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Theorem

Maschke's Theorem

Algebra

Maschke's Theorem states that if a finite group is represented on a vector space over a field whose characteristic does not divide the order of the group, then every representation of the group decomposes as a direct sum of irreducible representations. Named for Heinrich Maschke, it guarantees that representation theory over such fields reduces to the study of irreducible pieces.

Facts
Statement
Maschke's theorem states that if the order of a finite group G is not divisible by the characteristic of a field K, then every finite-dimensional representation of G over K is completely reducible, decomposing as a direct sum of irreducible representations. 1
Proof Year
1899 2
Classification
Statement Form
Characterization Theorem 1
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Source Maschke's Theorem (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Maschke's Theorem (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Lead paragraph, first sentence
    In mathematics, Maschke's theorem, named after Heinrich Maschke, is a theorem in group representation theory that concerns the decomposition of representations of a finite group into irreducible pieces.
  • Proved By: Heinrich Maschke, Lead section
    Maschke's theorem, named after Heinrich Maschke
  • In Group: Lie Algebras and Representation Theory, Lead section
    named after Heinrich Maschke, is a theorem in group representation theory that concerns the decomposition of representations
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2. Heinrich Maschke, Biography (MacTutor History of Mathematics)
MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive, University of St AndrewsPage text
Quote, Page text
He is best known today for Maschke's theorem, which he published in 1899 , which states that if the order of the finite group G G G is not divisible by the characteristic of the field K K K , then the ( finite-dimensional ) K K K -representations of G G G are completely reducible.
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