Groebner Bases - Winter Term 2024

This is a website for the courses Groebner Bases (368.007) and Exercises for Groebner Bases (368.005). The exercises have the official name "UE : Special Topics algebra and discrete mathematics".

Content

Groebner bases are a versatile tool that provides solutions for many problems in commutative algebra. They provide a common generalization of Euclid's GCD-algorithm, Gaussian elimination and Hermite Decomposition and allow, for instance, to do linear algebra over multivariate polynomial rings. This lecture provides an introduction to the basics of their theory.

Method of instruction

The course consists of a lecture (2hrs/week) + exercise classes (1hr/week). For the exercise class, students will be asked to solve homework problems and to present their solutions during the exercise classes.

Exam

Lecture and Exercise classes are separate courses and can be done independently. The suggestion is to take both.

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge in linear and abstract algebra, such as acquired in the first year's courses in linear algebra of a Mathematics program, or in the first year's mathematics courses in Physics, Computer Science, or AI.

Language of instruction

English.

Previous edition

GB course during winter term 2020.

Important Dates

If you wish to participate, but cannot take part because of the time of the lecture, please contact me and come to the lecture on Oct 1 so that we can find a solution that suits all.

Lecture Notes

[pdf]. We will start with Chapter 9 (Resultants) on p.64.

Planned content in detail:
  1. Multivariate polynomial rings and algebraic geometry: Resultants, ideals, solution sets of polynomial equations (Nullstellensatz).
  2. Multivariate polynomial division: Term orderings, monomial ideals, quotient and remainder in a multivariate setting, the definition of Groebner bases.
  3. Construction of Groebner Bases: S-polynomials and Buchberger's algorithm.
  4. Applications: Elimination property, algebraic dependencies and dimension, membership problems for ring and field extensions, automated geometric theorem proving.
  5. Linear algebra in multivariate polynomial rings over Euclidean domains: Gröbner bases of modules, strong Gröbner bases.

Exercises

Those students who also want to get credits for the additional exercise classes (368.005) should work on the homework problems and discuss their solutions during the exercise classes. Warning: Some of the exercise problems may be challenging! For the best grade, about 80% of the problems should be solved, 40% are required for a passing grade.

Literature

Basic references: Additional material: