Questions tagged [fields]

Fields as algebraic objects. For vector and tensor fields, use eg. [dg.differential-geometry]. For physical fields, use eg. [mp.mathematical-physics] or [quantum-field-theory].

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4 votes
1 answer
313 views

Automorphisms of vector spaces and the complex numbers without choice

In Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory without the Axiom of Choice (AC), it is consistent to say that there are models in which: there are vector spaces without a basis; the field of complex numbers $\mathbb{...
0 votes
0 answers
27 views

Alternative equivalence results for the constructibility of real numbers

Everyone is aware of the standard result from undergraduate field theory that a real number $\alpha$ is constructible by straightedge and compass if and only if there exists a finite sequence of field ...
10 votes
2 answers
2k views

What fields can be used for an inner product space?

The title is the question: What fields can be used for an inner product space? This question has been discussed in Math Stack Exchange with no definitive resolution. A similar question appeared here, ...
1 vote
0 answers
93 views

The asymptotic growth of codimension of range of polynomial differential equation on finite fields

Inspired by the seminal paper of Andre Weil on the number of solutions of equations on finite fields we would like to present the following question: Let $P(x,y), Q(x,y)$ be two polynomials of ...
-2 votes
1 answer
134 views

Finite normal extensions

Suppose that $K$ is a finite field extension of $F$. Is the following equivalent to the extension being normal? If $L$ is an extension of $K$ and $\sigma:K\to L$ fixes $F$, then $\sigma(K) = K$. I ...
5 votes
1 answer
268 views

Transforming the Kondo quintic $5T2$ into the Lehmer quintic $5T1$?

I. Kondo-Brumer quintic The deceptively simple solvable quintic, $$x^5 + (a - 3)x^4 + (-a + b + 3)x^3 + (a^2 - a - 1 - 2b)x^2 + b x + a=0$$ is quite important for imaginary quadratic fields. For ...
10 votes
2 answers
803 views

On the Galois group of the compositions of polynomials

We reprint an old math SE question here (see https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/1241224/composition-of-polynomials-and-galois-theory): " Let $f(x)$ be a polynomial of degree $n$ over $\...
20 votes
1 answer
2k views

On the solvable octic $x^8-x^7+29x^2+29=0$

The irreducible but solvable octic, $$x^8-x^7+29x^2+29=0\tag{1}\label{1}$$ was first mentioned by Igor Schein in this 1999 sci.math post (Wayback Machine). This does not factor over a quadratic or ...
4 votes
3 answers
441 views

The field structure on the locale of real numbers

It is well known how to derive the field operations from the construction of the real numbers as the Dedekind completion of the rational numbers and as the Cauchy completion of the rational numbers; ...
27 votes
1 answer
2k views

A simple proof of the fundamental theorem of Galois theory

Update. It's now on the arXiv. Some time ago I found my "own" proof of the fundamental theorem of Galois theory. You can find a pdf with the proof (link removed, see arXiv). It is quite ...
6 votes
2 answers
208 views

For which fields $k$ with $k^\times$ not $p$-divisible, does there exist finite $l/k$ such that $l^\times$ is $p$-divisible?

Is there a prime $p$ and a field $k$, not real closed, with $k^\times$ not $p$-divisible, such that there exists a finite extension $l/k$ such that $l^\times$ is $p$-divisible? This question came up ...
2 votes
0 answers
93 views

Question concerning relationships between different $p$-modular systems and Brauer character values

Let $(K,\mathcal{O},k)$ be a large enough $p$-modular system, where $\mathcal{O}$ is a complete discrete valuation ring of characteristic zero with unique maximal ideal $J(\mathcal{O})$, algebraically ...
11 votes
1 answer
567 views

PAC and totally real fields

A field $K$ is called pseudo-algebraically closed (PAC) if every absolutely irreducible variety over $K$ has a $K$-point. Let $L$ be the maximal totally real subfield of $\overline{\mathbb Q}$. A few ...
5 votes
1 answer
274 views

The map $k \mapsto \mathbf{PGL}_2(k)$

Consider the map $\zeta: \{ \mbox{division rings} \} \mapsto \{ \mbox{groups} \}: k \mapsto \mathbf{PGL}_2(k)$. Is this map known to be an injection - in other words, if $k$ and $k'$ are nonisomorphic ...
2 votes
1 answer
199 views

Minor Lefschetz principle

I once read (I think) the following equivalent formulation of the Minor Lefschetz principle: If an elementary sentence holds for one algebraically closed field, then it holds for every algebraically ...
39 votes
2 answers
2k views

What are the possible sets of degrees of irreducible polynomials over a field?

