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Grunwald-Wang Theorem

Number Theory

The Grunwald-Wang theorem is a local-global principle in algebraic number theory. It states that, except in certain precisely defined exceptional cases, an element of a number field is an nth power in that field if it is an nth power in the completion of the field at all but finitely many primes; for example, a rational number is the square of a rational number if it is the square of a p-adic number for almost every prime p. The theorem was introduced by Wilhelm Grunwald in 1933, but his original version contained an error that was found and corrected by Shianghao Wang in 1948. Grunwald and Wang's original result was actually broader, addressing the existence of cyclic extensions with certain local properties, of which the statement about nth powers is a consequence. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts
Statement
Except in some precisely defined cases, an element x in a number field K is an nth power in K if it is an nth power in the completion at all but finitely many primes of K. 2
Proof Year
1950 1
Classification
Statement Form
Existence Theorem 1
Connections

Has Statement Form

Entity-backed identity for the statement-form enum value this theorem already carries, resolved to a mathematics concept by an explicit value-to-entity map (phase 3 bucket conversion, docs\design_entity_backed_browse_buckets_20260928.md). The statement-form fact itself stays on the theorem unchanged.

In Branch

Source Grunwald-Wang theorem (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Grunwald-Wang theorem
Wikipedia
  • In his doctoral thesis Wang (1950) ... Wang gave and proved the correct formulation of Grunwald's assertion (Grunwald 1933 and Whaples 1942 proofs were both incorrect)
  • Lead section, statement-form reference
    The theorem considered by Grunwald and Wang was more general than the one stated above as they discussed the existence of cyclic extensions with certain local properties, and the statement about nth powers is a consequence of this.
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2. Grunwald-Wang theorem (Wikipedia)
  • Introduction, first sentence
    an element x in a number field K is an nth power in K if it is an nth power in the completion
  • In Branch: Algebraic Number Theory, Lead sentence
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