The Abel-Ruffini theorem: complex but not complicated

DOI10.1080/00029890.2022.2010494MaRDI QIDQ5067478zbMATH OpenOpenAlexWikidataFDO

Authors Paul Ramond

Publication date 1 April 2022

Published in The American Mathematical Monthly (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.05162

zbMATH Keywords

Galois theorysolvability in radicalsTheorem of Abel-Ruffini

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Introductory exposition (textbooks, tutorial papers, etc.) pertaining to mathematics in general (00-01) Mathematics for nonmathematicians (engineering, social sciences, etc.) (00A06) Polynomials in real and complex fields: location of zeros (algebraic theorems) (12D10)

Abstract: In this article, using only elementary knowledge of complex numbers, we sketch a proof of the celebrated Abel--Ruffini theorem, which states that the general solution to an algebraic equation of degree five or more cannot be written using radicals, that is, using its coefficients and arithmetic operations $+,-,imes,div,$ and $sqrt$. The present article is written purposely with concise and pedagogical terms and dedicated to students and researchers not familiar with Galois theory, or even group theory in general, which are the usual tools used to prove this remarkable theorem. In particular, the proof is self-contained and gives some insight as to why formulae exist for equations of degree four or less (and how they are constructed), and why they do not for degree five or more.

Recommendations

• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 59983
• The Abel-Ruffini theorem via loops and permutations
• The topological proof of Abel-Ruffini theorem
• Niels Hendrik Abel and Equations of the Fifth Degree
• Abel's impossibility proof as reflected in modern Galois theory

Cites work

• Characterization of Solvable Quintics x 5 + ax + b
• Enlightening symbols. A short history of mathematical notation and its hidden powers
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1457958 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 2146318 (Why is no real title available?)
• Mathematics and Its History
• The topological proof of Abel-Ruffini theorem

Cited in

(9)

• Abel's impossibility proof as reflected in modern Galois theory
• Multivariate Abel-Ruffini
• On a theorem of Abel
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 59983 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1101374 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 2146318 (Why is no real title available?)
• The Abel-Ruffini theorem via loops and permutations
• Cyclic number representation and DFT structure of polynomial equations
• Thermodynamic properties of graphene in the presence of perpendicular magnetic and in-plane electric fields with asymmetrical Gaussian confinement potentials

This page was built for publication: The Abel-Ruffini theorem: complex but not complicated

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q5067478)