An introduction to the modern theory of equations, by Florian Cajori.

THE ALGEBRAIC SOLUTION OF EQUATIONS 229 usually very laborious even in the case of the quintic. Inasmuch as Bring, in 1786, and Jerrard, in 1834, were able to transform the general quintic to the form x1 + cx + d = 0 (for this transformation, see Netto's Algebra, Vol. I, pp. 124, 125), it is of interest to compute F(y) = 0 for this special form. Ex. 1. Find the condition that the equation x5 + cx + d - 0, when irreducible, shall be metacyclic. Referring to ~ 104, we see that for the quintic the metacyclic group of the highest order G is (abcde)2o. As a function belonging to this group select (following C. Runge, Acta Math. 7 (1885), p. 173) y2, where y coal + ala2c + a23 — + t34 +- C4g0o - 0a02 - a2a4 - a4i1 - a1a3 - 3a0O. Here j - 6 and F(I/) = 0 is a resolvent equation of the sixth degree. We find it convenient to consider y itself, which is not a inetacyclic function. Operated upon by the synmmetric group, y yields twelve values, of which six differ rom the other rsix simply in sign. Let one set of six values be Yl, Y2, *., y0. Also let the equation of which they are roots be y6 + Caly5 + a2Y + a3y3 + a4y2 + a5y + a6 =0. I Its coefficients a1, a2, *.., aC are not necessarily rational numbers, but they are symmetric functions of yl, '", ye. Consider y/,.., y, as functions of ao,..., _n, and operate upon them with the alternating group; the values yl,..., ye are merely permuted among themselves. Substitutions which do not belong to the alternating group bring abou aa change in sign. The coefficients al, a2, *.., a6 are therefore either symmetric or alternating functions of ao,..., a,_. Of these a2, a4, aG are symmetric functions because, being homogeneous functions of even degree, they are not affected by changes of signs in Yl, ye, y*-, YG. On the other hand, ar, a3, a5 are alternating functions of ao, a1,..,,-1, being homogeneous functions of odd degree. If D is the discriminant of the quintic, then V\I is a function of ao,..., n-1 belonging to the alternating group. Ience the coefficients al, as, as are of the form mn\/D, m2z/D, ms31/D, where mil, mi2, m3 are symmetric integral functions. With respect to ao, al,...,, n-l, it is seen that al is of the second degree. But a, is also of the form mzl/D, where in1 is integral and x/D is of the tenth degree. Hence we must have mi = 0. Similarly, as being of the sixth degree, yields is - 0. On the other hand, a5 and -/D are both of the tenth degree. Write a5 = m/D. Equation I becomes V6 + aC2Y' + a4Y2 + in VD-y + a6 = 0. II

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Title
An introduction to the modern theory of equations, by Florian Cajori.
Author
Cajori, Florian, 1859-1930.
Canvas
Page 210
Publication
New York,: The Macmillan company,
1904.
Subject terms
Equations, Theory of
Group theory.

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"An introduction to the modern theory of equations, by Florian Cajori." In the digital collection University of Michigan Historical Math Collection. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/abv2146.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 29, 2025.
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