Mark Ronan's website
Algebraic Integers
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An algebraic integer is a
complex number that is the solution to an algebraic equation having leading
coefficient 1, meaning that the coefficient of the highest power of x is 1. For example the equation x2 = 2 has leading coefficient
1, and its solutions, namely the square root of 2, and minus the square root
of 2, are algebraic integers. On the other hand, the equation 2x = 1 has leading coefficient 2, and its
solution, x = ½,
is not an algebraic integer. An algebraic integer that is a real number must
be an ordinary integer. The entries in a character table are algebraic integers. |
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