Mathematics Graduate Student Colloquium

MGSC Website: http://math.uci.edu/~mgsc/

Embracing Geometry: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Solve Polynomials

Alex Sutherland
Saturday, April 25, 2020
3:45 pm - 4:35 pm
Virtual via Zoom

Talk Abstract:

A classical problem in mathematics is to describe the roots of a polynomial in terms of its coefficients. On the one hand, we have Abel's theorem (1824) that the generic polynomial of degree n is solvable in radicals if and only if n=1,2,3,4. On the other hand, the fundamental theorem of algebra yields that any complex polynomial has all of its roots in the complex numbers. In this colloquium-level talk, we will reconcile these two theorems and explore classical solutions of the quintic in a modern framework. If time allows, we may discuss resolvent degree and solutions of the sextic.

About the Speaker:

Alex is a 4th year graduate student working on algebraic geometry and topology.

Refreshments:

Pizza will be served after the talk.