University of Cambridge > Talks.cam > Trinity Mathematical Society > Think Locally, Act Globally

  Browse A-Z

Log in

University Account External (via Google)

🔐 Log In

Information on

Subscribing to talksdetails Finding a talkdetails Adding a talkdetails Disseminating talksdetails Help and Documentationdetails

ℹ️ Information

Think Locally, Act Globally

Download to your calendar using vCal

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Mary Fortune .

Are there any rational solutions to x²+y²=-1? No, because there are no real solutions. How about x²+y²=3? Again the answer is no, but one way of showing this is by constructing a ‘local field’ — the 3-adic numbers — which contains the rationals as a dense subfield, and in which it’s easy to check that there are no solutions. It is far easier to solve equations in these local fields than in global fields such as the rationals, and conversely, sometimes solutions in all local fields can imply solutions in a global field too.

This talk is part of the Trinity Mathematical Society series.

This talk is included in these lists:

Note that ex-directory lists are not shown.

Other lists

Average on weekdays: 8961.79564033 kWh Wolfson Lecture Theatre Cavendish Laboratory, Pippard Lecture Theatre & TEAMS

Other talks

Using Light for Cancer Detection The uplift and erosion history of the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains and their role in the formation of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet Cambridge AI in Medicine Seminar - July 2026 Title to be confirmed Sheref Mansy, topic TBA Group Work
 

© 2006-2025 Talks.cam, University of Cambridge. Contact Us | Help and Documentation | Privacy and Publicity