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Indeterminate (variable)

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of the polynomial. Two such polynomials are equal only if the corresponding coefficients are equal. In contrast, two polynomial functions in a variable
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by substitution. But the distinction is important because information may be lost when this substitution is made. For example, when working in
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that is used formally, without reference to any value. In other words, this is just a symbol used in a formal way. Indeterminates occur in
89: 42: 1060:. This is similar to the definition of a polynomial, except that an infinite number of the coefficients may be nonzero. Unlike the 61: 1094: 246: 179:, while indeterminates do not represent anything. Many authors do not distinguish indeterminates from other sorts of variables. 68: 152:
A fundamental property of an indeterminate is that it can be substituted with any mathematical expressions to which the same
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is relatively recent, and was initially introduced for distinguishing a polynomial from its associated
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are irrelevant (since there is no function at play). So power series that would diverge for values of
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is not the zero polynomial, since the coefficients, 0, 1 and −1, respectively, are not all zero.
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are not necessarily identical (since free algebra is by definition non-commutative).
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are unequal, since 2 does not equal 5, and 3 does not equal 2. In fact,
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and every nonconstant polynomial must be considered as indeterminates.
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having any value in the modulo-2 system. However, the polynomial
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also uses these operations, and convention holds that
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apply as the operations aplied to the indeterminate.
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as operations. In particular, if two indeterminates
49:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. 1594: 1569: 1544: 1522: 1500: 1478: 1441: 1419: 1397: 1365: 1331: 1294: 1272: 1242: 1220: 1173: 1081: 1051: 1030: 957: 917: 882: 860: 823: 747: 725: 700: 678: 650: 617: 567: 518: 488: 406: 384: 358: 330: 235: 712:The distinction is subtle, since a polynomial in 527:and not equal otherwise. But the two polynomials 1855: 1031:{\displaystyle a_{0}+a_{1}X+a_{2}X^{2}+\ldots } 1377:Indeterminates may also be used to generate a 1229:, the set of polynomials with coefficients in 205:. This uncommon definition implies that every 393:may be equal or not at a particular value of 1473: 1461: 1038:, where no value is assigned to the symbol 824:{\displaystyle 0-0^{2}=0,\quad 1-1^{2}=0,} 709:is not, and does not designate, a number. 