%! TEX root = ABF.tex % vim: tw=80 % 22/01/2026 12AM \newpage \section*{Introduction} We will be analysing functions $f : \{0, 1\}^n \to \{0, 1\}$. One reason to be interested in these is for theoretical computer science. A more combinatorial reason is that a function $f : \{0, 1\}^n \to \{0, 1\}$ can be viewed as a function $f : \mathcal{P}([n]) \to \{0, 1\}$, so can be viewed as a \emph{set system} (a subset of $\mathcal{P}([n])$). Set systems are of interest in combinatorics (e.g. Sperner's Lemma, Kruskal-Katona, etc). \subsubsection*{Remarks on differences between this course and additive combinatorics} In additive combinatorics, it is common to study $\Fbb_2^n$ in a way that is basis-independent. When studying boolean functions, we \emph{won't} be working in a basis-independent way. Slogan: if you have a basis that you care about, then perhaps you are working in the boolean functions world, rather than the additive combinatorics world. \newpage \section{Discrete Fourier Analysis} \begin{fcdefnstar}[Character] \glssymboldefn{Tbb}% \glsnoundefn{char}{character}{characters}% Let $G$ be a finite Abelian group. A \emph{character} on $G$ is a homomorphism $\chi : G \to \Tbb = \{z \in \Cbb : |z| = 1\}$. The \emph{trivial character} takes everything to $1$. \end{fcdefnstar} \begin{remark*} This definition doesn't change if $\Tbb$ is replaced by $(\Cbb \setminus \{0\}, \times)$ (because any finite subgroup of $(\Cbb \setminus \{0\}, \times)$ must be a subgroup of $\Tbb$). \end{remark*} Observe that if $\chi_1$ and $\chi_2$ are \glspl{char}, then so is $\chi_1 \chi_2$, and also that if $\chi$ is a \gls{char} then so is $\ol{\chi} = \chi^{-1}$. Also, $\chi\ol{\chi} = \chi_0$, $\chi_0 \chi = \chi$. \glssymboldefn{dualgp}% Thus, the \glspl{char} on $G$ form an Abelian group, called the \emph{(Pontryagin) dual} $\hat{G}$ of $G$. We will soon see that $|G| = |\dualgp{G}|$. \begin{notation} \glssymboldefn{ip} Let $f, g : G \to \Cbb$. We write \[ \langle f, g \rangle = \Ebb_{x \in G} f(x) \ol{g(x)} ,\] where $\Ebb_{x \in G}$ means $|G|^{-1} \sum_{x \in G}$. Then we also write $\|f\|_2 = \ip\langle f, f \rangle^{\half} = (\Ebb_x |f(x)|^2)^{\half}$. We also define $\|f\|_p = (\Ebb_x |f(x)^p)^{\frac{1}{p}}$, $1 \le p < \infty$ and $\|f\|_{\infty} = \max_x |f(x)|$. \end{notation} \begin{fclemma}[Orthogonality of characters] \label{lemma:1.1} % Lemma 1.1 The \glspl{char} on $G$ form an orthonormal set. \end{fclemma} \begin{proof} Let $\chi_1, \chi_2$ be \glspl{char} and let $\chi = \chi_1 \ol{\chi_2}$. We need to prove that $\Ebb_x \chi(x)$ is $1$ if $\chi = \chi_0$ and $0$ otherwise. If $\chi = \chi_0$, then the result is clear. Otherwise, pick $u$ such that $\chi(u) \neq 1$. Then \[ \Ebb_x \chi(x) = \Ebb_x \chi(ux) = \chi(u) \Ebb_x \chi(x) .\] Since $\chi(u) \neq 1$, we get the result. \end{proof} This shows that $|\dualgp{G}| \le |G|$. To show the reverse inequality we appeal to the classification of finite Abelian groups. \begin{fcthmstar}[] Every finite Abelian group is a product of cyclic groups. \end{fcthmstar} \begin{fccoro}[] % Corollary 1.2 \label{coro:1.2} The \glspl{char} on $G$ form an orthonormal basis of $\Cbb^G$. \end{fccoro} \begin{proof} Since they form an orthonormal set, it remains to show that they span. Let \[ G = \Zbb / m_1 \Zbb \times \cdots \times \Zbb / m_k \Zbb .