2008/06/06 by Zur Izhakian, Izhakian, Zur, Louis Rowen +1 · 2 citations
Computer Science · Mathematics · #11C08 #13B22 #16D25 #16Y60 #Algebraic Geometry and Number Theory #Commutative Algebra (math.AC) #Commutative Algebra and Its Applications #FOS: Mathematics #Polynomial and algebraic computation
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.0806.1171
openalex publication_date 2008/06/06 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We develop the algebraic polynomial theory for "supertropical algebra," as initiated earlier over the real numbers by the first author. The main innovation there was the introduction of "ghost elements," which also play the key role in our structure theory. Here, we work somewhat more generally over an ordered monoid, and develop a theory which contains the analogs of several basic theorems of classical commutative algebra. This structure enables one to develop a Zariski-type algebraic geometric approach to tropical geometry, viewing tropical varieties as sets of roots of (supertropical) polynomials, leading to an analog of the Hilbert Nullstellensatz. Particular attention is paid to factorization of polynomials. In one indeterminate, any polynomial can be factored into linear and quadratic factors, and unique factorization holds in a certain sense. On the other hand, the failure of unique factorization in several indeterminates is explained by geometric phenomena described in the paper.