1170: 489:{\displaystyle f(x)=2+3x,\quad g(x)=5+2x} 109:Learn how and when to remove this message 16:Symbol treated as a mathematical variable 1810: 1769: 1406:. For instance, with two indeterminates 1711:An Introduction to Algebraic Structures 197:as an element of a larger ring that is 1856: 1738: 1707: 1257:polynomial addition and multiplication 1064:encountered in calculus, questions of 929: 1831: 1781: 1678: 1641: 1479:{\displaystyle A\langle X,Y\rangle } 47:adding citations to reliable sources 18: 1303:are used, then the polynomial ring 13: 1553:, and with the understanding that 14: 1885: 223:A polynomial in an indeterminate 1185: 734:can be changed to a function in 23: 795: 568:{\displaystyle 2+3X,\quad 5+2X} 552: 458: 145:that are viewed as independent 34:needs additional citations for 1835:Introduction To Modern Algebra 1775: 1763: 1742:Introduction to Modern Algebra 1732: 1701: 1672: 1647: 1635: 1326: 1314: 869:is identically equal to 0 for 468: 462: 437: 431: 212: 1: 1804: 1654:Joseph Miller Thomas (1974). 1196:Indeterminates are useful in 966:is an expression of the form 243:is an expression of the form 58:"Indeterminate" variable 1487:includes sums of strings in 7: 1606: 834:so the polynomial function 418:For example, the functions 10: 1890: 1189: 933: 216: 167:. Indeterminates resemble 141:, and, more generally, in 1679:Lewis, Donald J. (1965). 618:{\displaystyle 2+3X=a+bX} 1811:Herstein, I. N. (1975). 1628: 1832:McCoy, Neal H. (1960), 1739:Marcus, Marvin (1978). 1708:Landin, Joseph (1989). 1682:Introduction to Algebra 1531:, with coefficients in 1204:. For example, given a 1202:mathematical structures 1192:Generator (mathematics) 918:{\displaystyle X-X^{2}} 861:{\displaystyle x-x^{2}} 1660:. William Byrd Press. 1613:Indeterminate equation 1596: 1571: 1546: 1524: 1502: 1480: 1443: 1421: 1399: 1367: 1333: 1296: 1274: 1244: 1222: 1175: 1083: 1053: 1032: 959: 919: 884: 862: 825: 749: 727: 702: 680: 652: 619: 569: 520: 490: 408: 386: 360: 332: 237: 1788:mathworld.wolfram.com 1784:"Formal Power Series" 1597: 1572: 1547: 1525: 1503: 1481: 1444: 1422: 1400: 1368: 1366:{\displaystyle XY=YX} 1334: 1297: 1275: 1245: 1223: 1176: 1084: 1054: 1033: 960: 920: 885: 863: 826: 750: 728: 703: 681: 653: 620: 570: 521: 491: 409: 387: 361: 359:{\displaystyle a_{i}} 333: 238: 207:transcendental number 1644:, pp. 189, 190) 1623:Indeterminate system 1583: 1558: 1536: 1514: 1492: 1455: 1433: 1411: 1389: 1345: 1308: 1286: 1264: 1234: 1212: 1095: 1073: 1043: 970: 949: 944:in an indeterminate 896: 874: 839: 767: 739: 717: 692: 664: 636: 585: 534: 504: 425: 398: 376: 343: 247: 227: 186:textbooks define an 147:mathematical objects 43:improve this article 1874:Mathematical series 1782:Weisstein, Eric W. 1749:. p. 140–141. 