p-adic number#Quote notation

Roughly speaking, modular arithmetic modulo a positive integer {{mvar|n}} consists of "approximating" every integer by the remainder of its division by {{mvar|n}}, called its residue modulo {{mvar|n}}. The main property of modular arithmetic is that the residue modulo {{mvar|n}} of the result of a succession of operations on integers is the same as the result of the same succession of operations on residues modulo {{mvar|n}}. If one knows that the absolute value of the result is less than {{mvar|n/2}}, this allows a computation of the result which does not involve any integer larger than {{mvar|n}}.

For larger results, an old method, still in common use, consists of using several small moduli that are pairwise coprime, and applying the Chinese remainder theorem for recovering the result modulo the product of the moduli.

Another method discovered by Kurt Hensel consists of using a prime modulus {{mvar|p}}, and applying Hensel's lemma for recovering iteratively the result modulo $p^2,\; p^3,\; \backslash ldots,\; p^n,\; \backslash ldots$ If the process is continued infinitely, this provides eventually a result which is a {{mvar|p}}-adic number.

The theory of {{mvar|p}}-adic numbers is fundamentally based on the two following lemmas:

Every nonzero rational number can be written $p^v\backslash frac\{m\}\{n\},$ where {{mvar|v}}, {{mvar|m}}, and {{mvar|n}} are integers and neither {{mvar|m}} nor {{mvar|n}} is divisible by {{mvar|p}}. The exponent {{mvar|v}} is uniquely determined by the rational number and is called its {{mvar|p}}-adic valuation (this definition is a particular case of a more general definition, given below). The proof of the lemma results directly from the fundamental theorem of arithmetic.

Every nonzero rational number {{mvar|r}} of valuation {{mvar|v}} can be uniquely written $r=ap^v+\; s,$ where {{mvar|s}} is a rational number of valuation greater than {{mvar|v}}, and {{mvar|a}} is an integer such that

The proof of this lemma results from modular arithmetic: By the above lemma, $r=p^v\backslash frac\{m\}\{n\},$ where {{mvar|m}} and {{mvar|n}} are integers coprime with {{mvar|p}}.

By Bézout's lemma, there exist integers {{mvar|a}} and {{mvar|b}}, with , such that

$m\; =\; a\; n\; +\; b\; p.$ Setting $s\; =\; b/n$ (hence $\{\backslash rm\; val\}(s)\; \backslash geq\; 0$), we have

:$\{m\backslash over\; n\}\; =\; a\; +\; p\; \{b\; \backslash over\; n\},\backslash quad\; \{\backslash rm\; or\}\; \backslash quad\; r\; =\; a\; p^v\; +\; p^\{v\; +\; 1\}\; s.$

To show the uniqueness of this representation, observe that if $r\; =\; a\text{'}\; p^v\; +\; p^\{v\; +\; 1\}\; s\text{'},$ with

and $\{\backslash rm\; val\}(s\text{'})\backslash geq\; 0$,

there holds by difference $(a\; -a\text{'})\; +\; p(s-\; s\text{'})\; =\; 0,$ with and $\{\backslash rm\; val\}(s-s\text{'})\; \backslash geq\; 0$.

Write $s-s\text{'}\; =\; c/d$, where {{mvar|d}} is coprime to {{mvar|p}}; then

$(a\; -\; a\text{'})d\; +\; p\; c\; =\; 0$, which is possible only if $a\; -\; a\text{'}\; =\; 0$ and $c=0$.

Hence $a\; =\; a\text{'}$ and $s\; =\; s\text{'}$.

The above process can be iterated starting from {{mvar|s}} instead of {{mvar|r}}, giving the following.

Given a nonzero rational number {{mvar|r}} of valuation {{mvar|v}} and a positive integer {{mvar|k}}, there are a rational number $s\_k$ of nonnegative valuation and {{mvar|k}} uniquely defined nonnegative integers $a\_0,\; \backslash ldots,\; a\_\{k-1\}$ less than {{mvar|p}} such that $a\_0>0$ and

: $r=a\_0p^v\; +\; a\_1\; p^\{v+1\}\; +\backslash cdots\; +\; a\_\{k-1\}p^\{v+k-1\}\; +p^\{v+k\}s\_k.$

The {{mvar|p}}-adic numbers are essentially obtained by continuing this infinitely to produce an infinite series.

The {{mvar|p}}-adic numbers are commonly defined by means of {{mvar|p}}-adic series.

