# Math Challenge - November 2021

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Mentor
2021 Award
Summary: Analysis. Projective Geometry. ##C^*##-algebras. Group Theory. Markov Processes. Manifolds. Topology. Galois Theory. Linear Algebra. Commutative Algebra.

1.a. (solved by @nuuskur ) Let ##C\subseteq \mathbb{R}^n## be compact and ##f\, : \,C\longrightarrow \mathbb{R}^n## continuous and injective. Show that the inverse ##g=f^{-1}\, : \,f(C)\longrightarrow \mathbb{R}^n## is continuous.

1.b. (solved by @nuuskur ) Let ##S:=\{x+tv\,|\,t\in (0,1)\}## with ##x,v\in \mathbb{R}^n,## and ##f\in C^0(\mathbb{R}^n)## differentiable for all ##y\in S.## Show that there is a ##z\in S## such that
$$f(x+v)-f(x)=\nabla f(z)\cdot v\,.$$
1.c. (solved by @MathematicalPhysicist ) Let ##\gamma \, : \,[0,\pi]\longrightarrow \mathbb{R}^3## be given as
$$\gamma(t):=\begin{pmatrix} \cos(t)\sin(t)\\ \sin^2(t)\\ \cos(t) \end{pmatrix}\, , \,t\in [0,\pi].$$
Show that the length ##L(\gamma )>\pi.##

2. (solved by @mathwonk ) Let ##g,h## be two skew lines in a three-dimensional projective space ##\mathcal{P}=\mathcal{P}(V)##, and ##P## a point that is neither on ##g## nor on ##h##. Prove that there is exactly one straight through ##P## that intersects ##g## and ##h.##

3. (solved by @QuantumSpace ) Let ##(\mathcal{A},e)## be a unital ##C^*##-algebra. A self-adjoint element ##a\in \mathcal{A}## is called positive, if its spectral values are:
$$\sigma(a) :=\{\lambda \in \mathbb{C}\,|\,a-\lambda e \text{ is not invertible }\}\subseteq \mathbb{R}^+:=[0,\infty).$$
The set of all positive elements is written ##\mathcal{A}_+\,.## A linear functional ##f\, : \,\mathcal{A}\longrightarrow \mathbb{C}## is called positive, if ##f(a)\in \mathbb{R}^+## for all positive ##a\in \mathcal{A}_+\,.##

Prove that a positive functional is continuous.

4. Prove that the following groups ##F_1,F_2## are free groups:

4.a. (solved by @nuuskur ) Consider the functions ##\alpha ,\beta ## on ##\mathbb{C}\cup \{\infty \}## defined by the rules
$$\alpha(x)=x+2 \text{ and }\beta(x)=\dfrac{x}{2x+1}.$$
The symbol ##\infty ## is subject to such formal rules as ##1/0=\infty ## and ##\infty /\infty =1.## Then ##\alpha ,\beta ## are bijections with inverses
$$\alpha^{-1}(x)=x-2\text{ and }\beta^{-1}(x)=\dfrac{x}{1-2x}.$$
Thus ##\alpha ## and ##\beta ## generate a group of permutations ##F_1## of ##\mathbb{C}\cup \{\infty \}.##

4.b. (solved by @martinbn and @mathwonk ) Define the group ##F_2:=\langle A,B \rangle ## with
$$A:=\begin{bmatrix}1&2\\0&1 \end{bmatrix} \text{ and } B:=\begin{bmatrix}1&0\\2&1 \end{bmatrix}$$

5. We model the move of a chess piece on a chessboard as a timely homogeneous Markov chain with the ##64## squares as state space and the position of the piece at a certain (discrete) point in time as a state. The transition matrix is given by the assumption, that the next possible state is equally probable. Determine whether these Markov chains ##M(\text{piece})## are irreducible and aperiodic for (a) king, (b) bishop, (c) pawn, and (d) knight.