1450:, the free algebra 942:formal power series 936:Formal power series 930:Formal power series 679:{\displaystyle b=3} 651:{\displaystyle a=2} 519:{\displaystyle x=3} 165:polynomial function 139:formal power series 1716:Dover Publications 1618:Indeterminate form 1595:{\displaystyle YX} 1592: 1570:{\displaystyle XY} 1567: 1542: 1520: 1498: 1476: 1439: 1417: 1395: 1363: 1329: 1292: 1270: 1240: 1218: 1171: 1079: 1049: 1028: 955: 915: 880: 858: 821: 745: 723: 698: 687:. This is because 676: 648: 615: 565: 516: 486: 404: 382: 356: 328: 233: 159:The concept of an 1814:Topics in Algebra 1657:A Primer On Roots 1545:{\displaystyle A} 1523:{\displaystyle Y} 1501:{\displaystyle X} 1442:{\displaystyle Y} 1420:{\displaystyle X} 1398:{\displaystyle A} 1332:{\displaystyle K} 1295:{\displaystyle Y} 1273:{\displaystyle X} 1243:{\displaystyle K} 1221:{\displaystyle K} 1082:{\displaystyle x} 1052:{\displaystyle X} 958:{\displaystyle X} 883:{\displaystyle x} 748:{\displaystyle x} 726:{\displaystyle X} 701:{\displaystyle X} 407:{\displaystyle x} 385:{\displaystyle x} 236:{\displaystyle X} 119: 118: 111: 93: 1881: 1864:Abstract algebra 1850: 1828: 1798: 1797: 1795: 1794: 1779: 1773: 1767: 1761: 1760: 1736: 1730: 1729: 1705: 1699: 1698: 1687:Harper & Row 1676: 1670: 1669: 1651: 1645: 1639: 1601: 1599: 1598: 1593: 1576: 1574: 1573: 1568: 1551: 1549: 1548: 1543: 1529: 1527: 1526: 1521: 1507: 1505: 1504: 1499: 1485: 1483: 1482: 1477: 1448: 1446: 1445: 1440: 1426: 1424: 1423: 1418: 1404: 1402: 1401: 1396: 1383:commutative ring 1372: 1370: 1369: 1364: 1338: 1336: 1335: 1330: 1301: 1299: 1298: 1293: 1279: 1277: 1276: 1271: 1249: 1247: 1246: 1241: 1227: 1225: 1224: 1219: 1198:abstract algebra 1180: 1178: 1177: 1172: 1163: 1162: 1138: 1137: 1122: 1121: 1088: 1086: 1085: 1080: 1058: 1056: 1055: 1050: 1037: 1035: 1034: 1029: 1021: 1020: 1011: 1010: 995: 994: 982: 981: 964: 962: 961: 956: 924: 922: 921: 916: 914: 913: 889: 887: 886: 881: 867: 865: 864: 859: 857: 856: 830: 828: 827: 822: 811: 810: 785: 784: 760:, we have that: 754: 752: 751: 746: 732: 730: 729: 724: 707: 705: 704: 699: 685: 683: 682: 677: 657: 655: 654: 649: 624: 622: 621: 616: 574: 572: 571: 566: 525: 523: 522: 517: 495: 493: 492: 487: 413: 411: 410: 405: 391: 389: 388: 383: 365: 363: 362: 357: 355: 354: 337: 335: 334: 329: 327: 326: 317: 316: 298: 297: 288: 287: 272: 271: 259: 258: 242: 240: 239: 234: 204: 196: 184:abstract algebra 182:Some authors of 114: 107: 103: 100: 94: 92: 51: 27: 19: 1889: 1888: 1884: 1883: 1882: 1880: 1879: 1878: 1854: 1853: 1840:Allyn and Bacon 1825: 1807: 1802: 1801: 1792: 1790: 1780: 1776: 1768: 1764: 1757: 1737: 1733: 1726: 1718:. p. 204. 1706: 1702: 1689:. p. 160. 1677: 1673: 1652: 1648: 1640: 1636: 1631: 1609: 1584: 1581: 1580: 1559: 1556: 1555: 1537: 1534: 1533: 1515: 1512: 1511: 1493: 1490: 1489: 1456: 1453: 1452: 1434: 1431: 1430: 1412: 1409: 1408: 1390: 1387: 1386: 1346: 1343: 1342: 1309: 1306: 1305: 1287: 1284: 1283: 1265: 1262: 1261: 1253:polynomial ring 1235: 1232: 1231: 1213: 1210: 1209: 1200:for generating 1194: 1188: 1182:, are allowed. 1158: 1154: 1133: 1129: 1117: 1113: 1096: 1093: 1092: 1074: 1071: 1070: 1044: 1041: 1040: 1016: 1012: 1006: 1002: 990: 986: 977: 973: 971: 968: 967: 950: 947: 946: 938: 932: 909: 905: 897: 894: 893: 875: 872: 871: 852: 848: 840: 837: 836: 806: 802: 780: 776: 768: 765: 764: 740: 737: 736: 718: 715: 714: 693: 690: 689: 665: 662: 661: 637: 634: 633: 586: 583: 582: 535: 532: 531: 505: 502: 501: 499:are equal when 426: 423: 422: 399: 396: 395: 377: 374: 373: 367:are called the 350: 346: 344: 341: 340: 322: 318: 312: 308: 293: 289: 283: 279: 267: 263: 254: 250: 248: 245: 244: 228: 225: 224: 221: 215: 202: 194: 115: 104: 98: 95: 52: 50: 40: 28: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1887: 1877: 1876: 1871: 1866: 1852: 1851: 1829: 1823: 1806: 1803: 1800: 1799: 1774: 1772:, Section 3.9. 