Algebraic K-theory and sums-of-squares formulas

Daniel Dugger; Daniel C. Isaksen

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arXiv · math/0407226

Algebraic K-theory and sums-of-squares formulas

Daniel Dugger·Daniel C. Isaksen

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Abstract

We prove a result about the non-existence of certain sums-of-squares formulas over a field. This generalizes an old theorem which used topological K-theory to obtain obstruction conditions when the field is the real numbers. Our result applies to arbitrary fields not of characteristic 2, making use of algebraic K-theory in place of topological K-theory.

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BibTeX RIS

Daniel Dugger, Daniel C. Isaksen. 2004-07-13. Algebraic K-theory and sums-of-squares formulas. https://arxiv.org/abs/math/0407226

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