6. Prove that a ##n##-dimensional manifold ##X## is orientable if and only if
(a) there is an atlas for which all chart changes respect orientation, i.e. have a positive functional determinant,
(b) there is a continuous ##n##-form which nowhere vanishes on ##M.##

7. (solved by @nuuskur ) A topological vector space ##E## over ##\mathbb{K}\in \{\mathbb{R},\mathbb{C}\}## is normable if and only if it is Hausdorff and possesses a bounded convex neighborhood of ##\vec{0}.##

8.a. (solved by @kmitza ) Determine the minimal polynomial of ##\pi + e\cdot i## over the reals.

8.b. (solved by @jbstemp ) Show that ##\mathbb{F}:=\mathbb{F}_7[T]/(T^3-2)## is a field, calculate the number of its elements, and determine ##(T^2+2T+4)\cdot (2T^2+5),## and ##(T+1)^{-1}.##

8.c. (solved by @mathwonk ) Consider ##P(X):=X^{7129}+105X^{103}+15X+45\in \mathbb{F}[X]## and determine whether it is irreducible in case
$$\mathbb{F} \in \{\mathbb{Q},\mathbb{R},\mathbb{F}_2,\mathbb{Q}[T]/(T^{7129}+105T^{103}+15T+45)\}$$
8.d. (solved by @mathwonk ) Determine the matrix of the Frobenius endomorphism in ##\mathbb{F}_{25}## for a suitable basis.

9. (solved by @mathwonk ) Let ##V## and ##W## be finite-dimensional vector spaces over the field ##\mathbb{F}## and ##f\, : \,V\otimes_\mathbb{F}W\longrightarrow \mathbb{F}## a linear mapping such that
\begin{align*}
\forall \,v\in V-\{0\}\quad \exists \,w\in W\, &: \,f(v\otimes w)\neq 0\\
\forall \,w\in W-\{0\}\quad \exists \,v\in V\, &: \,f(v\otimes w)\neq 0
\end{align*}
Show that ##V\cong_\mathbb{F} W.##

10. (solved by @mathwonk ) Let ##R:=\mathbb{C}[X,Y]/(Y^2-X^2)##. Describe ##V_\mathbb{R}(Y^2-X^2)\subseteq \mathbb{R}^2,## determine whether ##\operatorname{Spec}(R)## is finite, calculate the Krull-dimension of ##R,## and determine whether ##R## is Artinian.

High Schoolers only

11.
Let ##a\not\in\{-1,0,1\}## be a real number. Solve
$$\dfrac{(x^4+1)(x^4+6x^2+1)}{x^2(x^2-1)^2}=\dfrac{(a^4+1)(a^4+6a^2+1)}{a^2(a^2-1)^2}\,.$$

12. Define a sequence ##a_1,a_2,\ldots,a_n,\ldots ## of real numbers by
$$a_1=1\, , \,a_{n+1}=2a_n+\sqrt{3a_n^2+1}\quad(n\in \mathbb{N})\,.$$
Determine all sequence elements that are integers.

13. For ##n\in \mathbb{N}## define
$$f(n):=\sum_{k=1}^{n^2}\dfrac{n-\left[\sqrt{k-1}\right]}{\sqrt{k}+\sqrt{k-1}}\,.$$
Determine a closed form for ##f(n)## without summation. The bracket means: ##[x]=m\in \mathbb{Z}## if ##m\leq x <m+1.##

14. Solve over the real numbers
\begin{align*}
\end{align*}

15. Let ##f(x):=x^4-(x+1)^4-(x+2)^4+(x+3)^4.## Determine whether there is a smallest function value if ##f(x)## is defined ##(a)## for integers, and ##(b)## for real numbers. Which is it?#

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jbergman and berkeman

My solution for exercise 3.

We don't need the assumption that ##\mathcal{A}## is unital, so we will not use this.

Note that every element ##a## in a ##C^*##-algebra ##\mathcal{A}## can be written as ##a = p_1 - p_2 + i(p_3-p_4)## where ##p_1, p_2,p_3, p_4## are positive elements with ##\|p_i\| \le \|a\|##.