1762: 1755: 1731: 1724: 1700: 1671: 1646: 1633: 1632: 1630: 1627: 1626: 1625: 1620: 1615: 1608: 1605: 1591: 1588: 1566: 1563: 1541: 1519: 1497: 1475: 1472: 1469: 1466: 1463: 1460: 1438: 1416: 1394: 1362: 1359: 1356: 1353: 1350: 1328: 1325: 1322: 1319: 1316: 1313: 1291: 1269: 1239: 1217: 1190:Main article: 1187: 1184: 1169: 1166: 1161: 1157: 1153: 1150: 1147: 1144: 1141: 1136: 1132: 1128: 1125: 1120: 1116: 1112: 1109: 1106: 1103: 1100: 1078: 1048: 1027: 1024: 1019: 1015: 1009: 1005: 1001: 998: 993: 989: 985: 980: 976: 954: 934:Main article: 931: 928: 912: 908: 904: 901: 879: 855: 851: 847: 844: 832: 831: 820: 817: 814: 809: 805: 801: 798: 794: 791: 788: 783: 779: 775: 772: 744: 722: 697: 675: 672: 669: 647: 644: 641: 628:does not hold 626: 625: 614: 611: 608: 605: 602: 599: 596: 593: 590: 576: 575: 564: 561: 558: 555: 551: 548: 545: 542: 539: 515: 512: 509: 497: 496: 485: 482: 479: 476: 473: 470: 467: 464: 461: 457: 454: 451: 448: 445: 442: 439: 436: 433: 430: 403: 381: 353: 349: 325: 321: 315: 311: 307: 304: 301: 296: 292: 286: 282: 278: 275: 270: 266: 262: 257: 253: 232: 217:Main article: 214: 211: 199:transcendental 169:free variables 117: 116: 31: 29: 22: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1886: 1875: 1872: 1870: 1867: 1865: 1862: 1861: 1859: 1849: 1845: 1841: 1837: 1836: 1830: 1826: 1820: 1816: 1815: 1809: 1808: 1789: 1785: 1778: 1771: 1770:Herstein 1975 1766: 1758: 1756:0-8247-6479-X 1752: 1748: 1747:Marcel Dekker 1744: 1743: 1735: 1727: 1725:0-486-65940-2 1721: 1717: 1713: 1712: 1704: 1696: 1692: 1688: 1684: 1683: 1675: 1667: 1663: 1659: 1658: 1650: 1643: 1638: 1634: 1624: 1621: 1619: 1616: 1614: 1611: 1610: 1604: 1602: 1589: 1586: 1577: 1564: 1561: 1552: 1539: 1530: 1517: 1508: 1495: 1486: 1470: 1467: 1464: 1458: 1449: 1436: 1427: 1414: 1405: 1392: 1384: 1380: 1375: 1373: 1360: 1357: 1354: 1351: 1348: 1339: 1323: 1320: 1317: 1311: 1302: 1289: 1280: 1267: 1258: 1254: 1250: 1237: 1228: 1215: 1207: 1203: 1199: 1193: 1186:As generators 1183: 1181: 1167: 1164: 1159: 1155: 1151: 1148: 1145: 1142: 1139: 1134: 1130: 1126: 1123: 1118: 1114: 1110: 1107: 1104: 1101: 1098: 1089: 1076: 1067: 1063: 1059: 1046: 1025: 1022: 1017: 1013: 1007: 1003: 999: 996: 991: 987: 983: 978: 974: 965: 952: 943: 937: 927: 925: 910: 906: 902: 899: 890: 877: 868: 853: 849: 845: 842: 818: 815: 812: 807: 803: 799: 796: 792: 789: 786: 781: 777: 773: 770: 763: 762: 761: 759: 755: 742: 733: 720: 710: 708: 695: 686: 673: 670: 667: 658: 645: 642: 639: 631: 612: 609: 606: 603: 600: 597: 594: 591: 588: 581: 580: 579: 562: 559: 556: 553: 549: 546: 543: 540: 537: 530: 529: 528: 526: 513: 510: 507: 483: 480: 477: 474: 471: 465: 459: 455: 452: 449: 446: 443: 440: 434: 428: 421: 420: 419: 416: 414: 401: 392: 379: 370: 366: 351: 347: 323: 319: 313: 309: 305: 302: 299: 294: 290: 284: 280: 276: 273: 268: 264: 260: 255: 251: 230: 220: 210: 208: 200: 193: 189: 188:indeterminate 185: 180: 178: 174: 170: 166: 162: 161:indeterminate 157: 155: 150: 148: 