A Characterization of Convex Functions

Let $D$ be a convex subset of a real vector space. It is shown that a radially lower semicontinuous function $f: D\to \mathbf{R}\cup \{+\infty\}$ is convex if and only if for all $x,y \in D$ there exists $\alpha=\alpha(x,y) \in (0,1)$ such that $f(\alpha x+(1-\alpha)y) \le \alpha f(x)+(1-\alpha)f(y)$

Invariance of Ideal Limit Points

Let $\mathcal{I}$ be an analytic P-ideal [respectively, a summable ideal] on the positive integers and let $(x_n)$ be a sequence taking values in a metric space $X$. First, it is shown that the set of ideal limit points of $(x_n)$ is an $F_\sigma$-set [resp., a closet set]. Let us assume that $X$ is also separable and the ideal $\mathcal{I}$ satisfies certain additional assumptions, which however includes several well-known examples, e.g., the collection of sets with zero asymptotic density, sets with zero logarithmic density, and some summable ideals. Then, it is shown that the set of ideal limit points of $(x_n)$ is equal to the set of ideal limit points of almost all its subsequences.Comment: 11 pages, no figures, to appear in Topology App

Characterizations of the Ideal Core

Given an ideal $\mathcal{I}$ on $\omega$ and a sequence $x$ in a topological vector space, we let the $\mathcal{I}$-core of $x$ be the least closed convex set containing $\{x_n: n \notin I\}$ for all $I \in \mathcal{I}$. We show two characterizations of the $\mathcal{I}$-core. This implies that the $\mathcal{I}$-core of a bounded sequence in $\mathbf{R}^k$ is simply the convex hull of its $\mathcal{I}$-cluster points. As applications, we simplify and extend several results in the context of Pringsheim-convergence and $e$-convergence of double sequences.Comment: 10 pages, to appear in Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Application

Convergence Rates of Subseries

Let $(x_n)$ be a positive real sequence decreasing to $0$ such that the series $\sum_n x_n$ is divergent and $\liminf_{n} x_{n+1}/x_n>1/2$. We show that there exists a constant $\theta \in (0,1)$ such that, for each $\ell>0$, there is a subsequence $(x_{n_k})$ for which $\sum_k x_{n_k}=\ell$ and $x_{n_k}=O(\theta^k)$.Comment: 5 pp. To appear in The American Mathematical Monthl

A note on primes in certain residue classes

Given positive integers $a_1,\ldots,a_k$, we prove that the set of primes $p$ such that $p \not\equiv 1 \bmod{a_i}$ for $i=1,\ldots,k$ admits asymptotic density relative to the set of all primes which is at least $\prod_{i=1}^k \left(1-\frac{1}{\varphi(a_i)}\right)$, where $\varphi$ is the Euler's totient function. This result is similar to the one of Heilbronn and Rohrbach, which says that the set of positive integer $n$ such that $n \not\equiv 0 \bmod a_i$ for $i=1,\ldots,k$ admits asymptotic density which is at least $\prod_{i=1}^k \left(1-\frac{1}{a_i}\right)$