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].
81
questions
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3
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Is the statement that every field has an algebraic closure known to be equivalent to the ultrafilter lemma?
The existence and uniqueness of algebraic closures is generally proven using Zorn's lemma. A quick Google search leads to a 1992 paper of Banaschewski, which I don't have access to, asserting that ...
- 115k
95
votes
11
answers
6k
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Can a non-surjective polynomial map from an infinite field to itself miss only finitely many points?
Is there an infinite field $k$ together with a polynomial $f \in k[x]$ such that the associated map $f \colon k \to k$ is not surjective but misses only finitely many elements in $k$ (i.e. only ...
- 2,580
27
votes
7
answers
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In what sense are fields an algebraic theory?
Since there is no "free field generated by a set", it would seem that
1) there is no monad on Set whose algebras are exactly the fields
and
2) there is no Lawvere theory whose models in Set are ...
- 5,199
12
votes
1
answer
755
views
Is every Polish ring topology on $\mathbb{C}$ defined by an absolute value?
There is a unique up to isomorphism algebraically closed field of characteristic 0 and cardinality of the continuum. Let's call it $K$.
We usually call it $\mathbb{C}$, but by this we impose a ...
- 11.4k
168
votes
1
answer
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Ultrafilters and automorphisms of the complex field
It is well-known that it is consistent with $ZF$ that the only automorphisms of the complex field $\mathbb{C}$ are the identity map and complex conjugation. For example, we have that $\vert\...
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votes
3
answers
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When is the tensor product of two fields a field?
Consider two extension fields $K/k, L/k$ of a field $k$.
A frequent question is whether the tensor product ring $K\otimes_k L$ is a field. The answer is "no" and this answer is often ...
56
votes
14
answers
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Fantastic properties of Z/2Z
Recently I gave a lecture to master's students about some nice properties of the group with two elements $\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}$. Typically, I wanted to present simple, natural situations where the ...
35
votes
3
answers
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How much choice is needed to show that formally real fields can be ordered?
Background: a field is formally real if -1 is not a sum of squares of elements in that field. An ordering on a field is a linear ordering which is (in exactly the sense that you would guess if you ...
- 64.8k
26
votes
3
answers
6k
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An unfamiliar (to me) form of Hensel's Lemma
In his very nice article
Peter Roquette,
History of valuation theory. I. (English summary) Valuation theory and its applications, Vol. I (Saskatoon, SK, 1999), 291--355,
Fields Inst. Commun., ...
- 64.8k
20
votes
2
answers
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Is there an irreducible but solvable septic trinomial $x^7+ax^n+b = 0$?
The following irreducible trinomials are solvable:
$$x^5-5x^2-3 = 0$$
$$x^6+3x+3 = 0$$
$$x^8-5x-5=0$$
Their Galois groups are isomorphic to ${\rm D}_5$, ${\rm S}_3 \wr {\rm C}_2$ and
$({\rm S}_4 \...
- 12.1k
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, ...
- 1,063
83
votes
2
answers
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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. ...
- 7,961
70
votes
10
answers
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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 ...
- 2,706
43
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Explicit elements of $K((x))((y)) \setminus K((x,y))$
In an answer to the popular question on common false beliefs in mathematics
Examples of common false beliefs in mathematics
I mentioned that many people conflate the two different kinds of formal ...
- 64.8k
29
votes
2
answers
5k
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Examples of algebraic closures of finite index
So there are easy examples for algebraic closures that have index two and infinite index: $\mathbb{C}$ over $\mathbb{R}$ and the algebraic numbers over $\mathbb{Q}$. What about the other indices?
...
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28
votes
0
answers
839
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The field of fractions of the rational group algebra of a torsion free abelian group
Let $G$ be a torsion free abelian group (infinitely generated to get anything interesting). The group algebra $\mathbb{Q}[G]$ is an integral domain. Let $\mathbb{Q}(G)$ be its field of fractions.
...
- 33.9k
28
votes
3
answers
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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 ...
- 4,467
22
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Local inverse Galois problem
It's a basic fact that a finite Galois extension $L/K$ of a local nonarchimedean field $K$ has solvable (in fact supersolvable [edit: no!]) Galois group $G$. One sees this by using the ramification ...
- 1,052
16
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Which commutative groups are the group of units of some field?
Inspired by a recent question on the multiplicative group of fields. Necessary conditions include that there are at most $n$ solutions to $x^n = 1$ in such a group and that any finite subgroup is ...
