Hyperbolic unit groups and quaternion algebras

We classify the quadratic extensions K = Q[root d] and the finite groups G for which the group ring o(K)[G] of G over the ring o(K) of integers of K has the property that the group U(1)(o(K)[G]) of units of augmentation 1 is hyperbolic. We also construct units in the Z-order H(o(K)) of the quaternion algebra H(K) = (-1, -1/K), when it is a division algebra.

On automorphisms of finite abelian p-groups

Let A be a finitely generated abelian group. We describe the automorphism group Aut(A) using the rank of A and its torsion part p-part A(p). For a finite abelian p-group A of type (k(1),..., k(n)), simple necessary and sufficient conditions for an n x n-matrix over integers to be associated with an automorphism of A are presented. Then, the automorphism group Aut(A) for a finite p-group A of type (k(1), k(2)) is analyzed. (C) 2008 Mathematical Institute Slovak Academy of Sciences.

Bicyclic units, Bass cyclic units and free groups

Let G be a finite group and ZG its integral group ring. We show that if alpha is a nontrivial bicyclic unit of ZG, then there are bicyclic units beta and gamma of different types, such that and are non-abelian free groups. In the case when G is non-abelian of order coprime to 6 we prove the existence of a bicyclic unit u and a Bass cyclic unit v in ZG, such that < u(m), v > is a free non-abelian group for all sufficiently large positive integers m.

INVOLUTIONS AND FREE PAIRS OF BASS CYCLIC UNITS IN INTEGRAL GROUP RINGS

Let ZG be the integral group ring of the finite nonabelian group G over the ring of integers Z, and let * be an involution of ZG that extends one of G. If x and y are elements of G, we investigate when pairs of the form (u(k,m)(x*), u(k,m)(x*)) or (u(k,m)(x), u(k,m)(y)), formed respectively by Bass cyclic and *-symmetric Bass cyclic units, generate a free noncyclic subgroup of the unit group of ZG.

ALTERNATING UNITS AS FREE FACTORS IN THE GROUP OF UNITS OF INTEGRAL GROUP RINGS

Let G be a group of odd order that contains a non-central element x whose order is either a prime p >= 5 or 3(l), with l >= 2. Then, in U(ZG), the group of units of ZG, we can find an alternating unit u based on x, and another unit v, which can be either a bicyclic or an alternating unit, such that for all sufficiently large integers m we have that < u(m), v(m)> = < u(m)> * < v(m)> congruent to Z * Z.

A Character Formula for the Category (O)over-tilde of Modules for Affine sl(2)

One may construct, for any function on the integers, an irreducible module of level zero for affine sl(2) using the values of the function as structure constants. The modules constructed using exponential-polynomial functions realize the irreducible modules with finite-dimensional weight spaces in the category (O) over tilde of Chari. In this work, an expression for the formal character of such a module is derived using the highest weight theory of truncations of the loop algebra.

Obstáculos superados pelos matemáticos no passado e vivenciados pelos alunos na atualidade : a polêmica multiplicação de números inteiros

In Mathematics literature some records highlight the difficulties encountered in the teaching-learning process of integers. In the past, and for a long time, many mathematicians have experienced and overcome such difficulties, which become epistemological obstacles imposed on the students and teachers nowadays. The present work comprises the results of a research conducted in the city of Natal, Brazil, in the first half of 2010, at a state school and at a federal university. It involved a total of 45 students: 20 middle high, 9 high school and 16 university students. The central aim of this study was to identify, on the one hand, which approach used for the justification of the multiplication between integers is better understood by the students and, on the other hand, the elements present in the justifications which contribute to surmount the epistemological obstacles in the processes of teaching and learning of integers. To that end, we tried to detect to which extent the epistemological obstacles faced by the students in the learning of integers get closer to the difficulties experienced by mathematicians throughout human history. Given the nature of our object of study, we have based the theoretical foundation of our research on works related to the daily life of Mathematics teaching, as well as on theorists who analyze the process of knowledge building. We conceived two research tools with the purpose of apprehending the following information about our subjects: school life; the diagnosis on the knowledge of integers and their operations, particularly the multiplication of two negative integers; the understanding of four different justifications, as elaborated by mathematicians, for the rule of signs in multiplication. Regarding the types of approach used to explain the rule of signs arithmetic, geometric, algebraic and axiomatic , we have identified in the fieldwork that, when multiplying two negative numbers, the students could better understand the arithmetic approach. Our findings indicate that the approach of the rule of signs which is considered by the majority of students to be the easiest one can be used to help understand the notion of unification of the number line, an obstacle widely known nowadays in the process of teaching-learning

De solutione problematum diophanteorum per números integros : o primeiro trabalho de Euler sobre equações diofantinas

