Absolute Values and Ostrowski's Theorem

Joshua Ruiter, Michigan State University

The absolute value function is closely related to concepts like distance and convergence. I'll introduce a general notion of absolute value, and give examples such as the p-adic absolute value. We'll see a classification of generalized absolute values, and some strange and wonderful properties of p-adic numbers, where you only need one series convergence test.

Refreshments precede the talk at 3:30 p.m. in NH 282.