Thus, it suffices to show that
$$\sup_{a \in \mathcal{A}_+, \|a\| \le 1} \|f(a)\| < \infty$$
in order to conclude that ##\|f\| < \infty##. Suppose to the contrary that this supremum equals ##\infty##. Then we find a sequence ##\{a_n\}_{n=1}^\infty## of positive elements in the unit ball of ##\mathcal{A}## with the property that ##\|f(a_n)\|\ge 4^n##. Define ##a:= \sum_{n=1}^\infty 2^{-n} a_n##, where the series converges in the norm-topology because its absolutely convergent. For all ##n \ge 1##, we have ##a \ge 2^{-n} a_n## and thus by positivity ##f(a) \ge 2^{-n} f(a_n)## for all ##n \ge 1##. Taking norms, we obtain
$$\|f(a)\| \ge 2^{-n}\|f(a_n)\| \ge 2^{-n} 4^n = 2^n$$
and letting ##n\to \infty## yields a contradiction. Hence, the claim follows.

Remark: the same proof works to show that any positive map between ##C^*##-algebras is bounded. That's why I denote the absolute value on ##\mathbb{C}## by ##\|\cdot\|## as well.

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fresh_42
MathematicalPhysicist
Gold Member
My solution to 1.c:
##L(\gamma)=\int_0^\pi | \dot{\gamma(t)}|dt = \int_0^\pi\sqrt{(\cos^2(2t)+\sin^2(2t)+\sin^2(t)}dt=\int_0^\pi \sqrt{(1+\sin^2(t))}dt\ge \int_0^\pi 1dt = \pi##

Let $V:=V_\mathbb K$ be a topological VS with topology $\tau$. If $V$ is normable, then its closed unit ball is a bounded convex neighborhood of zero. The space $V$ is automatically Hausdorff, because there are balls of arbitrarily small radii.

Conversely, let $C$ be a convex bounded NH of zero. Then there exists a balanced NH of zero $B$ such that $B\subseteq C$. Then $A := \mathrm{Cl}(\mathrm{conv\, B})$ is a closed, absolutely convex bounded NH of zero. Its Minkowski functional $p_A$ is therefore a seminorm. Check that $p_A$ is actually a norm. That is, $p_A(x) = 0$ implies $x=0$.

For every NH of zero $W$ we can choose $t>0$ such that $tA \subseteq W$ (because $A$ is bounded). This implies $\{tA \mid t>0\}$ is a NH basis of zero. By assumption $V$ is Hausdorff, thus $\bigcap \{tA \mid t>0\} = \{0\}$.

Suppose $x\neq 0$. Then there exists $t_0>0$ such that $x\notin t_0A$, which means $p_A(x) \neq 0$. Thus, $(V,p_A)$ is a normed space with unit ball $A$ and since the $tA$ are a $\tau$-NH basis of zero, the $p_A$-induced topology coincides with $\tau$.

Mentor
2021 Award
Let $V:=V_\mathbb K$ be a topological VS with topology $\tau$. If $V$ is normable, then its closed unit ball is a bounded convex neighborhood of zero. The space $V$ is automatically Hausdorff, because there are balls of arbitrarily small radii.

Conversely, let $C$ be a convex bounded NH of zero. Then there exists a balanced NH of zero $B$ such that $B\subseteq C$. Then $A := \mathrm{Cl}(\mathrm{conv\, B})$ is a closed, absolutely convex bounded NH of zero. Its Minkowski functional $p_A$ is therefore a seminorm. Check that $p_A$ is actually a norm. That is, $p_A(x) = 0$ implies $x=0$.

For every NH of zero $W$ we can choose $t>0$ such that $tA \subseteq W$ (because $A$ is bounded). This implies $\{tA \mid t>0\}$ is a NH basis of zero. By assumption $V$ is Hausdorff, thus $\bigcap \{tA \mid t>0\} = \{0\}$.

Suppose $x\neq 0$. Then there exists $t_0>0$ such that $x\notin t_0A$, which means $p_A(x) \neq 0$. Thus, $(V,p_A)$ is a normed space with unit ball $A$ and since the $tA$ are a $\tau$-NH basis of zero, the $p_A$-induced topology coincides with $\tau$.
Wow. You concentrated my proof from 48 to 8 lines! Is that already a compactification?

My more detailed solution will be published on 2/1/2022 in
or here in case someone wants to read it prior to that.

