Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Chariker, Logan. “The Inverse Galois Problem, Hilbertian Fields, and Hilbert's
Irreducibility Theorem.” University of Chicago Department of Mathematics,
University of Chicago,
www.math.uchicago.edu/~may/VIGRE/VIGRE2007/REUPapers/FINALFULL/Cha
riker
Summary: Paper
This paper discusses the Hilbert Irreducibility Theorem and its use in work on the Inverse Galois
Problem. The problem asks whether or not every finite group can be represented as the
Galois group of a field extension of the rational numbers. The problem is currently
unsolved, and has been extensively worked on by many mathematicians, including David
Hilbert, whose Irreducibility Theorem has proven essential in partial results. The paper
assumes an advanced knowledge of Galois Theory from the reader. It begins by working
up to a lemma that allows us to find extensions of other fields with the same Galois
group, going through two intermediary proofs along the way. It continues through various
advanced theorems applying the previous lemma, slowly building motivation for a
mathematical construct called the Hilbertian property. It then defines the Hilbertian
property, relates it with Hilbert’s Irreducibility Theorem, and proves some properties of
Hilbertian fields (fields that have that Hilbertian property).. In a short conclusion, the
paper brings all of the machinery introduced in the paper together to prove a small
portion of the Inverse Galois Problem.
Application to Research:
This paper is an example of a paper on an unsolved problem; it is a great example of what I may
have to write if I am ultimately unable to solve my research question.
Conrad, Keith. “Galois Groups of Cubics and Quartics (Not in Characteristic 2).”
University of Connecticut Department of Mathematics, University of Connecticut,
www.math.uconn.edu/~kconrad/blurbs/galoistheory/cubicquartic.pdf.
Summary: Paper
This paper derives an algorithm by which the Galois groups of certain irreducible polynomials of
degree 3 or 4 over certain fields can be determined. It first begins by stating, without
proof, two theorems that the reader is assumed to be familiar with. It then immediately
jumps into the derivation. It gives motivation for the steps to come by showing a few
irreducible cubics and their discriminants and Galois groups, providing the reader with
examples of the polynomials in question. Before moving on the quartics, it manages to
exactly determine the splitting field of the cubic in an elegant form. A lot more
machinery is required for quartics, as there are significantly more identities the Galois
group can take on. It works through similar steps as with cubics; however, each step is
necessarily much more complex. To aid with the derivation, Conrad provides many
subfield and subgroup lattice diagrams, allowing the reader to visualize the relationships
between the many fields and groups introduced in the derivation. It concludes by solving
the problem posed in the beginning, and with a few extension questions for the reader.
Application to Research:
This paper shows some of the computation behind the seemingly magical relationships between
polynomials and Galois groups. Most importantly, it explains why each operation is used
along the way; this will allow me to more naturally work through any Galois theory
necessary in my research project.
Devore, Jay L. Probability and Statistics for Engineering and the Sciences. Brooks/Cole,
2012.
Summary: Reference
This textbook overviews probability and statistics. It starts out covering basic definitions in
statistics, then covers probability and combinatorics. The next few chapters deal with
random variables and probability distributions, then it delves into confidence intervals
and tests of hypotheses. It covers linear, nonlinear, and multiple regressions, and finally
concludes with procedures and practices used in modern statistical work.
Application to Research
This textbook was assigned as a background reading and reference by my mentor, Professor
Nagaraj Neerchal at University of Maryland, Baltimore County. It has provided me with
definitions of various important statistical terms as well as practice with conducting
statistical tests and calculations.
Kuh, Devin. Constructible regular n-gons. Senior Project Archive, pages 1–36, 2013.
Summary: Thesis
This paper discussed the constructability of regular n-gons and the Gauss-Wantzel Theorem
(referred to as Gauss’ theorem in the paper). It begins by going over some basic
constructions using compass and straightedge, giving the reader an adequate background.