A {{mvar|p}}-adic series is a formal power series of the form

: $\backslash sum\_\{i=v\}^\backslash infty\; r\_i\; p^\{i\},$

where $v$ is an integer and the $r\_i$ are rational numbers that either are zero or have a nonnegative valuation (that is, the denominator of $r\_i$ is not divisible by {{mvar|p}}).

Every rational number may be viewed as a {{mvar|p}}-adic series with a single nonzero term, consisting of its factorization of the form $p^k\backslash tfrac\; nd,$ with {{mvar|n}} and {{mvar|d}} both coprime with {{mvar|p}}.

Two {{mvar|p}}-adic series $\backslash sum\_\{i=v\}^\backslash infty\; r\_i\; p^\{i\}$ and $\backslash sum\_\{i=w\}^\backslash infty\; s\_i\; p^\{i\}$

are equivalent if there is an integer {{mvar|N}} such that, for every integer $n>N,$ the rational number

: $\backslash sum\_\{i=v\}^n\; r\_i\; p^\{i\}\; -\; \backslash sum\_\{i=w\}^n\; s\_i\; p^\{i\}$

is zero or has a {{mvar|p}}-adic valuation greater than {{mvar|n}}.

A {{mvar|p}}-adic series $\backslash sum\_\{i=v\}^\backslash infty\; a\_i\; p^\{i\}$ is normalized if either all $a\_i$ are integers such that zero series.

Every {{mvar|p}}-adic series is equivalent to exactly one normalized series. This normalized series is obtained by a sequence of transformations, which are equivalences of series; see #Normalization of a p-adic series, below.

In other words, the equivalence of {{mvar|p}}-adic series is an equivalence relation, and each equivalence class contains exactly one normalized {{mvar|p}}-adic series.

The usual operations of series (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) are compatible with equivalence of {{mvar|p}}-adic series. That is, denoting the equivalence with {{math|~}}, if {{mvar|S}}, {{mvar|T}} and {{mvar|U}} are nonzero {{mvar|p}}-adic series such that $S\backslash sim\; T,$ one has

: $\backslash begin\{align\}$

S\pm U&\sim &T\pm U,\\

SU&\sim &TU,\\

1/S&\sim &1/T.

\end{align}

The {{mvar|p}}-adic numbers are often defined as the equivalence classes of {{mvar|p}}-adic series, in a similar way as the definition of the real numbers as equivalence classes of Cauchy sequences. The uniqueness property of normalization, allows uniquely representing any {{mvar|p}}-adic number by the corresponding normalized {{mvar|p}}-adic series. The compatibility of the series equivalence leads almost immediately to basic properties of {{mvar|p}}-adic numbers:

• Addition, multiplication and multiplicative inverse of {{mvar|p}}-adic numbers are defined as for formal power series, followed by the normalization of the result.
• With these operations, the {{mvar|p}}-adic numbers form a field, which is an extension field of the rational numbers.
• The valuation of a nonzero {{mvar|p}}-adic number {{mvar|x}}, commonly denoted $v\_p(x)$ is the exponent of {{mvar|p}} in the first non zero term of the corresponding normalized series; the valuation of zero is $v\_p(0)=+\backslash infty$
• The {{mvar|p}}-adic absolute value of a nonzero {{mvar|p}}-adic number {{mvar|x}}, is $|x|\_p=p^\{-v(x)\};$ for the zero {{mvar|p}}-adic number, one has $|0|\_p=0.$

Starting with the series $\backslash sum\_\{i=v\}^\backslash infty\; r\_i\; p^\{i\},$ the first above lemma allows getting an equivalent series such that the {{mvar|p}}-adic valuation of $r\_v$ is zero. For that, one considers the first nonzero $r\_i.$ If its {{mvar|p}}-adic valuation is zero, it suffices to change {{mvar|v}} into {{mvar|i}}, that is to start the summation from {{mvar|v}}. Otherwise, the {{mvar|p}}-adic valuation of $r\_i$ is $j>0,$ and $r\_i=\; p^js\_i$ where the valuation of $s\_i$ is zero; so, one gets an equivalent series by changing $r\_i$ to {{math|0}} and $r\_\{i+j\}$ to $r\_\{i+j\}\; +\; s\_i.$ Iterating this process, one gets eventually, possibly after infinitely many steps, an equivalent series that either is the zero series or is a series such that the valuation of $r\_v$ is zero.

Then, if the series is not normalized, consider the first nonzero $r\_i$ that is not an integer in the interval $[0,p-1].$ The second above lemma allows writing it $r\_i=a\_i+ps\_i;$ one gets n equivalent series by replacing $r\_i$ with $a\_i,$ and adding $s\_i$ to $r\_\{i+1\}.$ Iterating this process, possibly infinitely many times, provides eventually the desired normalized {{math|p}}-adic series.

