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fundamental theorem of algebra

Statement

Classically, the fundamental theorem of algebra states that

• The field of complex numbers $\mathbb{C}$ is algebraically closed. In other words, every nonconstant polynomial with coefficients in $\mathbb{C}$ has a root in $\mathbb{C}$.

Many proofs of this theorem are known (see the references below); some use complex analysis (the reciprocal of a polynomial cannot be bounded), some use algebraic topology (the degree of a map is invariant with respect to homotopy), and some use advanced calculus (polynomial functions on the complex numbers are open mappings). All of these proofs involve, at some level, the fact that the real numbers are Dedekind complete, which has as a consequence the fact that the real numbers are archimedean.

Algebraic proof via real closed fields

Despite its name, the fundamental theorem of algebra makes reference to a concept from analysis (the field of complex numbers). However, the analytic part may be reduced to a minimum: that the field of real numbers is real closed. This has been known essentially forever, and is easily proved using (for example) the intermediate value theorem.

The rest of the proof is algebraic and, unlike the other proof methods, applies to all real closed fields, which need not be archimedean. It is due to Emil Artin, and forms a basic chapter in the Artin–Schreier theory of real closed fields.

We recall that a real closed field is an ordered field such that every positive element has a square root, and every polynomial of odd degree has a root. Clearly the polynomial $x^2 + 1$ has no root in a real closed field.

Theorem

If $F$ is real closed, then $K = F[\sqrt{-1}]$ is algebraically closed.

Proof

We must show that any irreducible polynomial $p$ of degree greater than $0$ with coefficients in $K$ has a root in $K$. Since $F$ has characteristic $0$, it is a perfect field.

Thus the splitting field of $p$ is a finite Galois extension $L$ of $F$, with Galois group $G$. If $G(2)$ is the Sylow 2-group of $G$, then the fixed field? $E$ of $G(2)$ is an odd degree extension of $F$. Any $\alpha \in E$ must then have an irreducible polynomial $q \in F[x]$ of odd degree. But since $F$ is real closed, $q$ has a root in $F$; by irreducibility, $\deg(q) = 1$ and $\alpha \in F$, forcing $E = F$ and $G = G(2)$. We have ${|G|} \gt 1$ since the splitting field contains $K$.

So $G$ is a $2$-primary group. But for any prime number $p$, a nontrivial finite $p$-group has nontrivial center (see here), and is therefore solvable by an inductive argument. Therefore the extension $L/F$ arises from a tower of non-trivial quadratic extension?s

$$F \subseteq L_1 \subseteq \ldots \subseteq L_n = L$$

By the quadratic formula, the first field $L_1$ arises by adjoining roots to $F$ of a polynomial $x^2 + a x + b$,

$$\frac{-a \pm \sqrt{a^2 - 4b}}{2},$$

where $a^2 - 4b$ is negative. Since $F$ is real closed, the positive element $4b - a^2$ has a square root in $F$, so that the roots displayed above belong to $K = F[\sqrt{-1}]$. So $L_1 = K$. But $K$ has no nontrivial quadratic extensions by the lemma that follows, so in fact $L_1 = L_n = K$ and the theorem is proved.

Lemma

Every element of $K = F[\sqrt{-1}]$ has a square root in $K$.

Proof

The proof is most easily apprehended by analogy with polar coordinate representations of complex numbers and half-angle formulas, where a square root of $r e^{i\theta}$ is given by $r^{1/2}e^{i\theta /2}$. Let $i$ be a fixed square root of $-1$, and let $a + b i$ be an arbitrary element of $K$, with $a, b \in F$. We must solve $(x + y i)^2 = a + b i$, i.e., find $x, y \in F$ that solve

$$x^2 - y^2 = a, \qquad 2x y = b$$

Since $a^2 + b^2$ has a square root in $F$, we may assume by homogeneity in $x, y$ that $(a, b)$ is on the unit circle: $a^2 + b^2 = 1$. By interchanging $x$ and $y$ if need be, we may assume $0 \leq a \leq 1$; replacing $y$ by $-y$ if need be, we may assume $b \geq 0$. Taking $x, y \geq 0$ such that

$$x^2 = \frac{1+a}{2}, \qquad y^2 = \frac{1-a}{2},$$

we obtain a solution (since $x^2 - y^2 = a$ and $4 x^2 y^2 = b^2$).

