Famous Theorems of Mathematics/π is transcendental/Symmetric polynomials


Definition 1

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A permutation is a bijective function from a set to itself.

Let   be a finite set. The function   is called a permutation if and only if it is one-to-one and onto.

Meaning, for all   there exists a unique   such that  .

The set of all permutations of the elements of   is denoted by  .

Example

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For   there are   different permutations:

 

In general, if   then  .

Definition 2

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Let   be a polynomial. Let us define:

 

Properties

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Let   be polynomials. Then we have:

  •   such that  .
  •  
  •  
  •  

Proof

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  • By definition, the permutation is applied on the variable indexes only.
  • First, let   be monomials of the form
 
We can generalize by induction for  , such that   are monomials.
  • Same as before, let   be monomials of the form
 
Again, We can generalize by induction for  , such that   are monomials:
 
  • By definition we get:
 

Definition 3

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Let   be a polynomial. Then it is called symmetric if

 

for all permutations  .

Examples

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  • A symmetric polynomial:
 
  • A non-symmetric polynomial:
 

Properties

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  • The sum and product of symmetric polynomials is a symmetric polynomial.
  • Let   be a polynomial in variables  , and let   be symmetric polynomials in variables  .
Then   is also symmetric in variables  .

Proof

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  • This follows from the properties in definition 2 and the symmetric polynomial definition above.
  • By definition we get:
 


Symmetric polynomials