L-notationL-notation is an asymptotic notation analogous to big-O notation, denoted as for a bound variable tending to infinity. Like big-O notation, it is usually used to roughly convey the rate of growth of a function, such as the computational complexity of a particular algorithm. It is defined as where c is a positive constant, and is a constant . L-notation is used mostly in computational number theory, to express the complexity of algorithms for difficult number theory problems, e.g.
Irreducible fractionAn irreducible fraction (or fraction in lowest terms, simplest form or reduced fraction) is a fraction in which the numerator and denominator are integers that have no other common divisors than 1 (and −1, when negative numbers are considered). In other words, a fraction a/b is irreducible if and only if a and b are coprime, that is, if a and b have a greatest common divisor of 1. In higher mathematics, "irreducible fraction" may also refer to rational fractions such that the numerator and the denominator are coprime polynomials.
Fermat's factorization methodFermat's factorization method, named after Pierre de Fermat, is based on the representation of an odd integer as the difference of two squares: That difference is algebraically factorable as ; if neither factor equals one, it is a proper factorization of N. Each odd number has such a representation. Indeed, if is a factorization of N, then Since N is odd, then c and d are also odd, so those halves are integers. (A multiple of four is also a difference of squares: let c and d be even.
AKS primality testThe AKS primality test (also known as Agrawal–Kayal–Saxena primality test and cyclotomic AKS test) is a deterministic primality-proving algorithm created and published by Manindra Agrawal, Neeraj Kayal, and Nitin Saxena, computer scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, on August 6, 2002, in an article titled "PRIMES is in P". The algorithm was the first one which is able to determine in polynomial time, whether a given number is prime or composite and this without relying on mathematical conjectures such as the generalized Riemann hypothesis.
Dixon's factorization methodIn number theory, Dixon's factorization method (also Dixon's random squares method or Dixon's algorithm) is a general-purpose integer factorization algorithm; it is the prototypical factor base method. Unlike for other factor base methods, its run-time bound comes with a rigorous proof that does not rely on conjectures about the smoothness properties of the values taken by a polynomial. The algorithm was designed by John D. Dixon, a mathematician at Carleton University, and was published in 1981.
SemiprimeIn mathematics, a semiprime is a natural number that is the product of exactly two prime numbers. The two primes in the product may equal each other, so the semiprimes include the squares of prime numbers. Because there are infinitely many prime numbers, there are also infinitely many semiprimes. Semiprimes are also called biprimes. The semiprimes less than 100 are: Semiprimes that are not square numbers are called discrete, distinct, or squarefree semiprimes: The semiprimes are the case of the -almost primes, numbers with exactly prime factors.
Generalized Riemann hypothesisThe Riemann hypothesis is one of the most important conjectures in mathematics. It is a statement about the zeros of the Riemann zeta function. Various geometrical and arithmetical objects can be described by so-called global L-functions, which are formally similar to the Riemann zeta-function. One can then ask the same question about the zeros of these L-functions, yielding various generalizations of the Riemann hypothesis. Many mathematicians believe these generalizations of the Riemann hypothesis to be true.
P-adic valuationIn number theory, the p-adic valuation or p-adic order of an integer n is the exponent of the highest power of the prime number p that divides n. It is denoted . Equivalently, is the exponent to which appears in the prime factorization of . The p-adic valuation is a valuation and gives rise to an analogue of the usual absolute value. Whereas the completion of the rational numbers with respect to the usual absolute value results in the real numbers , the completion of the rational numbers with respect to the -adic absolute value results in the p-adic numbers .
Multiplicity (mathematics)In mathematics, the multiplicity of a member of a multiset is the number of times it appears in the multiset. For example, the number of times a given polynomial has a root at a given point is the multiplicity of that root. The notion of multiplicity is important to be able to count correctly without specifying exceptions (for example, double roots counted twice). Hence the expression, "counted with multiplicity". If multiplicity is ignored, this may be emphasized by counting the number of distinct elements, as in "the number of distinct roots".
Congruence of squaresIn number theory, a congruence of squares is a congruence commonly used in integer factorization algorithms. Given a positive integer n, Fermat's factorization method relies on finding numbers x and y satisfying the equality We can then factor n = x2 − y2 = (x + y)(x − y). This algorithm is slow in practice because we need to search many such numbers, and only a few satisfy the equation. However, n may also be factored if we can satisfy the weaker congruence of squares condition: From here we easily deduce This means that n divides the product (x + y)(x − y).
