Mathematics
and Computer Science Speaker Series
California State University, Stanislaus
Date: Friday, May 21, 2010
Time: 1:25 - 2:23 p.m
Room: C-214
Speaker: Jack R. Bennett
Title: An Introduction to Non-Unique Factorization
Abstract: Fermat’s last theorem was a problem whose proof
eluded some of the greatest mathematicians for 350 years. In this
talk, we introduce the idea of non-unique factorization with a lively
discussion of Fermat’s last theorem, and how early attempts at a proof
of the theorem failed because factorization was not unique. We
then explore some particular non-unique factorization domains and find
that even though irreducibles are no longer prime, these domains still
have some amazing properties. We close by constructing a domain
where a single element can have an infinite number of prime divisors!