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by pfortuny 97 days ago
In some sense the title is a bit misleading (one is led to think of Analytic Number Theory). I'd rather use the title "Using differentials to...", which is more precise, as there is not exactly any "calculus" going on but there is indeed differential algebra and differential "number theory", so to speak.

But great and elegant article. Thanks.

2 comments

The technical term is "formal derivative" b/c there are no limits involved, it's basically a rewrite rule for changing x^n to nx^(n-1).
I know, yes, but did not want to digress. Thanks though. Actually, it is the "extension" to K[e] with e^2=0, as "usual".
The infinitesimally thickened point.
Actually it is Calculus in p-adic numbers!
Mmmmhhhh, sure? Because p-adic numbers have characteristic 0, AFAIK.