There are several equivalent definitions of {{mvar|p}}-adic numbers. The one that is given here is relatively elementary, since it does not involve any other mathematical concepts than those introduced in the preceding sections. Other equivalent definitions use completion of a discrete valuation ring (see {{slink||p-adic integers}}), completion of a metric space (see {{slink||Topological properties}}), or inverse limits (see {{slink||Modular properties}}).

A {{mvar|p}}-adic number can be defined as a normalized {{mvar|p}}-adic series. Since there are other equivalent definitions that are commonly used, one says often that a normalized {{mvar|p}}-adic series represents a {{mvar|p}}-adic number, instead of saying that it is a {{mvar|p}}-adic number.

One can say also that any {{mvar|p}}-adic series represents a {{mvar|p}}-adic number, since every {{mvar|p}}-adic series is equivalent to a unique normalized {{mvar|p}}-adic series. This is useful for defining operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) of {{mvar|p}}-adic numbers: the result of such an operation is obtained by normalizing the result of the corresponding operation on series. This well defines operations on {{mvar|p}}-adic numbers, since the series operations are compatible with equivalence of {{mvar|p}}-adic series.

{{anchor|Field of p-adic numbers}}

With these operations, {{mvar|p}}-adic numbers form a field called the field of {{math|p}}-adic numbers and denoted $\backslash Q\_p$ or $\backslash mathbf\; Q\_p.$ There is a unique field homomorphism from the rational numbers into the {{mvar|p}}-adic numbers, which maps a rational number to its {{mvar|p}}-adic expansion. The image of this homomorphism is commonly identified with the field of rational numbers. This allows considering the {{math|p}}-adic numbers as an extension field of the rational numbers, and the rational numbers as a subfield of the {{math|p}}-adic numbers.

The valuation of a nonzero {{mvar|p}}-adic number {{mvar|x}}, commonly denoted $v\_p(x),$ is the exponent of {{mvar|p}} in the first nonzero term of every {{mvar|p}}-adic series that represents {{mvar|x}}. By convention, $v\_p(0)=\backslash infty;$ that is, the valuation of zero is $\backslash infty.$ This valuation is a discrete valuation. The restriction of this valuation to the rational numbers is the {{mvar|p}}-adic valuation of $\backslash Q,$ that is, the exponent {{mvar|v}} in the factorization of a rational number as $\backslash tfrac\; nd\; p^v,$ with both {{mvar|n}} and {{mvar|d}} coprime with {{mvar|p}}.

The {{mvar|p}}-adic integers are the {{mvar|p}}-adic numbers with a nonnegative valuation.

A $p$-adic integer can be represented as a sequence

: $x\; =\; (x\_1\; \backslash operatorname\{mod\}\; p,\; ~\; x\_2\; \backslash operatorname\{mod\}\; p^2,\; ~\; x\_3\; \backslash operatorname\{mod\}\; p^3,\; ~\; \backslash ldots)$

of residues $x\_e$ mod $p^e$ for each integer $e$, satisfying the compatibility relations $x\_i\; \backslash equiv\; x\_j\; ~\; (\backslash operatorname\{mod\}\; p^i)$ for .

Every integer is a $p$-adic integer (including zero, since ). The rational numbers of the form $\backslash tfrac\; nd\; p^k$ with $d$ coprime with $p$ and $k\backslash ge\; 0$ are also $p$-adic integers (for the reason that $d$ has an inverse mod $p^e$ for every $e$).

The {{mvar|p}}-adic integers form a commutative ring, denoted $\backslash Z\_p$ or $\backslash mathbf\; Z\_p$, that has the following properties.

• It is an integral domain, since it is a subring of a field, or since the first term of the series representation of the product of two non zero {{mvar|p}}-adic series is the product of their first terms.
• The units (invertible elements) of $\backslash Z\_p$ are the {{mvar|p}}-adic numbers of valuation zero.
• It is a principal ideal domain, such that each ideal is generated by a power of {{mvar|p}}.
• It is a local ring of Krull dimension one, since its only prime ideals are the zero ideal and the ideal generated by {{mvar|p}}, the unique maximal ideal.
• It is a discrete valuation ring, since this results from the preceding properties.
• It is the completion of the local ring $\backslash Z\_\{(p)\}\; =\; \backslash \{\backslash tfrac\; nd\; \backslash mid\; n,\; d\; \backslash in\; \backslash Z,\backslash ,\; d\; \backslash not\backslash in\; p\backslash Z\; \backslash \},$ which is the localization of $\backslash Z$ at the prime ideal $p\backslash Z.$

The last property provides a definition of the {{mvar|p}}-adic numbers that is equivalent to the above one: the field of the {{mvar|p}}-adic numbers is the field of fractions of the completion of the localization of the integers at the prime ideal generated by {{mvar|p}}.

