Key Questions Flashcards

1
Q

What does it mean for an algebraic number to be expressible by radicals

A

An algebraic number alpha is expressible by radicals if alpha is an element of an algebraic extension of Q obtained by iterated radical extensions - adjoin nth roots of rational numbers repeatedly

D&F 627

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Are all algebraic number expressible by radicals?

A

No. Key solvable by radicals => solvable Galois extension
1. Add roots of unity –> (Z/nZ)* Abelian so solvable extension

  1. Add nth root and all conjugates –> ensures Galois extension gives a subgroup of Z/nZ, cyclic
  2. Repeat. After finite number of steps - solvable

Example: f(x) = x^5 -4x +2

We chose this polynomial since it is irreducible by Eisenstein and contains 3 real roots, 2 complex.

Let K be the splitting field of f(x) over Q. We have a degree 5 extension Q[x] / f(x) => [K:Q] is divisible by 5 since degree multiplicative. Since, [K:Q] = |Gal(K/Q)|, |Gal(K/Q)| is divisible by 5 and hence contains a 5 cycle by Cauchy’s Theorem. Exactly 2 non-real roots so G has a transposition - complex conjugation - transposition plus 5 cycle generate S_5 which is not solvable - A_5 first simple non-abelian group.

Or in general terms - if we perform a chain of cyclic extensions, the Galois group will be solvable. But a generic polynomial has Galois group S^5

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Discuss x^3 -2 = 0 over Q

A

Prove Irreducible: Eisenstein Criterion

Draw picture of roots - triangle in S^1

Construct splitting field - adjoin all 3 roots (-1+i root(3) )/2 etc. see that root 3 is in here. So Q( 3rd root(2), root(3) ) - or recall constructing splitting field, we have a root after first extension - next must be degree 2!

Show Galois group is S_3 - We know it is order 6, we also know it acts on the three roots of x^3 - 2, so it must be a subgroup of S_3 - hence all of S_3 since degree 6. (Or observe there are only 2 groups of order 6 - cyclic and S_3 - can’t be cyclic since a root of cyclotomic polynomial x^2 + x +1 is not root of x^3 -2)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Classify finite fields, discuss Galois groups

A

Characteristic must be prime - otherwise zero divisors.
So look at any finite field as vector space over prime subfield - must be order p^n.

Existence: Splitting field of x^p^n -x

Uniqueness: In F_p^n any nonzero x must satisfy x^p^n-1 = 1 (mult group has one less element) by Lagrange. So x^p^n -x = 0 - a root of magic polynomial

Galois extension: The extension F_p^n / F_p is Galois since it was constructed as the splitting field of a separable polynomial: x^p^n-x alpha^p. This is injective clearly since no power of nonzero field element can be 0. It surjective since finite.

Galois Group: Galois group must be order n since we have a degree n extension. The Frobenius automorphism generates Gal(F_p^n / F_p). This is easy to see. Let g be Frobenius automorphism, the g^i(alpha) = alpha^p^i. Since alpha^p^n = alpha, we see alpha^n = identity. Any lower power identity would imply alpha^p^i = alpha for all alpha in F_p^n which is impossible since only p^i roots of this equation. Since we have exhibited an element of order n, it follows that Gal(F_p^n / F_p) is Z/nZ.

Subfields: By Fundamental Theorem, every subfield corresponds to a subgroup of Z/nZ - d divisor of n, then F_p^d is subfield corresponding to Z/dZ. Abelian so everything normal - everything Galois

The multiplicative group F_p* is cyclic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Define: analytic function

A

Here I think he’s talking about Holomorphic function. Complex differentiable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Derive the Cauchy-Riemann equations

A

Do as in Stein. Consider if we can discuss differential forms, topology - commutes with i

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Show analytic function who’s image is real must be constant. Use this to show no analytic function maps onto a line

A

Seems like multiple options here - try Cauchy Riemann or power series expansion.

Use Mobius transformation to take line onto R

Or immediately by open mapping theorem?

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Define: mobius transformation

Discuss Hopf fibration

A

Look in Conway - na Wikipedia is better - do as in discussion with Chirs - RP^1 = riemann sphere….

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Integrate 1/(1+x^4) from -inf to inf

A

Use contour integration

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Compute homology for S^2, Klein bottle, torus, closed surfaces

A

notes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Discuss various long exact sequences

A

pair, Mayer Vetoris

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Prove fundamental theorem of algebra

A

topology, complex, algebra

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is relationship of pi_n to h_n?

A

Hurewicz Thm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Is homology complete invariant for homotopy type? Cohomology? Homotopy groups?

A

Whitehead Thm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Discuss x^3 -2 over finite field - polynomials over finite fields more generally

A

Every polynomial over a finite field is separable. If p(x) irreducible of degree d dividing x^p^n - x and alpha is a root of p(x), then F_p(alpha) is a subfield of F_p^n of degree d. Galois since every extension of a finite field is Galois - thus contains all roots of p(x).

In fact x^p^n-x is precisely the product of all distinct irreducible polynomials in F_p[x] of degree d as d runs through the divisors of n. Gives a recursive way to compute irreducibles. Irreducible elements important because we can mod out by any degree d irreducible to get a version of F_p^d - they are all isomorphic so just get different reps of same field

Example: p(x) = x^3 -2

Degenerate over F_2. Consider over F_7 - irreducible. Taking F_7[x] / (x^3 -2) gives a degree 3 extension - isomorphic to F_7^3 - Galois so contains all roots.

Galois Group: Z_3 instead of S_3 cyclic, generated by Frobenius

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Discuss representation theory of S_3

A

If he asks about group algebra - say let’s look at representation theory.

Looking at C(S_3) - so just vector space with basis the elements of S_3 and multiplication given by group multiplication. A non-commutative algebra.

As S_3-module this is clearly the regular representation. In general, by character theory we know that any irrep appears in regular rep dim V times. So decompose C(S_3) = trivial + alternating (sign) + (standard rep)^2

This is precisely where the relation |G| = sum squares of dim of irreps comes from

Construct character table - orthogonality relations - one irrep for each conjugacy class - from fact that characters form a basis for class functions on G - most theory comes from projection operator onto G invariant subspace

More generally for S_n we have a conjugacy class for every partition of n - visualize using Young diagram. Rare nice thing have explicit bijection between conjugacy classes and irreps. Given by Young Symmetrizers (product of row preserving sum and column preserving sum) - these elements - one for each conjugacy class i.e. Young diagram - generate the irreps Specht module - just take subalgebra generated by this one element.

17
Q

Compute H_i(S^n) in as many was as you can think of

A
  1. Ball contractible: trivial homology. Remove n+1 cell in interior - look at chain complexes
  2. Octahedral triangulation 66
  3. l.e.s Mayer-Vietoris
  4. l.e.s. Pair
  5. Cellular homology - just 2 cells
18
Q

Define: chain complex, chain map, chain homotopy

Discuss importance

A

Chain complex:

19
Q

Define: chain complex, chain map, chain homotopy

Discuss importance

A

Chain complex: A sequence of abelian groups connected by boundary homomorphisms s.t. boundary^2 = 0. Importance: whenever you have this, you can compute homology groups

Chain map: A homomorphism of chain complexes - a sequence of homomorphisms between each abelian group making diagram commute boundary phi = phi boundary. Importance: induces homomorphisms on homology groups

Chain homotopy: Between chain maps f# and g# is a homomorphism P: C_p(X) –> C_p+1(Y) s.t.
boundary(P(sigma)) = g#(sigma) - f#(sigma) - P(boundary(sigma)). Importance: If f and g are chain homotopic then f_* = g_*. pg 120