Math 2.0

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27 October 2026

Banach space

A Banach space is a normed vector space that is complete for the metric of its norm. Banach spaces are the main setting of functional analysis.

Circle integral

A circle integral is the contour integral of a function along a circle ∣z−c∣=R|z - c| = R, traveled once counterclockwise, see the definition.

Consistent estimator

An estimator is consistent when it converges to the true value of the parameter as the sample size grows. The node consistent estimator gives the precise definition.

Mathematical induction

Mathematical induction is a method to prove that a property P(n)P(n) holds for every natural number nn. A proof by induction has two steps. The base case proves P(0)P(0). The induction step proves, for an arbitrary natural number nn, that P(n)P(n) implies P(n+1)P(n + 1). Then P(n)P(n) holds for every natural number nn.

Arctangent

The arctangent is the inverse of the tangent function restricted to (−π/2,π/2)(-\pi/2, \pi/2). It is defined on all of ℝ\mathbb{R} and it is bounded. The node arctangent gives the precise definition.

Arccosine

The arccosine is the inverse of the cosine function restricted to [0,π][0, \pi]. It is defined on [−1,1][-1, 1]. The node arccosine gives the precise definition.

Joint probability distribution

The joint distribution of several random variables on one probability space is the distribution of the vector that they form. It gives the probability of each event that involves several of the variables together. The node joint probability distribution gives the precise definition.

Division ring

A division ring is a nonzero ring in which every nonzero element has a multiplicative inverse. It is like a field, but the multiplication need not be commutative. The definition of a division ring gives the conditions.

Proof by infinite descent

A proof by infinite descent shows that a statement has no solution in positive integers. It assumes a solution, and from it constructs a strictly smaller solution in positive integers. This gives an infinite decreasing sequence of positive integers, which is impossible.

Chi-squared test

A chi-squared test is a hypothesis test whose test statistic has approximately a chi-squared distribution under the null hypothesis. The main example is Pearson's chi-squared test for counts in categories. For observed counts O1,…,OkO_1, \dots, O_k and expected counts E1,…,EkE_1, \dots, E_k under H0H_0, Pearson's statistic is χ2=∑i=1k(Oi−Ei)2Ei.\chi^2 = \sum_{i=1}^{k} \frac{(O_i - E_i)^2}{E_i}. One rejects H0H_0 when χ2\chi^2 is large.

Builds on Statistical hypothesis test, Chi-squared distribution, Independence of random variables

Hyperbolic sine

The hyperbolic sine is half the difference of exe^x and e−xe^{-x}. It is an odd, strictly increasing function on ℝ\mathbb{R}. The node hyperbolic sine gives the precise definition.

Student's t-test

A Student's t-test is a hypothesis test whose test statistic has Student's t-distribution under the null hypothesis. It mostly tests hypotheses about the means of normal populations with unknown variance. In the one-sample t-test, X1,…,XnX_1, \dots, X_n are i.i.d. 𝒩(μ,σ2)\mathcal{N}(\mu, \sigma^2) with unknown σ\sigma, and H0 ⁣:μ=μ0H_0 \colon \mu = \mu_0. The statistic is t=Xˉn−μ0Sn/n,t = \frac{\bar{X}_n - \mu_0}{S_n / \sqrt{n}}, with the sample mean Xˉn\bar{X}_n and the sample standard deviation SnS_n. Under H0H_0, t∼tn−1t \sim t_{n - 1}.

Builds on Statistical hypothesis test, Student's t-distribution, Sample mean, Sample variance

Maclaurin series

The Maclaurin series of a smooth function is its Taylor series at the point 00. It is a power series in xx. The node Maclaurin series gives the precise definition.

Norm induced by an inner product

The norm induced by an inner product is the square root of the inner product of a vector with itself.

Marginal distribution

A marginal distribution is the distribution of one variable, or of some of the variables, of a random vector, without regard to the other variables. The node marginal distribution gives the precise definition.

Self-adjoint operator

A self-adjoint operator on a finite-dimensional inner product space is a linear map from the space to itself that equals its adjoint.

Sample variance

The sample variance of a sample measures the spread of its values around the sample mean. With the divisor n−1n - 1, it is an unbiased estimator of the variance of the population. The node sample variance gives the precise definition.

Direct proof

A direct proof of an implication p→qp \to q assumes pp and then gets qq by a chain of valid steps. The steps use axioms, definitions and theorems that are already proved.

Builds on Mathematical proof, Implication

Estimator

An estimator is a rule that computes a guess of an unknown parameter from the data. It is a statistic that one uses for this purpose. The node estimator gives the precise definition.

Prime subfield

The prime subfield of a field is its smallest subfield. It is ℚ\mathbb{Q} or 𝔽p\mathbb{F}_p, up to isomorphism, by the characteristic. The definition of the prime subfield gives the details.

Proof by cases

A proof by cases splits the situation into a finite number of cases that cover all possibilities. Then it proves the statement in each case. The basic form is this rule: from p∨qp \lor q, p→rp \to r and q→rq \to r, conclude rr.

Builds on Mathematical proof, Disjunction, Implication

Hyperbolic tangent

The hyperbolic tangent is the quotient of the hyperbolic sine by the hyperbolic cosine. It is a bounded, odd, strictly increasing function with range (−1,1)(-1, 1). The node hyperbolic tangent gives the precise definition.

Multivariate normal distribution

The multivariate normal distribution is the extension of the normal distribution to random vectors in ℝk\mathbb{R}^k. A mean vector and a covariance matrix determine it. The node multivariate normal distribution gives the precise definition.

Taylor series

The Taylor series of a smooth function at a point is the power series built from all the derivatives of the function at that point. For analytic functions, it converges to the function near the point. The node Taylor series gives the precise definition.

Finite field

A finite field is a field with a finite number of elements. For each prime power qq there is exactly one finite field of order qq, up to isomorphism, and there are no other finite fields. The definition of a finite field states it.

One-sided limit

A one-sided limit is the limit of a function as the argument approaches a point from the left only or from the right only. A function has a limit at a point exactly when both one-sided limits exist and agree. The node one-sided limit gives the precise definition.

Countably infinite set

A countably infinite set is a set that is equinumerous with the set of natural numbers.

Strictly monotone function

A strictly monotone function is a function that is either strictly increasing or strictly decreasing. Such a function is injective. The node strictly monotone function gives the precise definition.

Surjective function

A function is surjective when each element of the codomain is a value of the function.

Limit at infinity

The limit of a function at infinity is the value that the function approaches as its argument grows without bound. It describes horizontal asymptotes of graphs. The node limit at infinity gives the precise definition.

Totally bounded set

A subset of a metric space is totally bounded when, for each size, it can be covered by finitely many pieces of that size. Compact sets are exactly the totally bounded sets that are complete.

Bernoulli distribution

The Bernoulli distribution with parameter pp is the distribution of a random variable with two values. The value 11 has probability pp and the value 00 has probability 1−p1 - p. It is the distribution of one Bernoulli trial. The node Bernoulli distribution gives the precise definition.

Random variable with a density

A real random variable has a density when there is a fixed nonnegative function with this property. The probability of each set of values is the integral of the function over that set. The node random variable with a density gives the precise definition.