The {{mvar|p}}-adic valuation allows defining an absolute value on {{mvar|p}}-adic numbers: the {{mvar|p}}-adic absolute value of a nonzero {{mvar|p}}-adic number {{mvar|x}} is

: $|x|\_p\; =\; p^\{-v\_p(x)\},$

where $v\_p(x)$ is the {{mvar|p}}-adic valuation of {{mvar|x}}. The {{mvar|p}}-adic absolute value of $0$ is $|0|\_p\; =\; 0.$ This is an absolute value that satisfies the strong triangle inequality since, for every {{mvar|x}} and {{mvar|y}} one has

• $|x|\_p\; =\; 0$ if and only if $x=0;$
• $|x|\_p\backslash cdot\; |y|\_p\; =\; |xy|\_p$
• $|x+y|\_p\backslash le\; \backslash max(|x|\_p,|y|\_p)\; \backslash le\; |x|\_p\; +\; |y|\_p.$

Moreover, if $|x|\_p\; \backslash ne\; |y|\_p,$ one has $|x+y|\_p\; =\; \backslash max(|x|\_p,|y|\_p).$

This makes the {{mvar|p}}-adic numbers a metric space, and even an ultrametric space, with the {{mvar|p}}-adic distance defined by

$d\_p(x,y)=|x-y|\_p.$

As a metric space, the {{mvar|p}}-adic numbers form the completion of the rational numbers equipped with the {{mvar|p}}-adic absolute value. This provides another way for defining the {{mvar|p}}-adic numbers. However, the general construction of a completion can be simplified in this case, because the metric is defined by a discrete valuation (in short, one can extract from every Cauchy sequence a subsequence such that the differences between two consecutive terms have strictly decreasing absolute values; such a subsequence is the sequence of the partial sums of a {{mvar|p}}-adic series, and thus a unique normalized {{mvar|p}}-adic series can be associated to every equivalence class of Cauchy sequences; so, for building the completion, it suffices to consider normalized {{mvar|p}}-adic series instead of equivalence classes of Cauchy sequences).

As the metric is defined from a discrete valuation, every open ball is also closed. More precisely, the open ball

This implies that the {{mvar|p}}-adic numbers form a locally compact space (locally compact field), and the {{mvar|p}}-adic integers—that is, the ball $B\_1[0]=B\_p(0)$—form a compact space.

The decimal expansion of a positive rational number $r$ is its representation as a series

:$r\; =\; \backslash sum\_\{i=k\}^\backslash infty\; a\_i\; 10^\{-i\},$

where $k$ is an integer and each $a\_i$ is also an integer such that This expansion can be computed by long division of the numerator by the denominator, which is itself based on the following theorem: If $r=\backslash tfrac\; n\; d$ is a rational number such that there is an integer $a$ such that and $r\; =\; a\backslash ,10^k\; +r\text{'},$ with The decimal expansion is obtained by repeatedly applying this result to the remainder $r\text{'}$ which in the iteration assumes the role of the original rational number $r$.

The {{mvar|p}}-adic expansion of a rational number is defined similarly, but with a different division step. More precisely, given a fixed prime number $p$, every nonzero rational number $r$ can be uniquely written as $r=p^k\backslash tfrac\; n\; d,$ where $k$ is a (possibly negative) integer, $n$ and $d$ are coprime integers both coprime with $p$, and $d$ is positive. The integer $k$ is the {{mvar|p}}-adic valuation of $r$, denoted $v\_p(r),$ and $p^\{-k\}$ is its {{mvar|p}}-adic absolute value, denoted $|r|\_p$ (the absolute value is small when the valuation is large). The division step consists of writing

: {{anchor|division_step}}$r\; =\; a\backslash ,p^k\; +\; r\text{'}$

where $a$ is an integer such that

The $p$-adic expansion of $r$ is the formal power series

: $r\; =\; \backslash sum\_\{i=k\}^\backslash infty\; a\_i\; p^i$

obtained by repeating indefinitely the above division step on successive remainders. In a {{mvar|p}}-adic expansion, all $a\_i$ are integers such that

If $r=p^k\; \backslash tfrac\; n\; 1$ with $n\; >\; 0$, the process stops eventually with a zero remainder; in this case, the series is completed by trailing terms with a zero coefficient, and is the representation of $r$ in base-N.