Classical FTA via advanced calculus

As noted above, many proofs of the fundamental theorem are known. The following proof, ultimately rooted in the fact that polynomial mappings on $\mathbb{C}$ are open mappings, has the advantage that it requires very little machinery. From what I (Todd Trimble) understand, it is close to the method used by Argand to give his proof (1814)¹.

Let $f\colon \mathbb{C} \to \mathbb{C}$ be a nonconstant polynomial mapping, and suppose $f$ has no zero.

1. Let $s$ be the infimum of values ${|f(z)|}$; choose a sequence $z_1, z_2, z_3, \ldots$ such that ${|f(z_n)|} \to s$. Since $\lim_{z \to \infty} f(z) = \infty$, the sequence $z_n$ must be bounded; by the Bolzano-Weierstrass theorem it has a subsequence $z_{n_k}$ that converges to some point $z_0$. Then ${|f(z_{n_k})|}$ converges to ${|f(z_0)|}$ by continuity, and converges to $s$ as well, so ${|f(z)|}$ attains an absolute minimum $s$ at $z = z_0$. By supposition, $f(z_0) \neq 0$.

2. The polynomial $f$ may be uniquely written in the form

   $$f(z) = f(z_0) + g(z)(z - z_0)^n$$

   where $g$ is polynomial and $g(z_0) \neq 0$. Put

   $$F(z) = f(z_0) + g(z_0)(z - z_0)^n$$

   and choose $\delta \gt 0$ small so that

   $${|z - z_0|} = \delta \Rightarrow {|g(z) - g(z_0)|} \lt {|g(z_0)|}.$$

3. $F$ maps the circle $C = \{z : {|z - z_0|} = \delta\}$ onto a circle of radius $r = {|g(z_0)|}\delta^n$ centered at $f(z_0)$. (This uses the fact that any complex number has an $n^{th}$ root, which one can prove using polar coordinate representations. We omit the details.) Choose $z' \in C$ so that $F(z')$ is on the line segment between the origin and $f(z_0)$ (we can always choose $\delta$ so that also $r \lt {|f(z_0)|}$). Then

   $${|F(z')|} = {|f(z_0)|} - r$$

   We also have

   $${|f(z') - F(z')|} = {|g(z') - g(z_0)|} {|z' - z_0|^n} \lt {|g(z_0)|} \delta^n = r$$

   according to how we chose $\delta$ in 2. We conclude by observing the strict inequality

   $${|f(z')|} \leq {|F(z')|} + {|f(z') - F(z')|} \lt {|f(z_0)|} - r + r = {|f(z_0)|},$$

   which contradicts the fact that ${|f(z)|}$ attains an absolute minimum at $z = z_0$.

In weak foundations

Many proofs rely explicitly on the double negation rule by first supposing that a polynomial $p$ has no root and deriving a contradiction. However, the algebraic proof is almost entirely constructive. (Some general results on splitting fields are problematic in constructive algebra, as is the intermediate value theorem in constructive analysis, but their usage in this proof is fine.)

In fact, the only problem is Lemma . This may fail in a topos (such as sheaves over $\mathbb{C}$), since we may not be able to find a square root of a complex number $x$ (or element of $K[\sqrt{-1}]$ more generally) if we do not know whether or not $x$ is apart from zero (because there is no continuous square-root function).

Most varieties of constructive mathematics (including that in Errett Bishop's book) nevertheless accept the FTA, because the needed square roots follow from weak countable choice ($WCC$, which is a consequence of either excluded middle or countable choice). A fully choice-free constructive proof also exists for the Cauchy complex numbers (which agree with the Dedekind complex numbers by $WCC$).

Fred Richman (1998) has proposed that, in the absence of $WCC$, the FTA should be interpreted as a statement about sets of roots rather than about individual roots. He constructs a complete metric space $\hat{M}_n(\mathbb{C})$ which, classically, is the space of $n$-element multisets of complex numbers (and constructively is the completion of that space) and proves that every complex polynomial $p$ of degree $n$ may be associated with a point in this space in such a way that the $n$ elements of that point (when viewed as a multiset, if possible, and morally in any case) are the $n$ roots of $p$.

