Questions tagged [open-problem]

Questions on problems that have yet to be completely solved by current mathematical methods.

There are many unsolved problems in mathematics. Some prominent outstanding unsolved problems (as well as some which are not necessarily so well known) include

  1. The Goldbach conjecture.

  2. The Riemann hypothesis.

  3. The conjecture that there exists a Hadamard matrix for every positive multiple of 4.

  4. The twin prime conjecture (i.e., the conjecture that there are an infinite number of twin primes).

  5. Determination of whether NP-problems are actually P-problems.

  6. The Collatz problem.

  7. Proof that the $196$-algorithm does not terminate when applied to the number $196$.

  8. Proof that $10$ is a solitary number.

  9. Finding a formula for the probability that two elements chosen at random generate the symmetric group $S_n$.

  10. Solving the happy end problem for arbitrary $n$.

  11. Finding an Euler brick whose space diagonal is also an integer.

  12. Proving which numbers can be represented as a sum of three or four (positive or negative) cubic numbers.

  13. Lehmer's Mahler measure problem and Lehmer's totient problem on the existence of composite numbers $n$ such that $\phi(n)|(n-1)$, where $\phi(n)$ is the totient function.

  14. Determining if the Euler-Mascheroni constant is irrational.

  15. Deriving an analytic form for the square site percolation threshold.

  16. Determining if any odd perfect numbers exist.

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Is there any hope to disprove Goldbach's conjecture?

It is widely believed, that Goldbach's conjecture is true. But suppose, there is a counterexample of, lets say, 50 digits. Is there any hope to prove this counterexample to be one ? Brute force surely would not work. Any ideas ?
Peter
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Small question about the Lonely runner conjecture

I am currently looking into the lonely runner conjecture (Consider $k$ runners on a circular track of unit length. At $t = 0$, all runners are at the same position and start to run; the runners' speeds are pairwise distinct. A runner is said to be…
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A Fundamental Theorem of Algebra type Result

Consider a polynomial $$p(t)=\sum_{i=1}^n a_it^{b_i}+a_0$$ of degree $b_n$, show that it admits at most $n+1$ nonnegative roots and at least one complex root. Assume all $b_i$ are positive and $a_i$ are real numbers. Attempt: Using successively…
checkmath
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$q\sin q$ is small

I read from the book "Which Way did the Bicycle Go" that it is unknown whether for every $c>0$ there are infinitely many integers $n$ such that $|n\sin n|
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Open problems with practical outcome in a visible future?

[Note] The question has been asked at Matheoverflow. But there is no answers. I believe that any non-trivial idea will sooner or later find application in real life. However "sooner" is better than "later":) If we look at famous open problems - e.g.…
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Series sum of Fractional Fibonacci Series

Please help me proving that $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} F(n)/(10^{-(n+1)}) = 0.011235955...$ Where F(n) are the Fibonacci Numbers
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Catch stochasticity of nature

Do you know of anything that comes close to topic 3 on http://www.darpa.mil/Our_Work/DSO/Programs/23_Mathematical_Challenges.aspx Capture and Harness Stochasticity in Nature Address Mumford’s call for new mathematics for the 21st century. Develop…
Gere
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