The existence and the computation of the {{mvar|p}}-adic expansion of a rational number results from Bézout's identity in the following way. If, as above, $r=p^k\; \backslash tfrac\; n\; d,$ and $d$ and $p$ are coprime, there exist integers $t$ and $u$ such that $t\; d+u\; p=1.$ So

: $r=p^k\; \backslash tfrac\; n\; d(t\; d+u\; p)=p^k\; n\; t\; +\; p^\{k+1\}\backslash frac\{u\; n\}d.$

Then, the Euclidean division of $n\; t$ by $p$ gives

: $n\; t=q\; p+a,$

with

This gives the division step as

: $\backslash begin\{array\}\{lcl\}$

r & = & p^k(q p+a) + p^{k+1}\frac {u n}d \\

& = & a p^k +p^{k+1}\,\frac{q d+u n} d, \\

\end{array}

so that in the iteration

: $r\text{'}\; =\; p^\{k+1\}\backslash ,\backslash frac\{q\; d+u\; n\}\; d$

is the new rational number.

The uniqueness of the division step and of the whole {{mvar|p}}-adic expansion is easy: if $p^k\; a\_1\; +\; p^\{k+1\}s\_1=p^k\; a\_2\; +\; p^\{k+1\}s\_2,$ one has $a\_1-a\_2=p(s\_2-s\_1).$ This means $p$ divides $a\_1-a\_2.$ Since

The {{mvar|p}}-adic expansion of a rational number is a series that converges to the rational number, if one applies the definition of a convergent series with the {{mvar|p}}-adic absolute value.

In the standard {{mvar|p}}-adic notation, the digits are written in the same order as in a Positional notation#Base of the numeral system, namely with the powers of the base increasing to the left. This means that the production of the digits is reversed and the limit happens on the left hand side.

The {{mvar|p}}-adic expansion of a rational number is eventually periodic. Conversely, a series $\backslash sum\_\{i=k\}^\backslash infty\; a\_i\; p^i,$ with

Let us compute the 5-adic expansion of $\backslash tfrac\; 13.$ Bézout's identity for 5 and the denominator 3 is $2\backslash cdot\; 3\; +\; (-1)\backslash cdot\; 5\; =1$ (for larger examples, this can be computed with the extended Euclidean algorithm). Thus

: $\backslash frac\; 13=\; 2+5(\backslash frac\; \{-1\}3).$

For the next step, one has to expand $-1/3$ (the factor 5 has to be viewed as a "shift" of the {{mvar|p}}-adic valuation, similar to the basis of any number expansion, and thus it should not be itself expanded). To expand $-1/3$, we start from the same Bézout's identity and multiply it by $-1$, giving

: $-\backslash frac\; 13=-2+\backslash frac\; 53.$

The "integer part" $-2$ is not in the right interval. So, one has to use Euclidean division by $5$ for getting $-2=\; 3-1\backslash cdot\; 5,$ giving

: $-\backslash frac\; 13=3-5+\backslash frac\; 53\; =\; 3-\backslash frac\; \{10\}3\; =\; 3\; +5\; (\backslash frac\{-2\}3),$

and the expansion in the first step becomes

: $\backslash frac\; 13=\; 2+5\backslash cdot\; (3\; +\; 5\; \backslash cdot\; (\backslash frac\{-2\}3))=\; 2+3\backslash cdot\; 5\; +\; \backslash frac\; \{-2\}3\backslash cdot\; 5^2.$

Similarly, one has

: $-\backslash frac\; 23=1-\backslash frac\; 53,$

and

: $\backslash frac\; 13=2+3\backslash cdot\; 5\; +\; 1\backslash cdot\; 5^2\; +\backslash frac\; \{-1\}3\backslash cdot\; 5^3.$

As the "remainder" $-\backslash tfrac\; 13$ has already been found, the process can be continued easily, giving coefficients $3$ for odd powers of five, and $1$ for even powers.

Or in the standard 5-adic notation

: $\backslash frac\; 13=\; \backslash ldots\; 1313132\_5$

with the ellipsis $\backslash ldots$ on the left hand side.

It is possible to use a positional notation similar to that which is used to represent numbers in base {{mvar|p}}.