It includes basic exercises like angle bisection and perpendicular bisectors. It then
examines the regular pentagon and heptadecagon, both of which were already known to
be constructible. It goes over a construction of each, and also proves that the figure
constructed as a “regular 17-gon” is, indeed, as regular 17-gon. The paper continues into
background on the various machinery that will be used in proving the theorem, including
field theory, field extensions, and constructible numbers. It finally proves the Gauss-
Wantzel Theorem. However, although the Gauss-Wantzel Theorem proves exactly when
regular n-gons are constructible, it does not include how to construct them. It continues
with constructing these regular n-gons, going into the mathematical theory behind them.
It finally ends by proving an extension of the Gauss-Wantzel Theorem.
Application to Research
This paper has a lot of information in it; all of the background it presents allows it to be readable
even by those who just have an elementary understanding of Galois Theory and the more
complex tools used in the proof. It is also cleanly presented, with many detailed diagrams
demonstrating the steps used. It’s really well written, and the information is well-
presented, so I hope to model some of my work off this paper.
Lenstra, Hendrik. “The Chebotarev Density Theorem.” Universiteit Leiden, Universiteit Leiden,
websites.math.leidenuniv.nl/algebra/Lenstra-Chebotarev.pdf.
Summary: Article
This article introduces the Chebotarev Density Theorem. It begins with an example of a
polynomial being reduced modulo certain primes. It investigates the number of times
certain factorization patterns occur when taking the polynomial modulo p, and mentions a
curious asymptotic pattern in the density of these factorization patterns. Lenstra then goes
into the Frobenius element and symbol as defined in Galois theory. He then states a fact
about the factorization patterns from the beginning of the article in the language of Galois
theory. He finally concludes by stating and discussing the Chebotarev Density Theorem,
which explains the patterns in factorization patterns mentioned earlier.
Application to Research
Dirichlet’s Theorem on Arithmetic Progressions is actually a special numerical case of the
Chebotarev Density Theorem; hence the understanding and motivation behind the
theorem that this article offers is very useful.
Macauley, Professor, director. Visual Group Theory, Lecture 6.6: The Fundamental Theorem of
Galois Theory. YouTube, YouTube, 25 Apr. 2016,
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qkfW35AqrQ.
Summary: Video
This video begins by stating the Fundamental Theorem of Galois Theory. The theorem relates
subgroup lattices of Galois groups and subfield lattices of polynomials and proves that
the set of automorphisms that fix a field is a group under composition. It then illustrates
the statement of the theorem through an example. The video then moves on to defining
“solvability” by radicals, then finally finishes by proving the Abel-Ruffini theorem that
there is not a quintic formula using the concepts introduced before.
Application to Research
This video helped me further investigate what Professor Fowler briefly went over during our
interview. The video fills in all of the details that Professor Fowler was unable to cover in
our interview, allowing me to continuing to study group theory as suggested by Professor
Fowler.
Murty, M. Ram, et al. “Modular Forms and the Chebotarev Density Theorem.” American
Journal of Mathematics, vol. 110, no. 2, 1988, p. 253., doi:10.2307/2374502.
Summary: Academic Journal
The paper primarily studies the eigenfunction of modular forms and their relation to prime
numbers. A modular form is a function that takes in a complex number and outputs a real
number. It must satisfy certain defined properties so that the function is “analytic”, and
must finally satisfy a functional equation (an equation that does not explicitly define the
function, but defines a certain property of the function, e.g. f(x + y) = f(x) + f(y)). They
are extensively studied because of their close ties to number theoretical concepts. The
paper then applies the Chebotarev Density Theorem in order to derive the final statement
of the paper.
Application to Research
This paper allowed me to see the Chebotarev Density Theorem being used in an actual research
problem. Because the theorem, like my research question, generalizes the Dirichlet
Theorem on Arithmetic Progressions, being able to see the theorem be used may give me
ideas on how to proceed with my research question.
Serre, Jean-Pierre. Abelian l-Adic Representations and Elliptic Curves. AK Peters, 1998.