The present dissertation analyses Leonhard Euler´s early mathematical work as Diophantine Equations, De solutione problematum diophanteorum per números íntegros (On the solution of Diophantine problems in integers). It was published in 1738, although it had been presented to the St Petersburg Academy of Science five years earlier. Euler solves the problem of making the general second degree expression a perfect square, i.e., he seeks the whole number solutions to the equation ax2+bx+c = y2. For this purpose, he shows how to generate new solutions from those already obtained. Accordingly, he makes a succession of substitutions equating terms and eliminating variables until the problem reduces to finding the solution of the Pell Equation. Euler erroneously assigns this type of equation to Pell. He also makes a number of restrictions to the equation ax2+bx+c = y and works on several subthemes, from incomplete equations to polygonal numbers

Landau and Kolmogoroff type polynomial inequalities

Let 0integers. Denote by parallel to . parallel to the norm parallel to f parallel to(2) = integral(-infinity)(infinity) f(2)(x) exp(-x(2)) dx. For various positive values of A and B we establish Kolmogoroff type inequalitiesparallel to f((f))parallel to(2) less than or equal to A parallel to f(m)parallel to + B parallel to f parallel to/ A theta(k) + B mu(k),with certain constants theta(k)e mu(k), which hold for every f is an element of pi(n) (pi(n) denotes the space of real algebraic polynomials of degree not exceeding n).For the particular case j=1 and m=2, we provide a complete characterisation of the positive constants A and B, for which the corresponding Landau type polynomial inequalities parallel to f'parallel to less than or equal toA parallel to f parallel to + B parallel to f parallel to/ A theta(k) + B mu(k)hold. In each case we determine the corresponding extremal polynomials for which equalities are attained.

An Extension of Craig's Family of Lattices

Let p be a prime, and let zeta(p) be a primitive p-th root of unity. The lattices in Craig's family are (p - 1)-dimensional and are geometrical representations of the integral Z[zeta(p)]-ideals < 1 - zeta(p)>(i), where i is a positive integer. This lattice construction technique is a powerful one. Indeed, in dimensions p - 1 where 149 <= p <= 3001, Craig's lattices are the densest packings known. Motivated by this, we construct (p - 1)(q - 1)-dimensional lattices from the integral Z[zeta(pq)]-ideals < 1 - zeta(p)>(i) < 1 - zeta(q)>(j), where p and q are distinct primes and i and fare positive integers. In terms of sphere-packing density, the new lattices and those in Craig's family have the same asymptotic behavior. In conclusion, Craig's family is greatly extended while preserving its sphere-packing properties.

Constructions of algebraic lattices

In this work we present constructions of algebraic lattices in Euclidean space with optimal center density in dimensions 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 12, which are rotated versions of the lattices Λn, for n = 2,3,4,6,8 and K12. These algebraic lattices are constructed through twisted canonical homomorphism via ideals of a ring of algebraic integers. Mathematical subject classification: 18B35, 94A15, 20H10.

Exact static soliton solutions of (3+1)-dimensional integrable theory with nonzero Hopf numbers

In this paper, we explicitly construct an infinite number of Hopfions (static, soliton solutions with nonzero Hopf topological charges) within the recently proposed (3 + 1)-dimensional, integrable, and relativistically invariant field theory. Two integers label the family of Hopfions we have found. Their product is equal to the Hopf charge which provides a lower bound to the soliton's finite energy. The Hopfions are explicitly constructed in terms of the toroidal coordinates and shown to have a form of linked closed vortices.

On the Optimality of Finite Constellations from Algebraic Lattices

A construction technique of finite point constellations in n-dimensional spaces from ideals in rings of algebraic integers is described. An algorithm is presented to find constellations with minimum average energy from a given lattice. For comparison, a numerical table of lattice constellations and group codes is computed for spaces of dimension two, three, and four. © 2001.

Lattice constellations and codes from quadratic number fields

We propose new classes of linear codes over integer rings of quadratic extensions of Q, the field of rational numbers. The codes are considered with respect to a Mannheim metric, which is a Manhattan metric modulo a two-dimensional (2-D) grid. In particular, codes over Gaussian integers and Eisenstein-Jacobi integers are extensively studied. Decoding algorithms are proposed for these codes when up to two coordinates of a transmitted code vector are affected by errors of arbitrary Mannheim weight. Moreover, we show that the proposed codes are maximum-distance separable (MDS), with respect to the Hamming distance. The practical interest in such Mannheim-metric codes is their use in coded modulation schemes based on quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM)-type constellations, for which neither the Hamming nor the Lee metric is appropriate.

On the construction and labelling of geometrically uniform signal sets in ℤ2 matched to additive quotient groups

We establish the conditions under which it is possible to construct signal sets satisfying the properties of being geometrically uniform and matched to additive quotient groups. Such signal sets consist of subsets of signal spaces identified to integers rings ℤ[i] and ℤ[ω] in ℤ2. © 2008 KSCAM and Springer-Verlag.