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We show that there exists a positive constant C such that the following holds: Given an infinite arithmetic progression A of real numbers and a sufficiently large integer n (depending on A), there needs at least Cn geometric progressions to…

Let $P^-(n)$ denote the smallest prime factor of a natural integer $n>1$. Furthermore let $\mu$ and $\omega$ denote respectively the M\"obius function and the number of distinct prime factors function. We show that, given any set ${{\scr…

An augmented happy function, $S_{[c,b]}$ maps a positive integer to the sum of the squares of its base-$b$ digits and a non-negative integer $c$. A positive integer $u$ is in a cycle of $S_{[c,b]}$ if, for some positive integer $k$,…

We give necessary and sufficient conditions on a function $f:[0,1]\to {0,1,2,...,\omega,\continuum}$ under which there exists a continuous function $F:[0,1]\to [0,1]$ such that for every $y\in[0,1]$ we have $|F^{-1}(y)|=f(y)$.

Let $f\colon\mathbb{C}\to\mathbb{C}$ be a transcendental entire function. In 1989, Eremenko asked the following question concerning the set $I(f)$ of points that tend to infinity under iteration: can every point of $I(f)$ be joined to…

Motivated by a problem on comonotone approximation of $C^n$ functions by entire functions, for increasing functions $f\colon[0,1]\to[0,1]$, we characterize the possible values of $(a,b,c)$, where $a=I(f)(1)$, $b=I^2(f)(1)$, $c=I^3(f)(1)$…

We establish a connection between analytic number theory and computational learning theory by showing that the M\"obius function belongs to a class of functions that is statistically hard to learn from random samples. Let $\mu_R$ denote the…

For any integer $n \geq 2$, let $(m_{1},\ldots,m_{n})$ be a strictly increasing $n$-tuple of positive integers. We show that any subset $A\subset [N]^n$ of density at least $(\log N)^{-c}$ contains a nontrivial configuration of the form…

A "tournament sequence" is an increasing sequence of positive integers (t_1,t_2,...) such that t_1=1 and t_{i+1} <= 2 t_i. A "Meeussen sequence" is an increasing sequence of positive integers (m_1,m_2,...) such that m_1=1, every nonnegative…

Let $X_1, X_2, ..., X_n, ... $ be a sequence of iid random variables with values in a finite alphabet $\{1,...,m\}$. Let $LI_n$ be the length of the longest increasing subsequence of $X_1, X_2, ..., X_n.$ We express the limiting…

Given positive integers $n$ and $k$, a $k$-term semi-progression of scope $m$ is a sequence $(x_1,x_2,...,x_k)$ such that $x_{j+1} - x_j \in \{d,2d,\ldots,md\}, 1 \le j \le k-1$, for some positive integer $d$. Thus an arithmetic progression…

We study the decreasing rearrangement of functions in VMO, and show that for rearrangeable functions, the mapping f -> f* preserves vanishing mean oscillation. Moreover, as a map on BMO, while bounded, it is not continuous, but continuity…

We show an iterated function of which iterates oscillate wildly and grow at a dizzying pace. We conjecture that the orbit of arbitrary positive integer always returns to 1, as in the case of Collatz function. The conjecture is supported by…

We introduce a general result relating "short averages" of a multiplicative function to "long averages" which are well understood. This result has several consequences. First, for the M\"obius function we show that there are cancellations…

A permutation $\sigma$ describing the relative orders of the first $n$ iterates of a point $x$ under a self-map $f$ of the interval $I=[0,1]$ is called an \emph{order pattern}. For fixed $f$ and $n$, measuring the points $x\in I$ (according…

A real arithmetic function f is multiplicatively monotonous if f (mn) -- f (m) has constant sign for m, n positive integers. Properties and examples of such functions are discussed, with applications to positive hermitian…

Many classical identities arise from nothing more mysterious than looking at the same object in two different ways. A number, a function, or a combinatorial object may admit several natural decompositions, and by disassembling it in one way…

Let $a_1 = 1$ and, for $n > 1$, $a_n = a_{n-1} + a_{\left \lfloor \frac{n}{2} \right \rfloor}$. In this paper we will look at congruence properties and the growth rate of this sequence. First we will show that if $x \in \{1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7…

Let ${\bf L}$ be the unit exponential random variable and ${\bf Z}_\alpha$ the standard positive $\alpha$-stable random variable. We prove that $\{(1-\alpha) \alpha^{\gamma_\alpha} {\bf Z}_\alpha^{-\gamma_\alpha}, 0< \alpha <1\}$ is…

The function f:X -> Y is called k-monotonically increasing if there is a partition X = X_1 U ... U X_k such that f|X_i : X_i -> Y is monotonically increasing for i=1,...,k. It is proved that a one-to-one function f:N -> N is k-monotonically…