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Hasse Principle

A collection of equations satisfies the Hasse principle if, whenever one of the equations has solutions in $\Bbb{R}$ and all the $\Bbb{Q}_p$, then the equations have solutions in the Rationals $\Bbb{Q}$. Examples include the set of equations

\begin{displaymath}
ax^2 + bxy + cy^2 = 0
\end{displaymath}

with $a$, $b$, and $c$ Integers, and the set of equations

\begin{displaymath}
x^2 + y^2 = a
\end{displaymath}

for $a$ rational. The trivial solution $x=y=0$ is usually not taken into account when deciding if a collection of homogeneous equations satisfies the Hasse principle. The Hasse principle is sometimes called the Local-Global Principle.

See also Local Field




© 1996-9 Eric W. Weisstein
1999-05-25