Some ideas for 4a
Let $F_1 = \langle\alpha,\beta \rangle$. By definition
$$F_1 = \{\gamma _n\circ \gamma _{n-1} \circ\ldots\circ \gamma _1 \mid \gamma _i \in \{\alpha,\beta,\alpha^{-1},\beta ^{-1}\},\ n\in\mathbb N\}$$
Since $\alpha,\beta,\alpha^{-1},\beta^{-1}$ are maps, in principle, it could happen that two different reduced compositions are still the same. So we need to check that this does not happen. None of the maps is idempotent (because an idempotent bijection must be the identity) and the different type of maps do not commute. E.g one can work out $\alpha\beta (x) = \frac{5x+2}{2x+1}$ and $\beta\alpha (x) = \frac{x+2}{2x+5}$. Similarly, $\alpha\beta ^{-1} \neq \beta ^{-1}\alpha$ and $\alpha^{-1}\beta \neq \beta\alpha^{-1}$. Also, $\alpha\alpha \neq \beta\beta$.

Is the following true? If a composition is non-empty and reduced, then it is not the identity. Suppose this is true for all reduced compositions of length $n\geqslant 2$. Let $\omega := \gamma _{n+1}\gamma _{n}\ldots \gamma _1\in F_1$ be a reduced composition of length $n+1$. Denote $\sigma := \gamma _n\ldots\gamma _1$. Suppose $\gamma _{n+1}\sigma$ is the identity. Then $\sigma ^{-1} = \gamma _{n+1}$, but then $\omega$ reduces to the identity, a contradiction........ !?!?!?!?!?

Something feels wrong, though. There are matrices, for instance, that satisfy ##A^n = E ## for some (possibly large) ##n##. This is true by Cayley Hamilton, even. Take any matrix with characteristic equation ##x^n -1 =0##, then ##A^n-E=0##.

There must be something specific about these ##\alpha,\beta## ..

True in very general circumstances. Let $f:X\to Y$ be continuous and suppose $X$ is compact. Then the image is also compact. Suppose $f(X) \subseteq \bigcup V_i$, where the $V_i$ are an open cover. Then continuity implies $X\subseteq \bigcup f^{-1}(V_i)$, where $f^{-1}(V_i)$ are open. By compactness there must be a finite subcover, so $f(X)$ also has a finite subcover.

Further, if $X$ is compact and $A\subseteq X$ is closed, then taking an open cover $A\subseteq \bigcup U_i$ we have an open over $X \subseteq(X\setminus A) \cup \bigcup U_i$. So $A$ must also have a finite subcover and so is compact.

Thirdly, in Hausdorff spaces compact implies closed. Let $X$ be Hausdorff and $A\subseteq X$ compact. Suffices to show $X\setminus A$ is open. Take $b\in X\setminus A$, then for every $a\in A$, one can pick disjoint open sets $U_a, V_a$ such that $a\in U_a$ and $b\in V_a$. We have an open cover $A\subseteq \bigcup \{U_a \mid a\in A\}$. Suppose $A\subseteq \bigcup \{U_a \mid a\in F\}$ for some finite subset $F\subseteq A$. Then $b\in\bigcap _{a\in F} V_a \subseteq X\setminus A$. So $b\in \mathrm{Int\,}(X\setminus A)$.

Now suppose $f:X\to Y$ is a continuous injection with $X$ compact. All we have to assume is the spaces are Hausdorff. Then the closed subsets are mapped to compact ones, which are closed and so $f:X\to f(X)$ is a homeomorphism.

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Mentor
2021 Award
Some ideas for 4a
Let $F_1 = \langle\alpha,\beta \rangle$. By definition
$$F_1 = \{\gamma _n\circ \gamma _{n-1} \circ\ldots\circ \gamma _1 \mid \gamma _i \in \{\alpha,\beta,\alpha^{-1},\beta ^{-1}\},\ n\in\mathbb N\}$$
Since $\alpha,\beta,\alpha^{-1},\beta^{-1}$ are maps, in principle, it could happen that two different reduced compositions are still the same. So we need to check that this does not happen. None of the maps is idempotent (because an idempotent bijection must be the identity) and the different type of maps do not commute. E.g one can work out $\alpha\beta (x) = \frac{5x+2}{2x+1}$ and $\beta\alpha (x) = \frac{x+2}{2x+5}$. Similarly, $\alpha\beta ^{-1} \neq \beta ^{-1}\alpha$ and $\alpha^{-1}\beta \neq \beta\alpha^{-1}$. Also, $\alpha\alpha \neq \beta\beta$.

