How Is Abstract Algebra Applied in Everyday Technology?

AI Thread Summary
Abstract algebra, particularly through the use of Galois Fields, plays a significant role in various real-world applications, especially in the field of cryptography. Beyond cryptography, it is extensively utilized in digital modulation, encoding, and error correction. Key practical applications include technologies such as cell phones, WiFi routers, satellite TV, HDTV, and NASA's deep space probes like Pioneer and Voyager, as well as Mars probes. This highlights the importance of electrical engineering as a major practical field of mathematics, showcasing how abstract algebra underpins many modern technologies.
MathWarrior
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I've been studying cryptography and I found out that AES uses Galois Fields. I was therefore wondering where else does abstract algebra pop-up for real world use?
 
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It shows up in digital modulation, digital encoding and digital error correction quite extensively. Strictly that's related to the cryto applications after a fashion. So practical applications:

  • Your cell phone
  • Your WiFi router
  • Your satellite TV
  • Your HDTV
  • NASA deep space probes like Pioneer and Voyager and anything coming later like Mars probes
  • Your disk drive

Part of why EE is probably the biggest practical field of mathematics.
 
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