Useful Definitions for MA453


Euclid a = qb + r with 0 <= r < b where a,b,q,r are integers

--ERaymond 12:26 29 January 2009 (UTC)


GCD: The greatest common divisor of two nonzero integers a and b is the largest of all common divisors of a and b.

LCM: The least common multiple of two nonzero integers a and b is the smallest positive integer that is a multiple of both a and b.

--Jmcdorma 12:16, 5 February 2009 (UTC)


Monomorphism: morphism for which phi(g) = phi(g') happens only if g = g'. (injective)

Epimorphism: morphism for which every element in target group H is hit. (surjective)

Isomorphism: morphism that is both injective and surjective.


The kernel of a morphism is the collection of elements in G that satisfy phi(g) = 1_H


An inner automorphism, Inn(G), is always attached to some group element written ϕ_{a} for the following morphism from G to itself: ϕ_{a}(g)=aga⁻¹


If m and n are coprime, then Z_mn is isomorphic to Z_m x Z_n


The stabilizer of a point P is the set of elements in a group G of permutations that keep P in the same place; it is a subgroup of G.


The orbit of a point P is the set of all points to which P can be moved using an element of a group G of permutations.


Let E = F(e_1,e_2,...,e_t) be a field extension. Any element e in E for which F(e) = F(e_1,...,e_t) is a primitive element of E over F.


An extension E/F is normal if E is the splitting field of some polynomial in F[x].

An extension is Galois if it's normal and the polynomial was separable (no repeated roots).


Alumni Liaison

Ph.D. on Applied Mathematics in Aug 2007. Involved on applications of image super-resolution to electron microscopy

Francisco Blanco-Silva