Algebraic equations and Galois theory. Paper from the 29th Brazilian mathematics colloquium -- 29\(^{\text o}\) Colóquio Brasileiro de Matemática, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 22 -- August 2, 2013 (Q2848159)

The booklet under review is based on a mini-course delivered by the three authors at the 29th Brazilian Colloquium of Mathematics in July/August, 2013. Its aim is to provide an introduction to the classical theory of solving polynomial equations in one variable as well as to the foundations of elementary Galois theory, thereby emphasizing the historical aspects of the subject in particular.NEWLINENEWLINE NEWLINEThe text consists of four chapters, each of which is divided into several sections and subsections, respectively, and two appendices at the end of the book. Chapter 1 is titled ``Algebraic Equations and Discriminants'' and discusses successively the following classical topics: (1) solutions of algebraic equations of low degree; (2) cyclotomic polynomials and solutions of cyclotomic equations; (3) symmetric polynomials and the discriminant of a polynomial; (4) philosophical and historical remarks concerning the solutions of algebraic equations.NEWLINENEWLINE NEWLINEChapter 2 treats real roots of real polynomials, including the corresponding numerical aspects and the classical approaches by \textit{I. Newton}, \textit{J. C. F. Sturm} and \textit{J. J. Sylvester} in this context. Chapter 3 is devoted to the pioneering original work of \textit{É. Galois} (1831) on the conditions for the solvability of a polynomial equation by radicals. Following the presentation given by \textit{H. M. Edwards} in his book ``Galois Theory'' [Graduate Texts in Mathematics, 101. New York etc.: Springer-Verlag (1984; Zbl 0532.12001)], the authors explain the methods of Lagrange resolvents and Galois resolvents, respectively, before elucidating the basic idea of Galois theory in the modern conceptual framework of abstract algebra. The foundations of modern, more general Galois theory are presented in Chapter 4 mainly along the lines which \textit{E. Artin} had masterly traced out in his unrivalled book ``Galois Theory'' (1942; Zbl 0060.04813), 2nd ed. (1948; Zbl 0060.04814)] about 65 years ago. Apart from Galois field extensions and the Galois correspondence via Galois groups, the authors have set a high value on methods of calculating concrete Galois groups explicitly, on the one hand, and on the standard applications of Galois theory on the other.NEWLINENEWLINE NEWLINEEach chapter ends with a large set of related, carefully selected exercises, and the whole text is enhanced by two complementary appendices providing the necessary background material from group theory (Appendix 1) and on irreducibility criteria for polynomials in \(\mathbb Q[X]\) and in \(\mathbb Z[X]\) (Appendix 2) with full proofs. In this way, the entire text appears to be essentially self-contained and accessible to undergraduate students and non-algebraists likewise. Also, the utmost clear and detailed exposition, the numerous instructive examples, and the many included historical comments make this introductory text on algebraic equations and elementary Galois theory a very pleasant and enlightening reading for neophytes in this classical area of algebra.