Predicting non-continuous functions
Of all the strange consequences of the Axiom of Choice, one of my favorites is the Hardin-Taylor 2008 result that there is a "predictor" such that for every function $f$ from the reals to the reals---even nowhere continuous $f$---the predictor applied to $f \restriction (-\infty,t)$ correctly predicts $f(t)$ for *almost* every $t \in R$. They asked how robust such a predictor could be, with respect to distortions in the time (input) axis; more precisely, for which subgroups $H$ of Homeo^+(R) do there exist $H$-invariant predictors? Bajpai-Velleman proved an affirmative answer when H=Affine^+(R), and a negative answer when H is (the subgroup generated by) C^\infty(R). They asked about the intermediate region; in particular, do there exist analytic-invariant predictors? We have partially answered that question: assuming the Continuum Hypothesis (CH), the answer is "no". Regarding other subgroups of Homeo^+(R), we have affirmative answers that rely solely on topological group-theoretic properties of the subgroup. But these properties are very restrictive; e.g., all known positive examples are metabelian. So there remain many open questions. This is joint work with Elpers, Cody, and Lee.