Hopefully this is not too easy an exercise. Let $F$ be a field. Let $I \subset \mathbb{N}$ be the set of all positive integers $d$ such that there exists an irreducible polynomial of degree $d$ over ...
7 votes
3 answers
473 views

Slightly weakened / altered concepts of a field

I've heard of at least three slight modifications of the standard concept of field: meadow, which (according to this paper) is a commutative ring with unit equipped with a total unary operation $x^{−1}...
28 votes
3 answers
3k views

Does $\operatorname{Con}\sf(ZF)$ imply $\operatorname{Con}\sf(ZF + \operatorname{Aut}{\bf C = Z/\mathrm 2Z})$?

How many field automorphisms does $\mathbf{C}$ have? If you assume the axiom of choice, there are tons of them -- $2^{2^{\aleph_0}}$, I believe. And what if you don't -- how essential is the axiom ...
8 votes
1 answer
532 views

How arithmetical is algebraic exponentiation?

Suppose $K$ is an exponential real closed field, i.e. there is an isomorphism, say exp, between the additive group of $K$ and the multiplicative group of its positive elements. Assume further that $Z$ ...
5 votes
1 answer
613 views

Eudoxus real numbers

I recently remembered the eudoxus construction of the real numbers. Does anyone know what how the rational numbers $\mathbb Q$ can be characterised inside this construction? Clearification: The usual ...
5 votes
0 answers
263 views

Reference for countable and uncountable algebraic closures of $\mathbb{Q}$ in ZF

The following facts seem to be part of the folklore (where $\mathsf{ZF}$ means Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory with no axiom of choice): it is consistent with $\mathsf{ZF}$ that there exists an ...
2 votes
1 answer
228 views

Example of a bounded imperfect PAC field that is not separably closed

How do you construct a bounded (meaning there are only finitely many separable finite extensions of any given degree) imperfect pseudo-algebraically closed field that is not separably closed? I assume ...
7 votes
1 answer
265 views

Does the choice of the algebraically closed field of characteristic $p$ have influence on the module category?

Let $G$ be a finite group and $p$ be a prime number dividing $|G|$. Let $k$ be the algebraic closure of $\mathbb{F}_p$. Let $K$ be another algebraically closed field of characteristic $p$ which is not ...
70 votes
10 answers
21k views

Galois groups vs. fundamental groups

In a recent blog post Terry Tao mentions in passing that: "Class groups...are arithmetic analogues of the (abelianised) fundamental groups in topology, with Galois groups serving as the analogue ...
5 votes
0 answers
224 views

Is the group $\mathrm{Gal}(\mathbb{C}/\overline{\mathbb{Q}})$ known?

The automorphism group of the complex numbers $\mathbb{C}$ and the Galois group $\mathrm{Gal}(\overline{\mathbb{Q}}/\mathbb{Q})$ are amongst the most mysterious and worst understood objects in Galois ...
11 votes
3 answers
3k views

For which fields K is every subring of K…?

This question was inspired by How to prove that the subrings of the rational numbers are noetherian? which some people found too routine to be of interest. So I have decided to liven things up a bit ...
3 votes
1 answer
368 views

Completion of infinite degree extension of perfectoid fields is perfectoid?

Is completion of infinite degree extension of perfectoid fields perfectoid ? It is known that finite extension of perfectoid fields is also perftoid from tilting correspondence, but what about ...
2 votes
0 answers
123 views

Embeddings and images of number fields in $\mathbb{C}$ [closed]

Let $\mathbb{Q}(\alpha)$ be a number field, and suppose that $[\mathbb{Q}(\alpha) : \mathbb{Q} ] = m$. Then there are precisely $m$ different embeddings of $\mathbb{Q}(\alpha)$ into $\mathbb{C}$, ...
1 vote
0 answers
86 views

Given a partition of a field, construct a partition of its extension

The motivation for my question is the following algebraic consequence of the Continuum Hypothesis ($2^{\aleph_0}=\aleph_1$) by Zoli: (T1) Assume the Continuum Hypothesis holds. Then $\mathbb{R}^{\...
10 votes
1 answer
294 views

How hard must "no high-degree irreducibles" proofs be?

Let $\mathsf{RCF}$ be the usual theory of real closed fields and for $n>2$ let $\theta_n$ be the sentence "No degree-$n$ polynomial is irreducible." Since $\mathsf{RCF}$ is complete, for ...
7 votes
1 answer
498 views

Field extensions over which algebraic varieties cannot acquire points

The following fact (slightly reworded here) is proven in this answer: If $K$ is a purely transcendental extension of an infinite¹ field $k$, then whenever a separated scheme $X$ of finite type over $...
2 votes
0 answers
85 views

What's the number of irreducible polynomials over rational numbers with constraint on coefficients?

Suppose you have polynomials $f(x) = \sum\limits_{k=0}^n a_k x^k$ where $f \in \mathbb{Q}[x]$ and $a_k$ can be either $0$ or $1$. There are $2^n$ such polynomials in total. How can I find a number of ...
5 votes
0 answers
829 views

How to extend Ritt's theorem on elementary invertible bijective elementary functions?

