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The smallest positive composite number and the first even perfect square. Four is the smallest even number appearing in a Pythagorean triple: 3, 4, 5. In the numerology of ...

In general, polynomial equations higher than fourth degree are incapable of algebraic solution in terms of a finite number of additions, subtractions, multiplications, ...

The term "characteristic" has many different uses in mathematics. In general, it refers to some property that inherently describes a given mathematical object, for example ...

A map u:M->N, between two compact Riemannian manifolds, is a harmonic map if it is a critical point for the energy functional int_M|du|^2dmu_M. The norm of the differential ...

A variable is a symbol on whose value a function, polynomial, etc., depends. For example, the variables in the function f(x,y) are x and y. A function having a single ...

The Jacobi theta functions are the elliptic analogs of the exponential function, and may be used to express the Jacobi elliptic functions. The theta functions are ...

The number of ways a set of n elements can be partitioned into nonempty subsets is called a Bell number and is denoted B_n (not to be confused with the Bernoulli number, ...

The greatest common divisor, sometimes also called the highest common divisor (Hardy and Wright 1979, p. 20), of two positive integers a and b is the largest divisor common ...

The regular polygon of 17 sides is called the heptadecagon, or sometimes the heptakaidecagon. Gauss proved in 1796 (when he was 19 years old) that the heptadecagon is ...

Minimal surfaces are defined as surfaces with zero mean curvature. A minimal surface parametrized as x=(u,v,h(u,v)) therefore satisfies Lagrange's equation, ...