- 115k
13
votes
2
answers
2k
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Galois group of a product of polynomials
How can I compute the Galois group of the polynomial $fg\in K[x]$ assuming that I know the Galois groups of $f\in K[x]$ and $g\in K[x]$? Let's suppose for simplicity that the field $K$ is perfect.
- 2,712
12
votes
5
answers
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Does k(X) have a k-basis for every set X, without AC?
This question is inspired by Pace Nielsen's recent question Does a left basis imply a right basis, without AC?.
For any field $k$, the field $k(x)$ of rational functions in one variable has an ...
- 33.9k
12
votes
0
answers
332
views
Metric completion of an algebraically closed field is algebraically closed?
Let $F$ be a complete metric topological field. Suppose there is a subfield $F_1 \subset F$, algebraically closed and topoolgically dense in $F$. Must $F$ itself be algebraically closed?
We can ...
- 40.2k
9
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Some arithmetic terminology: "universal domain", "specialization", "Chow point"
As a non-connoisseur of arithmetic and arithmetic geometry, I would like to ask about some terminology, which meaning I haven't been able to find out on some books, nor on wikipedia, nor by google.
...
- 22.7k
7
votes
1
answer
792
views
Parity of class number of pure cubic fields
A pure cubic field is an algebraic number field of the form $K = \mathbb{Q}(\theta)$ with $\theta^3 = m$, $m \neq \pm 1$.
What can be said about the parity (odd or even) of the class number of a pure ...
- 73
6
votes
1
answer
908
views
Finding all automorphisms of $\mathbb{C}(x,y)$
The group of $\mathbb{C}$-algebra automorphisms of $\mathbb{C}[x,y]$ is well-known, see, for example, the proof of
Dicks or the proof of
Mckay and Wang.
What can be said about the group of $\mathbb{...
- 2,783
6
votes
1
answer
726
views
What is the size of the smallest rigid extension field of the complex numbers?
Suppose we consider a rigid extension field $F$, i.e., $\text{Aut}(F) = 1$ over the complex numbers $\mathbb C$. What is the minimal cardinality of $F$? In particular it should hold that in this case $...
- 165
5
votes
1
answer
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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 ...
- 12.1k
4
votes
1
answer
392
views
Parametric Solvable Septics?
Known parametric solvable septics are,
$$x^7+7ax^5+14a^2x^3+7a^3x+b=0\tag{1}$$
$$x^7 + 21x^5 + 35x^3 + 7x + a(7x^6 + 35x^4 + 21x^2 + 1)=0\tag{2}$$
$$x^7 - 2x^6 + x^5 - x^4 - 5x^2 - 6x - 4 + n(x - ...
- 12.1k
97
votes
19
answers
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views
Collecting proofs that finite multiplicative subgroups of fields are cyclic
I teach elementary number theory and discrete mathematics to students who come with no abstract algebra. I have found proving the key theorem that finite multiplicative subgroups of fields are cyclic ...
48
votes
0
answers
2k
views
How many algebraic closures can a field have?
Assuming the axiom of choice given a field $F$, there is an algebraic extension $\overline F$ of $F$ which is algebraically closed. Moreover, if $K$ is a different algebraic extension of $F$ which is ...
- 38.2k
45
votes
4
answers
7k
views
What does "linearly disjoint" mean for abstract field extensions?
All definitions I've seen for the statement "$E,F$ are linearly disjoint extensions of $k$" are only meaningful when $E,F$ are given as subfields of a larger field, say $K$. I am happy with the ...
- 11.1k
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 ...
- 115k
29
votes
0
answers
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Is there a field $F$ which is isomorphic to $F(X,Y)$ but not to $F(X)$?
Is there a field $F$ such that $F \cong F(X,Y)$ as fields, but $F \not \cong F(X)$ as fields?
I know only an example of a field $F$ such that $F$ isomorphic to $F(x,y)$ : this is something like $F=k(...
- 1,702
24
votes
12
answers
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views
Constructions unique up to non-unique isomorphism
1) Fields have algebraic closures unique up to a non-unique isomorphism.
2) Nice spaces (without base point) have universal covering spaces unique up to a non-unique isomorphism.
3) Modules have ...
22
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Which fields have multiplicative group isomorphic to additive group times Z/2Z?
