Galois theory

Meanings

1. The branch of mathematics dealing with Galois groups, Galois fields, and polynomial equations. It provides a link between field theory and group theory: it permits certain problems in the former to be reduced to the latter, which in some respects is simpler and better understood.

Etymology

Standardly constructed calque of French théorie de Galois (which was used as a section heading in 1870, Camille Jordan, Traité des substitutions et des équations algébriques). First appeared in print in 1893, Bulletin of the New York Mathematical Society. Ultimately, named after French mathematician Evariste Galois (1811-1832), who first developed the theory to explore how the roots of a given polynomial equation relate to each other.