Assuming classical logic, but weak foundations, it can be shown that FTA is true in the reverse mathematics system $RCA_0$ (Tanaka-Yamazaki 2005).

History

The proof was attempted many times before Gauss gave what is accepted as the first proof in his dissertation (Gauss 1799), although this was not without issues (Gauss ‘fixed’ this proof almost 50 years later, but the last gap was not filled until the 20th century).

All proofs of this fact (of which there are many) require something analytic, in the sense that ordinary algebra will not suffice: one needs to know that the real numbers (or the complex numbers) ‘have no algebraic gaps’. For instance, the rational numbers famously don’t contain the square root of $2$. The cleanest proof I know, due to Artin, that isolates this analytic germ, uses the step-ladder result that the real numbers form what is called a real closed field. This is essentially saying that non-negative real numbers have square roots, and odd degree polynomials have roots (anyone who has plotted a cubic can appreciate this fact). Alternatively, one can characterise real closed fields as those for whom the Intermediate Value Theorem (IVT) holds for polynomials. Accepting this result (which does need proof), the FTA follows using pure algebra (although not of the high-school sort).

However, it is of interest, partly theoretical, partly for the sake of finding the bare minimum needed to prove the FTA, to know an elementary proof, namely one that minimises the use of analytic techniques (for instance, the IVT for polynomials follows from the IVT for continuous functions, but that is like killing a mosquito with a bazooka). Gauss’ second proof (Gauss 1866) is elementary (and predates Artin’s by a long time). Since Gauss lacked modern algebraic techniques, some of his proof is laborious, but (Taylor 85) gives a modern gloss. (With some amusing side notes: as Taylor puts it – ‘Gauss takes the opportunity [to] be rude to his inferior contemporaries’.) Gauss’ proof, in modern language, takes up less than a page and a half, but this presupposes familiarity with some of the theory of fields (but which is pure algebra). Artin’s proof, by comparison, drawing on major theorems can be given in half a page.

It should be noted, in the context of the last statement, that proofs of the FTA can be given, relying on analytic ‘bazooka’ theorems, that are one sentence. However, to spell out the proofs of the necessary theorems, one needs a course in analysis, of some variety, so one is merely sweeping a lot under a very small rug.

References

• Carl Gauss, Demonstratio nova theorematis functionem algebraicam rationalem integramunius variabilis in factores reales primi vel secundi gradus resolvi posse, Dissertation, Helmstedt (1799); Werke 3, 1–30 (1866) (English transl. pdf))

• Carl Gauss, Demonstratio nova altera theorematis omnem functionem algebraicamrationalem integram unius variabilis in factores reales primi vel secundi gradus resolviposse, Comm. Soc. Reg. Sci. Göttingen 3, 107–142 (1816); Werke 3, 33–56 (1866)

  Another new proof of the theorem that every integral rational algebraic function of one variable can be resolved into real factors of the first or second degree translated by Paul Taylor and B. Leak (1983) (web)

• Paul Taylor, Gauss’ Second Proof, Eureka 45 (1985) 42-47 (pdf)

• Fred Richman; 1998; The fundamental theorem of algebra: a constructive development without choice; Fred Richman’s Documents

• Michael Eisermann. An Elementary Real-Algebraic Proof via Sturm Chains. pdf

The Reverse Mathematical treatment is given in

• Kazuyuki Tanaka and Takeshi Yamazaki, Manipulating the reals in $RCA_0$ in Reverse Mathematics 2001, Lecture Notes in Logic 21 (2005)

A full formalization in the Coq proof assistant is in

• Herman Geuvers, Freek Wiedijk, Jan Zwanenburg, A Constructive Proof of the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra without Using the Rationals (web)

See also

• MathOverflow, Ways to prove the fundamental theorem of algebra

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1. Despite the credit given to Gauss for his demonstration of 1799, Argand’s proof is often credited as the first one that is fully rigorous. The proof given here also uses the Bolzano-Weierstrass theorem, first proven by Bolzano in 1817, making it somewhat contemporaneous. Argand is also widely credited as the one who introduced the cutting-edge idea of viewing complex numbers and their operations geometrically, which the proof here also uses (the complex plane $\mathbb{C}$ being also known as the Argand plane). ↩