Summary: Book
The book reproduces a set of lectures given at McGill University in Montreal. It deals with l-adic
representations and their relationships with other mathematical constructs like modular
forms. It begins by defining an l-adic representation, then applies them on number fields.
As part of that, it provides an alternative way of thinking about Chebotarev’s density
theorem and its proof. It then discusses more specific types of l-adic representations, and
finally concludes with L-functions that are attached to rational representations.
Application to Research
This book provides an alternative viewpoint of Chebotarev’s density theorem. Having another
perspective on the theorem may provide another outlook into my research question, since
it is closely related to the theorem.
Stevenhagen, P., and H. W. Lenstra. “Chebotarëv and His Density Theorem.” The Mathematical
Intelligencer, vol. 18, no. 2, 1996, pp. 26–37., doi:10.1007/bf03027290.
Summary: Academic Journal
It begins with a quick biography of Chebotarev’s life, following his upbringing from a Russian
family turned upside-down by the 1917 revolution through his upper class education to
his work in the summer of 1922 that resulted in his namesake density theorem. It then
delves deep into a few of the problems that Chebotarev investigated. The first involved
the minors of the Vandermonde determinant of a nontrivial prime root of unity. Another
involved the ratio of areas of lunes, a geometric figure formed by arcs. It then goes into
Dirichlet’s Theorem on Arithmetic Progressions and finally Chebotarev’s density
theorem.
Application to Research
This paper discusses Chebotarev and his theorem in great detail, providing a lot of motivation
behind each step of the proof. This provides a shell of a proof that could potentially work
on my research problem.
Sury, B. “Frobenius and His Density Theorem for Primes.” Resonance Journal for Science
Education, Dec. 2003.
Summary: Academic Journal
The paper begins by motivating the theorem with a problem that appeared on the International
Mathematical Olympiad: “If p is a prime number, show that there is another prime
number q such that n^p - p is not a multiple of q for any natural number n.” It then slowly
builds up facts about primes and polynomials, eventually reaching the Frobenius density
theorem, a statement about the Galois groups of polynomials and the density of primes
that, when taken modulo each prime, decomposes the polynomials in certain ways. It
concludes by very quickly solving the problem posed at the beginning.
Application to Research
The Frobenius prime density theorem is a precursor to Chebotarev’s density theorem. Dirichlet’s
Theorem on Arithmetic Progression also implies a special case of the Frobenius prime
density theorem. Because of its close relation to my research question, the motivation that
this paper provided may prove invaluable.
Terr, David. "Chebotarev Density Theorem." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Web Resource,
created by Eric W. Weisstein.
http://mathworld.wolfram.com/ChebotarevDensityTheorem.html
Summary: Reference
This article states the Chebotarev density theorem and provides a brief explanation of what it is
and why it is true. It then provides an example of the theorem in use. It concludes by
discussing when the Chebotarev density theorem is used, as well as how it is used and
other reading material related to the theorem.
Application to Research
This reference article provided me with the raw statement of the Chebotarev density theorem
before I began to read other mathematicians’ work involving the theorem and its proof.
This allowed me to investigate the theorem and look for a proof without knowledge of
the “classical method,” in case I find a different method of proof. It also redirected me to
other sources related to the theorem.
Wildberger, NJ, director. Galois Theory I | Math History | NJ Wildberger. YouTube, YouTube,
11 May 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxNq-hQwvn0.
Summary: Video
The video begins by motivating Galois theory with a simple questions: How do you solve
polynomial equations exactly? After discussing some basic definitions, it then explores
quartics. The video provides a method for factoring quartics that relies on solving a cubic
equation. It then goes into Lagrange’s insight in seeing that the jump from cubics to
quartics partially depended on the symmetry between the roots of the equations. It also
mentions his approach using resolvants that suggested that there was no quintic formula.
It ends with the Abel-Ruffini Theorem and its setup for Evariste Galois’s developments
in mathematics.
Application to Research
This video provided extremely detailed background on Galois theory, presented visually and
aurally. Further examination of Lagrange’s development of his resolvants approach may
provide another route into my research question.