Quadratic functions on torsion groups (Q1779464)

A quadratic function \(q\) on an abelian group \(G\) is a map, with values in an abelian group such that the map \(b: (x,y)\mapsto q(x+y)-q(x)-q(y)\) is \(\mathbb{Z}\)-bilinear. Such a map \(q\) satisfies \(q(0)=0\). If, in addition, \(q\) satisfies the relation \(q(nx)=n^2q(x)\) for all \(n\in\mathbb{Z}\) and \(x\in G\), then \(q\) is homogeneous. The authors investigate general quadratic functions, which may be inhomogeneous or degenerate. They describe quadratic functions on a torsion abelian group with values in \(\mathbb{Q}/\mathbb{Z}\) coming from a characteristic form, and they address the problem of classifying quadratic functions arising from the discriminant construction.