Is the following true? If a composition is non-empty and reduced, then it is not the identity. Suppose this is true for all reduced compositions of length $n\geqslant 2$. Let $\omega := \gamma _{n+1}\gamma _{n}\ldots \gamma _1\in F_1$ be a reduced composition of length $n+1$. Denote $\sigma := \gamma _n\ldots\gamma _1$. Suppose $\gamma _{n+1}\sigma$ is the identity. Then $\sigma ^{-1} = \gamma _{n+1}$, but then $\omega$ reduces to the identity, a contradiction........ !?!?!?!?!?

Something feels wrong, though. There are matrices, for instance, that satisfy ##A^n = E ## for some (possibly large) ##n##. This is true by Cayley Hamilton, even. Take any matrix with characteristic equation ##x^n -1 =0##, then ##A^n-E=0##.

There must be something specific about these ##\alpha,\beta## ..
Hint: Consider what the powers of ##\alpha ## and the powers of ##\beta ## do geometrically.

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Good lord, I have $o(e^{-n})$ understanding of geometry

Mentor
2021 Award
Good lord, I have $o(e^{-n})$ understanding of geometry
Ok, then use topology and what you know about the 1-sphere 2-disc.

Mentor
2021 Award
The crucial point is, that all powers of ##\alpha ## map the interior of the unit circle to the exterior, and all powers of ##\beta ## map the exterior to the interior with ##0## removed. Now consider a non-trivial reduced word that equals ##1## and conclude by the universal property that its non-existence is sufficient to have an isomorphism to the free group.

Oh, I didn't think of that, that's a neat little trick
So, by definition
$$F_1 = \{\gamma _n\gamma _{n-1} \ldots \gamma _1 \mid \gamma _i \in\{\alpha,\beta,\alpha^{-1},\beta^{-1}\},\ n\in\mathbb N\}$$
Call a composition reduced if it does not contain strings of type $\ldots\gamma\gamma ^{-1}\ldots$ and $\ldots\gamma ^{-1}\gamma\ldots$. The goal is to show that non-empty reduced words are not the identity map.

Clearly, $\alpha ^n(x) = x+2n$. Note that $\beta ^2(x) = \frac{x}{2\cdot 2x+1}$. Suppose $\beta ^n(x) = \frac{x}{2nx + 1}$, then
$$\beta ^n ( \beta (x)) = \frac{\beta (x)}{2n\beta (x)+1} = \frac{x}{2(n+1)x +1}$$
Note the following. Let $0<|z|<1$. Immediately one has $|\alpha ^n(z)| > 1$. Also
$$\beta ^n(1/z) = \frac{1/z}{2n(1/z)+1} = \frac{1}{z+2n} = \frac{1}{\alpha ^n(z)},$$
which implies $\beta ^n$ maps the exterior of the unit ball into the unit ball never attaining zero. Now it suffices to show that non-empty non-constant reduced words don't map zero to zero. By a constant word I mean something like $\beta^n$, we know they are not the identity.

So a typical reduced word is of the form
$$\left ( \beta ^{u_1} \right )^{n_1}\left (\alpha^{u_2}\right )^{n_2}\left (\beta^{u_3}\right )^{n_3}\ldots \left (\alpha^{u_k}\right )^{n_k}$$
where $u_i \in \{-1,1\}$. The word may end with powers of $\alpha^{\pm1}$ or $\beta^{\pm 1}$, but we may assume the word begins with powers of $\alpha ^{\pm 1}$, because powers of $\beta^{\pm 1}$ map zero to zero. If we begin with powers of $\alpha ^{\pm 1}$ we land outside the unit ball, then powers of $\beta ^{\pm 1}$ do not map to zero and we just start oscillating.

