# Frobenius theorem

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A theorem that describes all finite-dimensional associative real algebras without divisors of zero; it was proved by G. Frobenius [1]. Frobenius' theorem asserts that:

1) the field of real numbers and the field of complex numbers are the only finite-dimensional real associative-commutative algebras without divisors of zero; and

2) the skew-field of quaternions is the only finite-dimensional real associative, but not commutative, algebra without divisors of zero.

There is also a description of all finite-dimensional alternative algebras without divisors of zero:

3) the Cayley algebra is the only finite-dimensional real alternative, but not associative, algebra without divisors of zero.

The conjunction of these three assertions is called the generalized Frobenius theorem. All the algebras that appear in the statement of the theorem turn out to be algebras with unique division and with a one. The Frobenius theorem cannot be generalized to the case of non-alternative algebras. It has been proved, however, that the dimension of any finite-dimensional real algebra without divisors of zero can only take the values 1, 2, 4, or 8.

#### References

 [1] G. Frobenius, "Ueber lineare Substitutionen and bilineare Formen" J. Reine Angew. Math. , 84 (1878) pp. 1–63 [2] A.G. Kurosh, "Lectures on general algebra" , Chelsea (1963) (Translated from Russian)

The theorem that the only possible division algebras with real coefficients are the reals, the complexes, the quaternions, and the Cayley numbers (or octonians) is due to M. Kervaire [a1] and J. Milnor [a2]. Its proof relies on topological considerations, notably results of R. Bott.

Besides the result mentioned above and the Frobenius theorem on Pfaffian systems, there are a number of other results which (sometimes) go by the name Frobenius theorem. Some of them are:

i) The Perron–Frobenius theorem on eigen values of non-negative matrices.

ii) The following result in finite group theory. Let be a subgroup of a finite group such that for . Then is a normal subgroup and . A generalization of this theorem is known as the Frobenius–Wielandt theorem.

iii) A theorem on normal -complements, cf. Normal -complement.

iv) A result on Abelian varieties. Let be an Abelian variety over , a divisor on and the Picard variety of . Let be defined by the linear equivalence class of the divisor , where is the image of under the translation , . There are elements such that the intersection (product) is defined (). Let be the degree of the zero-cycle . Then the degree of the mapping is equal to (Frobenius' theorem).

v) The Frobenius reciprocity theorem for induced representations; cf. Induced representation.

vi) The Frobenius–Schur theorem. Let be an algebraically closed field, an algebra over and let be a set of non-isomorphic irreducible left -modules of dimensions over , . Let be the corresponding representation with entry functions ; , . Then these coordinate functions are linearly independent over .

#### References

 [a1] M. Kervaire, "Non-parallelizability of the -sphere for " Proc. Nat. Acad. Sc. USA , 44 (1958) pp. 280–283 [a2] J.W. Milnor, "Some consequences of a theorem of Bott" Ann. of Math. , 68 (1958) pp. 444–449 [a3] C.W. Curtis, I. Reiner, "Representation theory of finite groups and associative algebras" , Interscience (1962) pp. §90, §41
How to Cite This Entry:
Frobenius theorem. O.A. Ivanova (originator), Encyclopedia of Mathematics. URL: http://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/index.php?title=Frobenius_theorem&oldid=11433
This text originally appeared in Encyclopedia of Mathematics - ISBN 1402006098