Graduate Algebra Seminar

Event Date: 

Thursday, February 23, 2017 - 2:00pm to 3:00pm

Event Location: 

  • 4607B South Hall
Speaker: David Nguyen
Title: A Historical Look at Algebraic Functions
 
An algebraic integer is a solution to a polynomial with integer coefficients. For example, 3, 5/12, the cube root of 2, etc., are all algebraic integers, but numbers like pi and e are not. A natural generalization of this concept leads to algebraic functions: they are defined as solutions to polynomial equations with polynomial coefficients. Algebraic functions play an important role in both pure and applied mathematics. In this talk, we will first look at the historical developments of algebraic functions and, then, we will survey the one variable case to get a feel for the subject.