So this means two reduced words are equal as maps if and only if they are the same word. Let $F$ be the free group with generators $a,b$. Then $\alpha \mapsto a$ and $\beta \mapsto b$ extends to a well defined map, which is obviously an isomorphism.

fresh_42
Lagrange MVT, essentially.
It is well known that directional derivative along $\mathbf{u}\neq 0$ can be computed as
$$\frac{\partial}{\partial \mathbf{u}} f(\mathbf{a}) = \langle \nabla f(\mathbf{a}), \overline{\mathbf{u}} \rangle$$
where $\overline{\mathbf{u}}$ is unit vector in the direction of $\mathbf{u}$.

Let $f:\mathbb R^n \to \mathbb R$ be continuous and differentiable in $S$. Define $h:[0,1] \to S\cup \{x,x+v\}$ by
$$h(t) := x+tv.$$
Then $fh$ satisfies the assumptions of the MVT. So $(fh)'(t_0) = fh(1) - fh(0)$ for some $t_0\in (0,1)$. Put $h(t_0) = z$, then $\langle \nabla f(z), v\rangle = f(x+v)-f(x)$.

mathwonk
Homework Helper
In reference to #2, probably none of us in the US had a course in elementary geometry, even though we may have seen topological vector spaces, advanced calculus, field extension theory, tensor products, and free groups! So this is a review of simple geometric facts about projective 3 space.

Recall that the points of a projective 3 space P^3 are the lines through the origin (one diml subspaces) of a 4 diml vector space V. A line in P^3 is a 2 diml subspace of V, and a plane in P^3 is a 3 diml subspace of V.
So this problem is also a problem in linear algebra, if you prefer. In particular, you can use linear algebra to prove these geometric facts:

If two distinct lines in P^3 meet, they meet in exactly one point, and lie on exactly one plane.
Given a line and a plane in P^3, either the line lies in the plane or else meets it in exactly one point.
A line in P^3 and a point not on that line, together lie on exactly one plane.
Two distinct planes in P^3 meet in a unique line.
Two distinct lines in a plane meet in exactly one point.

If you assume these facts, they suffice to solve the problem as stated. In fact the solution then requires no further mathematical knowledge, only logic, hence a layperson could do it. Or you might prefer to prove the linear algebra version: Given two 2 diml subspaces F,G of the 4 diml vectror space V, intersecting only at the origin, and a one diml subspace E not lying in either F or G, prove there is a unique 2 diml subspace H containing E and meeting each of F,G in a one diml subspace. If you choose this approach, you really should then go back and give the projective geometric argument. I only make this alternate suggestion since some of us may have more linear algebra intuition than projective geometric intuition.

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jbergman
I pretty much bruteforced 8a but here is my entry until someone posts a nice one:

So we start by setting $$a = \pi + e*i$$ then by squaring both sides we get $$a^2 = \pi^2 +2ei\pi -e^2$$ now we put all real terms on one side and square again to get $$(a^2 - \pi^2 +e^2 )^2 = -4e^2\pi^2$$ from here some simple algebra gets us our first candidate: $$f(a) = a^4 +2a^2e^2 -2a^2\pi^2 +e^4 + e^2\pi^2 + \pi^4$$ of course this doesn't seem irreducible and to check we suppose that there is a factorization $$(a^2+ba+ c)(a^2 + da + f) = f(x)$$ simple manipulation gives us: $$d+b = 0 \implies d = -b$$ $$f +db +c = 2e^2 - 2\pi^2$$ $$bf + dc = b(f-c) = 0 \implies b= 0 \or f=c$$ $$cf = (e^2 +\pi^2)^2$$ we will consider the case where f=c so from here we get that $$c=f= \pi^2 + e^2$$ and $$b = 2\pi$$ so our factorization is $$f(x) = (x^2 +2x\pi + e^2 + \pi^2 )(x^2 - 2x\pi + e^2 + \pi^2) = g(x)h(x)$$ finally it is easy to see that h(x) has no real zeros and is hence irreducible and it has $$\pi + ei$$ as one of the zeros. Hence h(x) is the minimal polynomial

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Mentor
2021 Award
I pretty much bruteforced 8a but here is my entry until someone posts a nice one:

So we start by setting $$a = \pi + e*i$$ then by squaring both sides we get $$a^2 = \pi^2 +2ei\pi -e^2$$ now we put all real terms on one side and square again to get $$(a^2 - \pi^2 +e^2 )^2 = -4e^2\pi^2$$ from here some simple algebra gets us our first candidate: $$f(a) = a^4 +2a^2e^2 -2a^2\pi^2 +e^4 + e^2\pi^2 + \pi^4$$ of course this doesn't seem irreducible and to check we suppose that there is a factorization $$(a^2+ba+ c)(a^2 + da + f) = f(x)$$ simple manipulation gives us: $$d+b = 0 \implies d = -b$$ $$f +db +c = 2e^2 - 2\pi^2$$ $$bf + dc = b(f-c) = 0 \implies b= 0 \or f=c$$ $$cf = (e^2 +\pi^2)^2$$ we will consider the case where f=c so from here we get that $$c=f= \pi^2 + e^2$$ and $$b = 2\pi$$ so our factorization is $$f(a) = (x^2 +2a\pi + e^2 + \pi^2 )(x^2 - 2a\pi^2 + e^2 + \pi^2) = g(a)h(a)$$ finally it is easy to see that h(a) has no real zeros and is hence irreducible and it has $$\pi + ei$$ as one of the zeros. Hence h(a) is the minimal polynomial
I assume there is a typo somewhere. Could you please write your solution as an element of ##\mathbb{R}[x]?## I'm a bit lost within your alphabet.

I assume there is a typo somewhere. Could you please write your solution as an element of ##\mathbb{R}[x]?## I'm a bit lost within your alphabet.
Yeah sorry my notation wasn't good, bad choice using a as a variable... I think I fixed it now

Mentor
2021 Award
Yeah sorry my notation wasn't good, bad choice using a as a variable... I think I fixed it now
Nope. Hint: Compare ##g(x)## and ##h(x)##. One is wrong. Unfortunately ##h(x).##

Um I am not sure what you mean I double checked with wolfram and hand just now and the one that has $$\pi + ei$$ as a root is $$h(x) = x^2 -2x\pi + e^2 + \pi^2$$ the other one has $$-\pi + ie$$ and it's conjugate as roots, right?

Mentor
2021 Award
Um I am not sure what you mean I double checked with wolfram and hand just now and the one that has $$\pi + ei$$ as a root is $$h(x) = x^2 -2x\pi + e^2 + \pi^2$$ the other one has $$-\pi + ie$$ and it's conjugate as roots, right?
Yes, but this is not what you wrote earlier! You squared ##\pi ## in the second term in your original answer. Here it is gone!

Here is the (slightly) more elegant proof:

It is easy to guess the conjugate, second root. Now ##(\pi+ e\cdot i)(\pi - e\cdot i)=\pi^2+e^2 \in \mathbb{R}## and ##(\pi+ e\cdot i)+(\pi - e\cdot i)=2\pi \in \mathbb{R}## so we get by Vieta's formulas ##X^2-2\pi X+\pi^2+e^2\in \mathbb{R}[X].##

kmitza
Yes, but this is not what you wrote earlier! You squared ##\pi ## in the second term in your original answer. Here it is gone!

Here is the (slightly) more elegant proof:

It is easy to guess the conjugate, second root. Now ##(\pi+ e\cdot i)(\pi - e\cdot i)=\pi^2+e^2 \in \mathbb{R}## and ##(\pi+ e\cdot i)+(\pi - e\cdot i)=2\pi \in \mathbb{R}## so we get by Vieta's formulas ##X^2-2\pi X+\pi^2+e^2\in \mathbb{R}[X].##
Oh my god that's so much simpler thank you for showing me, when it comes to the square it is an honest mistake I didn't see I added it

fresh_42
mathwonk
Homework Helper
Hint for #9: To show two vector spaces are isomorphic, of course we first try to find a linear map from one to the other, and then hopefully it is bijective. We don't quite have that here, but we have something close. I.e. remember the defining property of the tensor product, Hom(VtensW, X) ≈ Bil(VxW,X) ≈ Hom(V,Hom(W, X)), (where Hom means linear maps and Bil means bilinear maps). What does that give here, and how does that help?