Let $\backslash sum\_\{i=k\}^\backslash infty\; a\_i\; p^i$ be a normalized {{mvar|p}}-adic series, i.e. each $a\_i$ is an integer in the interval $[0,p-1].$ One can suppose that $k\backslash le\; 0$ by setting $a\_i=0$ for

If $k\backslash ge\; 0,$ the positional notation consists of writing the $a\_i$ consecutively, ordered by decreasing values of {{mvar|i}}, often with {{mvar|p}} appearing on the right as an index:

: $\backslash ldots\; a\_n\; \backslash ldots\; a\_1\{a\_0\}\_p$

So, the computation of the example above shows that

: $\backslash frac\; 13=\; \backslash ldots\; 1313132\_5,$

and

: $\backslash frac\; \{25\}3=\; \backslash ldots\; 131313200\_5.$

When a separating dot is added before the digits with negative index, and, if the index {{mvar|p}} is present, it appears just after the separating dot. For example,

: $\backslash frac\; 1\{15\}=\; \backslash ldots\; 3131313.\_52,$

and

: $\backslash frac\; 1\{75\}=\; \backslash ldots\; 1313131.\_532.$

If a {{mvar|p}}-adic representation is finite on the left (that is, $a\_i=0$ for large values of {{mvar|i}}), then it has the value of a nonnegative rational number of the form $n\; p^v,$ with $n,v$ integers. These rational numbers are exactly the nonnegative rational numbers that have a finite representation in base {{mvar|p}}. For these rational numbers, the two representations are the same.

The quotient ring $\backslash Z\_p/p^n\backslash Z\_p$ may be identified with the ring $\backslash Z/p^n\backslash Z$ of the integers modulo $p^n.$ This can be shown by remarking that every {{mvar|p}}-adic integer, represented by its normalized {{mvar|p}}-adic series, is congruent modulo $p^n$ with its partial sum $\backslash sum\_\{i=0\}^\{n-1\}a\_ip^i,$ whose value is an integer in the interval $[0,p^n-1].$ A straightforward verification shows that this defines a ring isomorphism from $\backslash Z\_p/p^n\backslash Z\_p$ to $\backslash Z/p^n\backslash Z.$

The inverse limit of the rings $\backslash Z\_p/p^n\backslash Z\_p$ is defined as the ring formed by the sequences $a\_0,\; a\_1,\; \backslash ldots$ such that $a\_i\; \backslash in\; \backslash Z/p^i\; \backslash Z$ and $a\_i\; \backslash equiv\; a\_\{i+1\}\; \backslash pmod\; \{p^i\}$ for every {{mvar|i}}.

The mapping that maps a normalized {{mvar|p}}-adic series to the sequence of its partial sums is a ring isomorphism from $\backslash Z\_p$ to the inverse limit of the $\backslash Z\_p/p^n\backslash Z\_p.$ This provides another way for defining {{mvar|p}}-adic integers (up to an isomorphism).

This definition of {{mvar|p}}-adic integers is specially useful for practical computations, as allowing building {{mvar|p}}-adic integers by successive approximations.

For example, for computing the {{mvar|p}}-adic (multiplicative) inverse of an integer, one can use Newton's method, starting from the inverse modulo {{mvar|p}}; then, each Newton step computes the inverse modulo $p^\{n^2\}$ from the inverse modulo $p^n.$

The same method can be used for computing the {{mvar|p}}-adic square root of an integer that is a quadratic residue modulo {{mvar|p}}. This seems to be the fastest known method for testing whether a large integer is a square: it suffices to test whether the given integer is the square of the value found in $\backslash Z\_p/p^n\backslash Z\_p$. Applying Newton's method to find the square root requires $p^n$ to be larger than twice the given integer, which is quickly satisfied.

Hensel lifting is a similar method that allows to "lift" the factorization modulo {{mvar|p}} of a polynomial with integer coefficients to a factorization modulo $p^n$ for large values of {{mvar|n}}. This is commonly used by polynomial factorization algorithms.

There are several different conventions for writing {{mvar|p}}-adic expansions. So far this article has used a notation for {{mvar|p}}-adic expansions in which powers of {{mvar|p}} increase from right to left. With this right-to-left notation the 3-adic expansion of $\backslash tfrac15,$ for example, is written as

: $\backslash frac15\; =\; \backslash dots\; 121012102\_3.$

When performing arithmetic in this notation, digits are carried to the left. It is also possible to write {{mvar|p}}-adic expansions so that the powers of {{mvar|p}} increase from left to right, and digits are carried to the right. With this left-to-right notation the 3-adic expansion of $\backslash tfrac15$ is

: $$

\frac15 = 2.01210121\dots_3 \mbox{ or }

\frac1{15} = 20.1210121\dots_3.

