Algebraically closed field
A field
- every non-constant polynomial
has a root, i.e. a solution to ; is an ^irreducible iff it is linear, i.e. ; - there does not exist a proper algebraic extension of
; - every maximal ideal of
is of the form for some .
Assuming choice, every field is contained in an algebraically closed one: a/the Algebraic closure.
Examples and nonexamples
- Real numbers is not algebraically closed, since
has no real root. - Complex numbers is the closure of the real numbers.