English

Hilbert's 13th problem in prime characteristic

Algebraic Geometry 2024-06-25 v1 Group Theory

Abstract

The resolvent degree rdC(n)\textrm{rd}_{\mathbb{C}}(n) is the smallest integer dd such that a root of the general polynomial f(x)=xn+a1xn1++anf(x) = x^n + a_1 x^{n-1} + \ldots + a_n can be expressed as a composition of algebraic functions in at most dd variables with complex coefficients. It is known that rdC(n)=1\textrm{rd}_{\mathbb{C}}(n) = 1 when n5n \leqslant 5. Hilbert was particularly interested in the next three cases: he asked if rdC(6)=2\textrm{rd}_{\mathbb{C}}(6) = 2 (Hilbert's Sextic Conjecture), rdC(7)=3\textrm{rd}_{\mathbb{C}}(7) = 3 (Hilbert's 13th Problem) and rdC(8)=4\textrm{rd}_{\mathbb{C}}(8) = 4 (Hilbert's Octic Conjecture). These problems remain open. It is known that rdC(6)2\textrm{rd}_{\mathbb{C}}(6) \leqslant 2, rdC(7)3\textrm{rd}_{\mathbb{C}}(7) \leqslant 3 and rdC(8)4\textrm{rd}_{\mathbb{C}}(8) \leqslant 4. It is not known whether or not rdC(n)\textrm{rd}_{\mathbb{C}}(n) can be >1> 1 for any n6n \geqslant 6. In this paper, we show that all three of Hilbert's conjectures can fail if we replace C\mathbb C with a base field of positive characteristic.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2406.15954,
  title  = {Hilbert's 13th problem in prime characteristic},
  author = {Oakley Edens and Zinovy Reichstein},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2406.15954},
  year   = {2024}
}

Comments

12 pages, 2 figures

R2 v1 2026-06-28T17:16:03.523Z