Journal of Integer Sequences, Vol. 12 (2009), Article 09.2.8

On a Sequence of Nonsolvable Quintic Polynomials


Jennifer A. Johnstone and Blair K. Spearman
Mathematics and Statistics
University of British Columbia Okanagan
Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7
Canada

Abstract:

Aleksandrov, Kolmogorov and Lavrent'ev state that x5 + x - a is nonsolvable for a = 3,4,5,7,8,9,10,11,... . In other words, these polynomials have a nonsolvable Galois group. A full explanation of this sequence requires consideration of both reducible and irreducible solvable quintic polynomials of the form x5 + x - a. All omissions from this sequence due to solvability are characterized. This requires the determination of the rational points on a genus 3 curve.


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Received November 11 2008; revised version received February 13 2009. Published in Journal of Integer Sequences, February 15 2009.


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