\] Given $r, x \in \Zbb / m_1 \Zbb \times \cdots \times \Zbb / m_k \Zbb$ ($r = (r_1, \ldots, r_k)$, $x = (x_1, \ldots, x_k)$). Let \[ \chi_r(x) = \prod_{j = 1}^{k} e^{2\pi i \frac{r_j x_j}{m_j}} .\] It is easy to check that $\chi_r$ is a character, and that if $r \neq s$ then $\chi_r \neq \chi_s$. \end{proof} \begin{remark*} This proof also demonstrates that $G \cong \dualgp{G}$. But the isomorphism is `horrible': it doesn't only depend on $G$, but also on how we chose to write it as a product of cyclic groups. \end{remark*} \glssymboldefn{dualip}% A very useful convention is to use the uniform probability measure on $G$ and counting measure on $\dualgp{G}$. For example, if $\hat{f}, \hat{g} : \dualgp{G} \to \Cbb$, we define \[ \langle \hat{f}, \hat{g} \rangle = \sum_{\chi} \hat{f}(\chi) \hat{g}(\chi) \] and \[ \|\hat{f}\|_p = \left( \sum_\chi |\hat{f}(\chi)|^p \right)^{\frac{1}{p}} .\] \begin{fcdefnstar}[Fourier transform] \glssymboldefn{ft}% Let $f : G \to \Cbb$. The \emph{Fourier transform} $\hat{f}$ of $f$ is the function from $\hat{G}$ to $\Cbb$ defined by \[ \hat{f}(\chi) = \Ebb_x f(x) \ol{\chi(x)} = \ip\langle f, \chi \rangle .\] \end{fcdefnstar} Since the \glspl{char} form an orthonormal basis, you can also think of $\ft{f}(\chi)$ as the coefficient of $f$ at $\chi$ with respect to the orthonormal basis of \glspl{char}. \begin{fclemma}[] \glssymboldefn{conv}% % Lemma 1.3 \label{lemma:1.3} The Fourier transform has the following properties: \begin{enumerate}[(1)] \item \glsnoundefn{parseval}{Parseval}{}% \emph{Plancherel / Parseval identity:} $\dualip\langle \ft{f}, \ft{g} \rangle = \langle f, g \rangle$. \item \emph{Convolution identity:} Define $f * g$ by \[ f * g(x) = \Ebb_{u + v = x} f(u) g(v) .\] (for functions $\dualgp{G} \to \Cbb$, we define $*$ by $\sum$ rather than $\Ebb$) Then \[ \ft{f \conv g}(\chi) \ft{f}(\chi) \ft{g}(\chi) .\] \item \emph{Inversion formula:} \[ f(x) = \sum_{\chi} \ft{f}(\chi) \chi(x) .\] \end{enumerate} \end{fclemma} \begin{proof} \leavevmode \begin{enumerate}[(1)] \item \begin{align*} \dualip\langle \ft{f}, \ft{g} \rangle &= \sum_\chi \ft{f}(\chi) \ol{\ft{g}(\chi)} \\ &= \sum_\chi (\Ebb_x f(x) \ol{\chi(x)})\ol{(\Ebb_y g(y) \ol{\chi(y)})} \\ &= \Ebb_x \Ebb_y f(x) \ol{g(y)} \sum_\chi \chi(x^{-1}y) \\ % TODO: prove lemma about $\sum_\chi \chi(x) = \indicator{x = 0}$? \end{align*} An examination of the proof of \cref{coro:1.2} shows straightforwardly that \[ \sum_\chi \chi(u) = \begin{cases} |G| & \text{$u = \text{identity}$} \\ 0 & \text{otherwise} \end{cases} \] So $\sum_\chi \chi(x^{-1} y) = \Delta_{xy}$ where \[ \Delta_{xy} = \begin{cases} |G| & x = y \\ 0 & x \neq y \end{cases} \] So we get \[ \Ebb_x \Ebb_y f(x) \ol{g(y)} \sum_\chi \chi(x^{-1} y) = \Ebb_x \Ebb_y f(x) \ol{g(y)} \Delta_{xy} = \Ebb_x f(x) \ol{g(x)} .\]