{{mvar|p}}-adic expansions may be written with other sets of digits instead of {{math|{0, 1, ...,}} {{math|p − 1}}}. For example, the {{math|3}}-adic expansion of $\backslash tfrac15$ can be written using balanced ternary digits {{math|{1, 0, 1}}}, with {{math|1}} representing negative one, as

: $\backslash frac15\; =\; \backslash dots\backslash underline\{1\}11\backslash underline\{11\}11\backslash underline\{11\}11\backslash underline\{1\}\_\{\backslash text\{3\}\}\; .$

In fact any set of {{mvar|p}} integers which are in distinct residue classes modulo {{mvar|p}} may be used as {{mvar|p}}-adic digits. In number theory, Teichmüller representatives are sometimes used as digits.{{Harv|Hazewinkel|2009|p=342}}

{{vanchor|Quote notation}} is a variant of the {{mvar|p}}-adic representation of rational numbers that was proposed in 1979 by Eric Hehner and Nigel Horspool for implementing on computers the (exact) arithmetic with these numbers.{{Harv|Hehner|Horspool|1979|pp=124–134}}

Both $\backslash Z\_p$ and $\backslash Q\_p$ are uncountable and have the cardinality of the continuum.{{Harv|Robert|2000|loc=Chapter 1 Section 1.1}} For $\backslash Z\_p,$ this results from the {{mvar|p}}-adic representation, which defines a bijection of $\backslash Z\_p$ on the power set $\backslash \{0,\backslash ldots,p-1\backslash \}^\backslash N.$ For $\backslash Q\_p$ this results from its expression as a countably infinite union of copies of $\backslash Z\_p$:

: $\backslash Q\_p=\backslash bigcup\_\{i=0\}^\backslash infty\; \backslash frac\; 1\{p^i\}\backslash Z\_p.$

$\backslash Q\_p$ contains $\backslash Q$ and is a field of characteristic {{math|0}}.

{{anchor|not_orderable}}Because {{math|0}} can be written as sum of squares,According to Hensel's lemma $\backslash Q\_2$ contains a square root of {{math|−7}}, so that $2^2\; +1^2+1^2+1^2+\backslash left(\backslash sqrt\{-7\}\backslash right)^2\; =\; 0\; ,$ and if {{math|p > 2}} then also by Hensel's lemma $\backslash Q\_p$ contains a square root of {{math|1 − p}}, thus

$(p-1)\backslash times\; 1^2\; +\backslash left(\backslash sqrt\{1-p\}\backslash right)^2\; =\; 0\; .$ $\backslash Q\_p$ cannot be turned into an ordered field.

The field of real numbers $\backslash R$ has only a single proper algebraic extension: the complex numbers $\backslash C$. In other words, this quadratic extension is already algebraically closed. By contrast, the algebraic closure of $\backslash Q\_p$, denoted $\backslash overline\{\backslash Q\_p\},$ has infinite degree,{{Harv|Gouvêa|1997|loc=Corollary 5.3.10}} that is, $\backslash Q\_p$ has infinitely many inequivalent algebraic extensions. Also contrasting the case of real numbers, although there is a unique extension of the {{mvar|p}}-adic valuation to $\backslash overline\{\backslash Q\_p\},$ the latter is not (metrically) complete.{{Harv|Gouvêa|1997|loc=Theorem 5.7.4}}{{Harv|Cassels|1986|p=149}} Its (metric) completion is called $\backslash C\_p$ or $\backslash Omega\_p$.{{Harv|Koblitz|1980|p=13}} Here an end is reached, as $\backslash C\_p$ is algebraically closed.{{Harv|Gouvêa|1997|loc=Proposition 5.7.8}} However unlike $\backslash C$ this field is not locally compact.

$\backslash C\_p$ and $\backslash C$ are isomorphic as rings,Two algebraically closed fields are isomorphic if and only if they have the same characteristic and transcendence degree (see, for example Lang’s Algebra X §1), and both $\backslash C\_p$ and $\backslash C$ have characteristic zero and the cardinality of the continuum. so we may regard $\backslash C\_p$ as $\backslash C$ endowed with an exotic metric. The proof of existence of such a field isomorphism relies on the axiom of choice, and does not provide an explicit example of such an isomorphism (that is, it is not constructive).

If $K$ is any finite Galois extension of $\backslash Q\_p,$ the Galois group $\backslash operatorname\{Gal\}\; \backslash left(K/\backslash Q\_p\; \backslash right)$ is solvable. Thus, the Galois group $\backslash operatorname\{Gal\}\; \backslash left(\backslash overline\{\backslash Q\_p\}/\; \backslash Q\_p\; \backslash right)$ is prosolvable.

