Algebraic geometry: Difference between revisions

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imported>Holger Kley
(New page: As the name suggests, algebraic geometry is the study of geometric objects defined by algebraic equations. For example, a parabola, such as all solutions <math>(x,y)</math> of the equatio...)
 
imported>Holger Kley
(A few introductory sentences; perhaps the start of a project.)
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As the name suggests, algebraic geometry is the study of geometric objects defined by algebraic equations.  For example, a parabola, such as all solutions <math>(x,y)</math> of the equation <math>y - x^2 = 0</math>, is one such object, whereas the graph of the exponential function---all solutions <math>(x,y)</math> of the equation <math>y - e^x = 0</math>---is not.  The key distinction is that the equation defining the first example is a polynomial equation, whereas the second cannot be represented by polynomial equations, even implicitly.
As the name suggests, algebraic geometry is the study of geometric objects defined by algebraic equations.  For example, a parabola, such as all solutions <math>(x,y)</math> of the equation <math>y - x^2 = 0</math>, is one such object, whereas the graph of the exponential function---all solutions <math>(x,y)</math> of the equation <math>y - e^x = 0</math>---is not.  The key distinction is that the equation defining the first example is a polynomial equation, whereas the second cannot be represented by polynomial equations, even implicitly. In fact, in the present context, a reasonable and useful first approximation of the adjective ``algebraic'' is ''defined by polynomials.''
--[[User:Holger Kley|Holger Kley]] 13:23, 6 December 2007 (CST)

Revision as of 13:23, 6 December 2007

As the name suggests, algebraic geometry is the study of geometric objects defined by algebraic equations. For example, a parabola, such as all solutions of the equation , is one such object, whereas the graph of the exponential function---all solutions of the equation ---is not. The key distinction is that the equation defining the first example is a polynomial equation, whereas the second cannot be represented by polynomial equations, even implicitly. In fact, in the present context, a reasonable and useful first approximation of the adjective ``algebraic is defined by polynomials. --Holger Kley 13:23, 6 December 2007 (CST)