Algebraic stories from one and from the other pockets (Q2313968)

The authors provide a description of several problems in the study of homogeneous polynomials (forms), together with their connections. Many recent results and open problems on the subject are illustrated. The initial focus is on the decomposition of forms as sum of powers. The problem of the minimal length of a decomposition of \textit{generic} forms with powers of linear forms is solved by the celebrated Alexander-Hischowitz theorem. The problem remains open in general for powers of non-linear forms, or for decompositions of special classes of forms, e.g. fewnomials. It turns out that the previous problems are connected with the study of ideals generated by a given number of \textit{generic} forms. Despite their simple description, the basic behavior of such ideals (e.g. dimension of homogeneous pieces, weak and strong Lefschetz properties) remains widely unknown. Questions concerning symbolic powers of ideals (mainly ideals of finite sets) are also illustrated by the authors.