The elementary functions according to Liouville and Ritt are the functions of a complex variable built up by applying exponentiation, logarithms and/or algebraic operations finitely often. That means, ...
7 votes
1 answer
728 views

Factorization of an irreducible polynomial in the field extension it defines

In field theory, the following fact is used in the construction of splitting fields: Given a field $F$ and an irreducible polynomial $f \in F[x]$, the quotient $F[\alpha]/(f(\alpha))$ is a field ...
3 votes
1 answer
232 views

How to determine the degree of a rational function field over a relatively algebraic subfield?

Let $K$ be a field and $K(x_1,\cdots,x_n)$ be the degree-$n$ purely transcendental extension of $K$. Given homogeneous polynomials $f_1,\cdots,f_n\in K[x_1,\cdots,x_n]\setminus K$ with $\deg f_i=d_i$,...
3 votes
0 answers
694 views

Is the intersection of two function fields over finite fields again a function field?

I am interested in the question above. I know that the answer is NO if the base field is for instance $\mathbb{Q}$ (the intersection of $\mathbb{Q}(x^2)$ and $\mathbb{Q}((x-1)^2)$ is $\mathbb{Q}$ ...
83 votes
2 answers
19k views

Why is differential Galois theory not widely used?

E.R. Kolchin has developed the differential Galois theory in 1950s. And it seems powerful a tool which can decide the solvability and the form of solutions to a given differential equation.(e.g. ...
12 votes
0 answers
485 views

Why is it so hard to give examples of differentially closed fields?

The theory of algebraically closed field, say in characteristic zero, and of differentially closed fields (of characteristic zero) have much in common: quantifier elimination and (hence) decidability; ...
3 votes
0 answers
131 views

What direction does the derivation of an inseparable algebraic variable point in?

I've been thinking about the geometry of inseparable field extensions lately, since I'm studying smoothness in commutative rings in an advanced topics course this semester. I've generally come to the ...
1 vote
2 answers
196 views

In the Levi-Civita field, are there elements such that the standard parts of their subsequent powers produce an arbitrary sequence?

In the Levi-Civita field, are there elements such that the standard parts of their subsequent powers produce an arbitrary sequence? Particularly, is there an element $w$ of the field such that the ...
43 votes
18 answers
5k views

Results in linear algebra that depend on the choice of field

Linear algebra as we learn it as undergraduates usually holds for any field (even though we usually learn it for the complex, or real, numbers). I am looking for a list of concepts, and results, in ...
25 votes
1 answer
2k views

What is the ring of integers of the Pythagorean field?

Following Hilbert, we call the complex numbers constructible via compass and straight-edge the field of Euclidean numbers, and the totally real such numbers the field of Pythagorean numbers. (Among ...
1 vote
0 answers
100 views

Indeterminacy locus of an algebraic function

Let $K=\mathbb{C}(t_1,\dots,t_n)$ be the field of rational functions, $f$ an algebraic function over $K$ and assume the field extension $K(f)/K$ is non-solvable. Is it possible to characterise the ...
4 votes
1 answer
409 views

Common Galois extension over $\mathbb Q $

Suppose $L'$ is a fixed cyclic galois extension over $\mathbb {Q} $ of degree $4$.Now we know that there exists also a degree $k$ extension $L$ over $L'$ but the extension $(L/\mathbb{Q})$ may not ...
8 votes
1 answer
2k views

Can the algebraic closure of a complete field be complete and of infinite degree?

Yes, this is yet another "foundational" question in valuation theory. Here's the background: it is a well known classical fact that the dimension (in the purely algebraic sense) of a real ...
27 votes
6 answers
2k views

Is this theory the complete theory of the real ordered field?

We know that the real ordered field can be characterized up to isomorphism as a complete ordered field. However this is a second order characterization. That raises the following question. Consider ...
1 vote
2 answers
295 views

A variation on Abhyankar–Moh–Suzuki theorem

The well-known theorem of Abhyankar–Moh–Suzuki says the following: Let $f=f(t), g=g(t) \in k[t]$, $k$ is a field of characteristic zero. If $k[f,g]=k[t]$, then $\deg(f) \mid \deg(g)$ or $\deg(g) \mid \...
10 votes
1 answer
311 views

Proving that polynomials belonging to a certain family are reducible

In an article, I've found the following result. Unfortunately, it was derived from a general, somewhat complicated theory, that would be cumbersome for this result alone. Assume that $\mathbb F_p$ is ...
5 votes
1 answer
504 views

Lines on quadric surfaces

Consider a smooth quadric surface $Q\subset\mathbb{P}^3$ over a field $k$. Are there natural hypotheses one can put on $k$ in order to ensure the existence of a line defined over $k$ on $Q$?
2 votes
0 answers
111 views

Abelian approximation of fields

Given a field extension $K/k$ of finite degree and a norm $d$ on $\overline{k}$, what is the smallest real number $\alpha_{d}^K$ such that for every element $z$ of $K$ there is an element $z^a$ of $k^...

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