# Bertini theorems

Two theorems concerning the properties of linear systems on algebraic varieties, due to E. Bertini [1].

Let $V$ be an algebraic variety over an algebraically closed field $k$ of characteristic 0, let $L$ be a linear system without fixed components on $V$ and let $W$ be the image of the variety $V$ under the mapping given by $L$. The following two theorems are known as the first and the second Bertini theorem, respectively.

1) If $\dim W > 1$, then almost all the divisors of the linear system $L$ (i.e. all except a closed subset in the parameter space $P(L)$ not equal to $P(L)$) are irreducible reduced algebraic varieties.

2) Almost all divisors of $L$ have no singular points outside the basis points of the linear system $L$ and the singular points of the variety $V$>.

Both Bertini theorems are invalid if the characteristic of the field is non-zero.

Conditions under which Bertini's theorems are valid for the case of a finite characteristic of the field have been studied [3], [6]. If $\dim W = 1$, Bertini's theorem is replaced by the following theorem: Almost all fibres of the mapping $\phi-L : V \to W$ are irreducible and reduced if the function field $k(W)$ is algebraically closed in the field $k(V)$ under the imbedding $\phi_L^* : k(W) \to k(V)$. If the characteristic of $k$ is finite, the corresponding theorem is true if the extension $k(V)/k(W)$ is separable [3], [6]. The Bertini theorems apply to linear systems of hyperplane sections, without restrictions on the characteristic of the field [5].

#### References

 [1] E. Bertini, "Introduction to the projective geometry of hyperspaces" , Messina (1923) (In Italian) [2] "Algebraic surfaces" Trudy Mat. Inst. Steklov. , 75 (1965) (In Russian) Zbl 0154.33002 Zbl 0154.21001 [3] M. Baldassarri, "Algebraic varieties" , Springer (1956) MR0082172 Zbl 0995.14003 Zbl 0075.15902 [4] Y. Akizuki, "Theorems of Bertini on linear systems" J. Math. Soc. Japan , 3 : 1 (1951) pp. 170–180 MR0044160 Zbl 0043.36302 [5] Y. Nakai, "Note on the intersection of an algebraic variety with the generic hyperplane" Mem. Coll. Sci. Univ. Kyoto Ser. A Math. , 26 : 2 (1950) pp. 185–187 MR0044161 Zbl 0045.42001 [6] O. Zariski, "The theorem of Bertini on the variable singular points of a linear system of varieties" Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. , 56 (1944) pp. 130–140 MR0011572 Zbl 0061.33101 [7] R. Hartshorne, "Algebraic geometry" , Springer (1977) MR0463157 Zbl 0367.14001
How to Cite This Entry:
Bertini theorems. Encyclopedia of Mathematics. URL: http://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/index.php?title=Bertini_theorems&oldid=41168
This article was adapted from an original article by V.A. Iskovskikh (originator), which appeared in Encyclopedia of Mathematics - ISBN 1402006098. See original article