Let $K$ be a field, $K_{*}$ its multiplicative group and $K_{+}$ its additive group. As Richard Stanley notes in this answer, the only field for which $K_{+} \simeq K_{*} \times \mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}$...
- 22.9k
20
votes
1
answer
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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 ...
- 12.1k
20
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Are there as many real-closed fields of a given cardinality as I think there are?
Let $\kappa$ be an infinite cardinal. Then there exists at least one real-closed field of cardinality $\kappa$ (e.g. Lowenheim-Skolem; or, start with a function field over $\mathbb{Q}$ in $\kappa$ ...
- 64.8k
17
votes
2
answers
2k
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Are there only two smooth manifolds with field structure: real numbers and complex numbers?
Is it true that in the category of connected smooth manifolds equipped with a compatible field structure (all six operations are smooth) there are only two objects (up to isomorphism) - $\mathbb{R}$ ...
- 6,484
16
votes
1
answer
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What "should" be the absolute galois group of a field with one element
As far as I know there is many "suggestions" of what should be a "field with one element" $\mathbf{F}_{1}$.
My question is the following:
How we should think or what should be the "absolute Galois ...
- 771
15
votes
1
answer
933
views
Theory of C* algebras over other fields than the complex numbers
How much of the theory of C*-algebras holds when the complex numbers are replaced by different (algebraically closed) field (possibly with a distinguished ordered subfield that satisfies the same ...
- 2,209
14
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Intuition for Model Theoretic Proof of the Nullstellensatz
I recently read the model-theoretic proof of the Nullstellensatz using quantifier elimination (see www.msri.org/publications/books/Book39/files/marker.pdf). I'm convinced that the Nullstellensatz is ...
- 15.1k
14
votes
2
answers
1k
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Obstructions for a group to be the multiplicative group of a field [duplicate]
It is well known that every finite multiplicative subgroup of a field is cyclic.
I somehow got interested in a possible reverse implication:
Assume we have an abelian group $G$ whose every finite ...
- 6,621
12
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Factoring a field extension into one which adds no roots of unity, followed by one which adds only roots of unity
I am asking my question here, since it's been voted up a fair bit on math.SE, but without answers, so it may be harder than I assumed it was.
Can we always break an arbitrary field extension $L/K$ ...
- 6,722
12
votes
1
answer
888
views
Converse to Banach’s fixed point theorem for ordered fields?
Suppose $R$ is an ordered field. Call a continuous map $f: R \rightarrow R$ a contraction if there exists $r < 1$ (in $R$) such that $|f(x)-f(y)| \leq r |x-y|$ for all $x,y \in R$ (where $|x| := \...
- 19.4k
11
votes
1
answer
675
views
torsion group of the multiplicative group of a field
Let $F$ be any field of zero characteristic, $F^{\ast}$ its multiplicative group and $T$ is the torsion group.
Is it true that $T$ is a direct summand for $F^{\ast}$?
- 113
11
votes
2
answers
576
views
Algebraicity of the completion of a field? Finiteness?
At the end of my 8410 class today (see http://alpha.math.uga.edu/~pete/MATH8410.html if you care), one of my students asked me the following very interesting question:
Let $(K,|\ |)$ be a normed field,...
- 64.8k
10
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Existence of maximal totally ramified extensions of an arbitrary CDVF
Let $K$ be a complete, discretely valued field with (let's say) perfect residue field $k$. We have a unique maximal unramified extension $K^{unr}$ of $K$ and a unique maximal tamely ramified ...
- 64.8k
10
votes
3
answers
814
views
Is every field extension of an ultrafield an ultrafield?
Let $K=\lim(K_{i})$ be an ultrafield (over a non-principal ultrafilter), and let $K\hookrightarrow K'$ be a field extension of $K$.
When the field $K'$ is finite over $K$ it is also an ultrafield by ...
- 125
10
votes
2
answers
474
views
Definability of the ring of integer in algebraic extensions of $\mathbb Q$
J. Robinson has proved that exists a formula $\psi(x)$ in the language of rings which,applied to the rational numbers, defines the the ring integers (making the theory of $\mathbb{Q}$ undecidable, due ...
- 101
9
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Completion and algebraic closure
Following this question:
Given a valued field $K$, denote with $\bar{K}$ its algebraic closure and with $\hat{K}$ the completion. Then both $\hat{\bar{K}}$ and $\hat{\bar{\hat{K}}}$ are complete and ...
- 1,101