y_2|$ and $1−|x_1−y_1|+|x_2−(1−y_2)|$. Prove or disprove that $d$ is a metric.
I was unable to find a counterexample to ...
0
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1
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Embeddings of pseudo metric spaces into seminormed Spaces
There is a theorem stating that every metric space embeds isometrically into $\ell _{\infty}$.
My question: is there a generalized result for pseudo metric spaces embedding isometrically into semi-...
4
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1
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152
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Inner regularity property of covering number of metric spaces
Let $(X,d)$ be a complete metric space and $n\in\mathbb N$. Suppose that every finite subset $F\subset X$ can be covered by $n$ closed balls of $X$ (that is, $N(Y,d,1)\le n$, in terms of covering ...
3
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0
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120
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Loop space, parametrization equivalence and the issue of giving a topology
This question has been motivated by p.165 of this book.
As in the cited link above, we consider the following space of paraemtrized piecewise $C^1$ loops
\begin{equation}
X:= \Bigl\{ x : [0,1] \to \...
1
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0
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76
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Obtaining the geodesic extension property by embedding in a larger space
Suppose $(X,d)$ is a Hadamard space. By considering basic examples like a compact interval in $\mathbb{R}$ or a closed unit ball in Hilbert space, $X$ need not have the geodesic extension property (...
2
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1
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217
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Is completion of measures equivalent to completion of sigma algebras as metric spaces with respect to measures?
An alternative way to get the Lebesgue $\sigma $-algebra $\mathcal{L} $ from the Borel algebra $B$ is to set $E\sim J$ iff $d(E,J):=\lambda(E\mathbin\Delta J)=0$ for $E,J\in B$. Then the completion of ...
2
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1
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84
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Is any submetrizable linear topology linearly submetrizable?
Let $E$ be a vector space. A topology $\tau$ on $E$ is called (linearly) submetrizable if there is a (linear) metrizable topology $\pi$ on $E$ which is weaker than $\tau$, i.e. $\pi\subset\tau$.
Is ...
2
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1
answer
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Upper bound on the Levy-Prokhorov distance between the distributions of continuous Gaussian processes in terms of their covariances
Denote by $d$ the supremum metric on the space $C[0,T]$ of continuous real-valued functions on $[0,T]$:
$$
d(f,g) = \sup_{t \in [0,T]} |f(t)-g(t)|.
$$
Let $\rho$ be the Levy-Prokhorov metric on the ...