$\backslash Q\_p$ contains the {{mvar|n}}-th cyclotomic field ({{math|n > 2}}) if and only if {{math|n {{!}} p − 1}}.{{Harv|Gouvêa|1997|loc=Proposition 3.4.2}} For instance, the {{mvar|n}}-th cyclotomic field is a subfield of $\backslash Q\_\{13\}$ if and only if {{math|n {{=}} 1, 2, 3, 4, 6}}, or {{math|12}}. In particular, there is no multiplicative {{mvar|p}}-torsion in $\backslash Q\_p$ if {{math|p > 2}}. Also, {{math|−1}} is the only non-trivial torsion element in $\backslash Q\_2$.

Given a natural number {{mvar|k}}, the index of the multiplicative group of the {{mvar|k}}-th powers of the non-zero elements of $\backslash Q\_p$ in $\backslash Q\_p^\backslash times$ is finite.

The number {{mvar|e}}, defined as the sum of reciprocals of factorials, is not a member of any {{mvar|p}}-adic field; but $e^p\; \backslash in\; \backslash Q\_p$ for $p\; \backslash ne\; 2$. For {{math|p {{=}} 2}} one must take at least the fourth power.{{Harv|Robert|2000|loc=Section 4.1}} (Thus a number with similar properties as {{mvar|e}} — namely a {{mvar|p}}-th root of {{math|e^p}} — is a member of $\backslash Q\_p$ for all {{mvar|p}}.)

Helmut Hasse's local–global principle is said to hold for an equation if it can be solved over the rational numbers if and only if it can be solved over the real numbers and over the {{mvar|p}}-adic numbers for every prime {{mvar|p}}. This principle holds, for example, for equations given by quadratic forms, but fails for higher polynomials in several indeterminates.

{{main|Hensel lifting}}

The reals and the {{mvar|p}}-adic numbers are the completions of the rationals; it is also possible to complete other fields, for instance general algebraic number fields, in an analogous way. This will be described now.

Suppose D is a Dedekind domain and E is its field of fractions. Pick a non-zero prime ideal P of D. If x is a non-zero element of E, then xD is a fractional ideal and can be uniquely factored as a product of positive and negative powers of non-zero prime ideals of D. We write ord_P(x) for the exponent of P in this factorization, and for any choice of number c greater than 1 we can set

:$|x|\_P\; =\; c^\{-\backslash !\backslash operatorname\{ord\}\_P(x)\}.$

Completing with respect to this absolute value {{nowrap begin}}|⋅|_P{{nowrap end}} yields a field E_P, the proper generalization of the field of p-adic numbers to this setting. The choice of c does not change the completion (different choices yield the same concept of Cauchy sequence, so the same completion). It is convenient, when the residue field D/P is finite, to take for c the size of D/P.

For example, when E is a number field, Ostrowski's theorem says that every non-trivial non-Archimedean absolute value on E arises as some {{nowrap begin}}|⋅|_P{{nowrap end}}. The remaining non-trivial absolute values on E arise from the different embeddings of E into the real or complex numbers. (In fact, the non-Archimedean absolute values can be considered as simply the different embeddings of E into the fields C_p, thus putting the description of all

the non-trivial absolute values of a number field on a common footing.)

Often, one needs to simultaneously keep track of all the above-mentioned completions when E is a number field (or more generally a global field), which are seen as encoding "local" information. This is accomplished by adele rings and idele groups.

p-adic integers can be extended to p-adic solenoids $\backslash mathbb\{T\}\_p$. There is a map from $\backslash mathbb\{T\}\_p$ to the circle group whose fibers are the p-adic integers $\backslash mathbb\{Z\}\_p$, in analogy to how there is a map from $\backslash mathbb\{R\}$ to the circle whose fibers are $\backslash mathbb\{Z\}$.

{{div col}}

• Non-Archimedean
• p-adic quantum mechanics
• p-adic Hodge theory
• p-adic Teichmuller theory
• p-adic analysis
• 1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + ⋯
• k-adic notation
• C-minimal theory
• Mahler's theorem
• Profinite integer
• Volkenborn integral
• Two's complement

{{div col end}}

{{reflist|group=note}}

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{{refend}}

{{Commons category|P-adic numbers}}

• {{MathWorld|urlname=p-adicNumber|title=p-adic Number}}
• [http://www.encyclopediaofmath.org/index.php/P-adic_number p-adic number] at Springer On-line Encyclopaedia of Mathematics

{{Number systems}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:P-Adic Number}}

Category:Field (mathematics)

Category:Number theory