Hints for #10: This is an (affine) algebraic geometry problem, the study of the relation between subsets of affine space and the ideals of polynomials vanishing on them. If f(X,Y) is a polynomial over a field k, with no multiple factors, and C = {(a,b): f(a,b) = 0} is the subset of the plane where it vanishes, then the family of all polynomials vanishing on this set equals the ideal (f) generated by f in k[X,Y], hence k[X,Y]/(f) = R is the ring of polynomial functions restricted to C.

The fundamental fact relating points and ideals, is that if p = (a,b) is a point of C, then the evaluation function k[X,Y]-->k, sending a polynomial g to its value g(p), at p, has as its kernel a maximal ideal of k[X,Y] which contains the ideal (f), hence defines a maximal, hence prime, ideal Mp of R. (Prove this.) What are the generators of Mp?

This technique lets you produce certain elements of Spec(R) = {set of all prime ideals of R}. There are however, also other prime ideals in R. Can you find them? (They correspond to "points" of C, i.e. solutions (a,b) of f(X,Y) = 0, but with coefficients (a,b) not in k, but in certain field extensions of k.)

If you want to explore the prime (or maximal) spectrum of the ring of real polynomial functions restricted to the real locus, you may consult my answer to this question on MathOverflow:
https://math.stackexchange.com/ques...y/2844259?noredirect=1#comment5865953_2844259

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mathwonk
Homework Helper
Question on #6:
Pardon me for ignorance, but I wonder just what is wanted in problem 6, since I thought 6a is sometimes taken as a definition of an orientable differentiable manifold. Of course it is possible to define the orientability of any continuous manifold, in terms of continuous sections of the orientation bundle, a certain 2 sheeted cover of the manifold constructed from local integral homology groups, in which setting the problem does not quite make sense, i.e. if no differentiable structure is given. Does the problem ask for a proof that the definition of orientability as a continuous manifold, i.e. in terms of the orientation bundle, is equivalent to the two given conditions, in the presence of differentiable structure?

Of course for starters one could just prove that 6a and 6b are equivalent for differentiable manifolds. But then what? Thank you.

Mentor
2021 Award
Question on #6:
Pardon me for ignorance, but I wonder just what is wanted in problem 6, since I thought 6a is sometimes taken as a definition of an orientable differentiable manifold.
I meant the following more basic definition via coordinate charts. I thought that was closest to how physicists consider an orientation; basically, a positive fundamental determinant ##\det D(\varphi_\alpha \circ \varphi^{-1}_\beta )>0## of charts changes:

Orientations of a vector space are elements from either of the two possible equivalence classes of ordered bases, i.e. ##\det T \gtrless 0## where ##T## is the transformation matrix between bases.

An orientation ##\mu## of ##M## is a choice of orientations ##\mu_x## for every tangent space ##T_x(M),## such that for all ##x_0\in M## there is an open neighborhood ##x_0\in U\subseteq M## and differentiable vector fields ##\xi_1,\ldots,\xi_n## on ##U## with
$$\left[\left(\xi_1\right)_x,\ldots,\left(\xi_n\right)_x\right]=\mu_x$$
for all ##x\in U.## The manifold ##M## is called orientable, if an orientation for ##M## can be chosen.

Let ##\mu## be an orientation on ##M.## A chart ##(U,\varphi )## with coordinates ##x_1,\ldots,x_n## is called positive oriented, if for all ##x\in U##
$$\left[\left. \dfrac{\partial }{\partial x_1}\right|_{x},\ldots,\left. \dfrac{\partial }{\partial x_n}\right|_{x}\right]=\mu_x$$

mathwonk
Homework Helper
Suggestion for #8b:
First prove that F7 is a field, then try to use the same proof to show F7[T]/(T^3-2) is a field.

Here is an example of the (easier) problem of finding an inverse, this time of T:
since T^3 = 2, then 4T^3 = (4T^2)T = 8 ≈ 1 (mod 7), so T^-1 = 4T^2.

For a reprise of basic facts about computations in extensions of this type, one may consult pages 21-30 of chapter 2 of Galois Theory, by Emil Artin, available here for free download, under open access; (this is where I first encountered these ideas in about 1963, and is still the clearest explanation I have seen since):
https://projecteuclid.org/ebooks/no...d-Theory/ndml/1175197045?tab=ArticleFirstPage

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