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General Solution for Polynomial Equations?

Posted by michael on from the higher-order-geekdom dept.

An anonymous reader writes "On september 9, several media reported that a young Dutch student found a formula to determine the roots of any polynomial equation. Does this conflict with Abel's proof that such a formula cannot exist? Here is the news item (in Dutch) on his school's homepage." Another reader writes "A Dutch student at the Fontys school of physics has solved a math problem of several centuries old: finding the roots of any polynomial equation. Arxciv copy here. Although an exact solution has been proven impossible for higher orders, this is not the case for numeric solutions."

9 of 482 comments (clear)

  1. Very Skeptical by gtoomey · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Abel's proof, and related proofs by Galois, have stood the test of time for 200 years. It would throw most of abstract algebra and modern mathematics on its head if true.

    1. Re:Very Skeptical by gtoomey · · Score: 0, Redundant

      And my original post was marked redundant! The moderators are way out of their depth here.

  2. Re:run away! by Peyna · · Score: 0, Redundant

    It's not German, it's Dutch (Nederlandic?)

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    What?
  3. Re:run away! by Nadir · · Score: 0, Redundant

    In fact that is Dutch

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    The world is divided in two categories:
    those with a loaded gun and those who dig. You dig.
  4. Re:run away! by dan+dan+the+dna+man · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I think you'll find it's Dutch - didn't even RTFS(ummary)? ;)

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    I don't read your sig, why do you read mine?
  5. learn to read by Errtu76 · · Score: 0, Redundant

    WTF does german have to do with it?? Since it's in Dutch! Comparing dutch with german is a huge insult for most Dutch people, including me. Just because it might look/sound the same to foreigners, it's not. The same goes for portugesespanish.

  6. Re:run away! by ice2cold · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Sir, The language you are writing about is Dutch. The translation follows: "This site is at the moment not reachable because of too much traffic. I hope that helps you all out a little. Very respectfully, Ice2cold

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    Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword, obviously didn't encounter automatic weapons. General Douglas McCart
  7. Re:Right in the middle of my Calc class too... by Sipos · · Score: 1, Redundant

    I think this gives you a numerical solution not an algebraic one which is impossible but I may be wrong (IANAM)

  8. What is even more surprising... by al701 · · Score: 0, Redundant

    ...is that the schools website wasn't ./ed in the first 5 mins of this posting.