Algorithms for quadratic forms (Q2474250)

The author presents several algorithms which solve some problems appearing in the theory of quadratic forms over rational function field \(\mathbb R(t)\). The first group contains algorithms for the square-class group of \(\mathbb R(t).\) They allow to find a square-free representative of a square class of a rational function, to check if a rational function is a square or a sum of squares and to find a square-free representative of the product of two square classes. The second group contains two algorithms checking if a given quadratic form is isotropic or hyperbolic. The last group deals with Witt classes of quadratic forms. Every Witt class contains a unique anisotropic representative, but they behaviour not well under addition and multiplication. The author finds a special representative of a Witt class (possibly isotropic), which is easier to manipulate when one adds and multiplies Witt classes.