144: 140: 136: 132: 128: 127:indeterminate 124: 113: 110: 102: 99:December 2019 91: 88: 84: 81: 77: 74: 70: 67: 63: 60: –  59: 55: 54:Find sources: 48: 44: 38: 37: 32:This article 30: 26: 21: 20: 1834: 1813: 1791:. Retrieved 1787: 1777: 1765: 1745:. New York: 1741: 1734: 1714:. New York: 1710: 1703: 1685:. New York: 1681: 1674: 1656: 1649: 1637: 1579: 1554: 1532: 1510: 1488: 1451: 1429: 1407: 1385: 1379:free algebra 1376: 1341: 1304: 1282: 1260: 1230: 1208: 1195: 1091: 1069: 1062:power series 1039: 945: 939: 892: 870: 835: 833: 735: 713: 711: 688: 660: 632: 629: 627: 577: 500: 498: 417: 394: 372: 369:coefficients 339: 338:, where the 222: 187: 181: 177:real numbers 175:, often the 160: 158: 151: 126: 120: 105: 96: 86: 79: 72: 65: 53: 41:Please help 36:verification 33: 1869:Polynomials 1642:McCoy (1960 1066:convergence 213:Polynomials 143:expressions 135:polynomials 123:mathematics 1858:Categories 1838:, Boston: 1824:047102371X 1805:References 1793:2019-12-02 1666:B0006W3EBY 1090:, such as 219:Polynomial 154:operations 69:newspapers 1817:. Wiley. 1474:⟩ 1462:⟨ 1168:… 1143:… 1026:… 903:− 846:− 800:− 774:− 303:… 1848:68015225 1695:65-15743 1607:See also 758:modulo 2 131:variable 1381:over a 1251:is the 190:over a 83:scholar 1846:  1821:  1753:  1722:  1693:  1664:  630:unless 173:domain 85:  78:  71:  64:  56:  1629:Notes 1255:with 1206:field 201:over 129:is a 125:, an 90:JSTOR 76:books 1844:LCCN 1819:ISBN 1751:ISBN 1720:ISBN 1691:LCCN 1662:ASIN 1578:and 1509:and 1428:and 1281:and 659:and 192:ring 62:news 121:In 45:by 1860:: 1842:, 1786:. 1374:. 940:A 415:. 149:. 137:, 1827:. 1796:. 1759:. 1728:. 1697:. 1668:. 1590:X 1587:Y 1565:Y 1562:X 1540:A 1518:Y 1496:X 1471:Y 1468:, 1465:X 1459:A 1437:Y 1415:X 1393:A 1361:X 1358:Y 1355:= 1352:Y 1349:X 1327:] 1324:Y 1321:, 1318:X 1315:[ 1312:K 1290:Y 1268:X 1238:K 1216:K 1165:+ 1160:n 1156:x 1152:! 1149:n 1146:+ 1140:+ 1135:3 1131:x 1127:6 1124:+ 1119:2 1115:x 1111:2 1108:+ 1105:x 1102:+ 1099:1 1077:x 1047:X 1023:+ 1018:2 1014:X 1008:2 1004:a 1000:+ 997:X 992:1 988:a 984:+ 979:0 975:a 953:X 911:2 907:X 900:X 878:x 854:2 850:x 843:x 819:, 816:0 813:= 808:2 804:1 797:1 793:, 790:0 787:= 782:2 778:0 771:0 743:x 721:X 696:X 674:3 671:= 668:b 646:2 643:= 640:a 613:X 610:b 607:+ 604:a 601:= 598:X 595:3 592:+ 589:2 563:X 560:2 557:+ 554:5 550:, 547:X 544:3 541:+ 538:2 514:3 511:= 508:x 484:x 481:2 478:+ 475:5 472:= 469:) 466:x 463:( 460:g 456:, 453:x 450:3 447:+ 444:2 441:= 438:) 435:x 432:( 429:f 402:x 380:x 352:i 348:a 324:n 320:X 314:n 310:a 306:+ 300:+ 295:2 291:X 285:2 281:a 277:+ 274:X 269:1 265:a 261:+ 256:0 252:a 231:X 203:R 195:R 112:) 106:( 101:) 97:( 87:· 80:· 73:· 66:· 39:.

Index


verification
improve this article
adding citations to reliable sources
"Indeterminate" variable
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scholar
JSTOR
Learn how and when to remove this message
mathematics
variable
polynomials
formal power series
expressions
mathematical objects
operations
polynomial function
free variables
domain
real numbers
abstract algebra
ring
transcendental
transcendental number
Polynomial
coefficients
modulo 2
Formal power series

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