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Valuation (algebra)
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In algebra (in particular in algebraic geometry or algebraic number theory), a valuation is a function on a
field that provides a measure of the size or multiplicity of elements of the field. It generalizes to
commutative algebra the notion of size inherent in consideration of the degree of a pole or multiplicity of a
zero in complex analysis, the degree of divisibility of a number by a prime number in number theory, and the
geometrical concept of contact between two algebraic or analytic varieties in algebraic geometry. A field
with a valuation on it is called a valued field.

Contents

Definition
Multiplicative notation and absolute values

Terminology

Associated objects

Basic properties
Equivalence of valuations

Extension of valuations

Complete valued fields

Examples
p-adic valuation

Order of vanishing

π-adic valuation

P-adic valuation on a Dedekind domain

Vector spaces over valuation fields

See also

Notes

References

External links

Definition

One starts with the following objects:

a field K and its multiplicative group K×,

an abelian totally ordered group (Γ, +, ≥).

The ordering and group law on Γ are extended to the set Γ ∪ {∞}[a] by the rules

∞ ≥ α for all α ∈ Γ,

∞ + α = α + ∞ = ∞ + ∞ = ∞ for all α ∈ Γ.

Then a valuation of K is any map

v : K → Γ ∪ {∞}

which satisfies the following properties for all a, b in K:

v(a) = ∞ if and only if a = 0,

v(ab) = v(a) + v(b),

v(a + b) ≥ min(v(a), v(b)), with equality if v(a) ≠ v(b).

A valuation v is trivial if v(a) = 0 for all a in K×, otherwise it is non-trivial.

The second property asserts that any valuation is a group homomorphism. The third property is a version of
the triangle inequality on metric spaces adapted to an arbitrary Γ (see Multiplicative notation below). For
valuations used in geometric applications, the first property implies that any non-empty germ of an analytic
variety near a point contains that point.

The valuation can be interpreted as the order of the leading-order term.[b] The third property then
corresponds to the order of a sum being the order of the larger term,[c] unless the two terms have the same
order, in which case they may cancel and the sum may have larger order.

[d]
For many applications, Γ is an additive subgroup of the real numbers in which case ∞ can be
interpreted as +∞ in the extended real numbers; note that for any real
number a, and thus +∞ is the unit under the binary operation of minimum. The real numbers (extended by
+∞) with the operations of minimum and addition form a semiring, called the min tropical semiring,[e] and a
valuation v is almost a semiring homomorphism from K to the tropical semiring, except that the
homomorphism property can fail when two elements with the same valuation are added together.

Multiplicative notation and absolute values

The concept was developed by Emil Artin in his book Geometric Algebra writing the group in multiplicative
notation as (Γ, ·, ≥):[1]

Instead of ∞, we adjoin a formal symbol O to Γ, with the ordering and group law extended by the rules

O ≤ α for all α ∈ Γ,

O · α = α · O = O for all α ∈ Γ.

Then a valuation of K is any map

| ∙ |v : K → Γ ∪ {O}

satisfying the following properties for all a, b ∈ K:

|a|v = O if and only if a = 0,

|ab|v = |a|v · |b|v,

|a+b|v ≤ max(|a|v, |b|v), with equality if |a|v ≠ |b|v.

(Note that the directions of the inequalities are reversed from those in the additive notation.)

If Γ is a subgroup of the positive real numbers under multiplication, the last condition is the ultrametric
inequality, a stronger form of the triangle inequality |a+b|v ≤ |a|v + |b|v, and | ∙ |v is an absolute value. In
this case, we may pass to the additive notation with value group by taking v+(a) = −log |a|v.

Each valuation on K defines a corresponding linear preorder: a ≼ b |a|v ≤ |b|v. Conversely, given a "≼"
satisfying the required properties, we can define valuation |a|v = {b: b ≼ a ∧ a ≼ b}, with multiplication and
ordering based on K and ≼.

Terminology

In this article, we use the terms defined above, in the additive notation. However, some authors use
alternative terms:

our "valuation" (satisfying the ultrametric inequality) is called an "exponential valuation" or "non-
Archimedean absolute value" or "ultrametric absolute value";

our "absolute value" (satisfying the triangle inequality) is called a "valuation" or an "Archimedean
absolute value".

Associated objects

There are several objects defined from a given valuation v : K → Γ ∪ {∞} ;

the value group or valuation group Γv = v(K×), a subgroup of Γ (though v is usually surjective so that Γv
= Γ);

the valuation ring Rv is the set of a ∈ K with v(a) ≥ 0,

the prime ideal mv is the set of a ∈ K with v(a) > 0 (it is in fact a maximal ideal of Rv),

the residue field kv = Rv/mv,

the place of K associated to v, the class of v under the equivalence defined below.

Basic properties

Equivalence of valuations

Two valuations v1 and v2 of K with valuation group Γ1 and Γ2, respectively, are said to be equivalent if there
is an order-preserving group isomorphism φ : Γ1 → Γ2 such that v2(a) = φ(v1(a)) for all a in K×. This is an
equivalence relation.

Two valuations of K are equivalent if and only if they have the same valuation ring.

An equivalence class of valuations of a field is called a place. Ostrowski's theorem gives a complete
classification of places of the field of rational numbers these are precisely the equivalence classes of
valuations for the p-adic completions of

Extension of valuations

Let v be a valuation of K and let L be a field extension of K. An extension of v (to L) is a valuation w of L

such that the restriction of w to K is v. The set of all such extensions is studied in the ramification theory of
valuations.

Let L/K be a finite extension and let w be an extension of v to L. The index of Γv in Γw, e(w/v) = [Γw : Γv], is
called the reduced ramification index of w over v. It satisfies e(w/v) ≤ [L : K] (the degree of the extension
L/K). The relative degree of w over v is defined to be f(w/v) = [Rw/mw : Rv/mv] (the degree of the extension
of residue fields). It is also less than or equal to the degree of L/K. When L/K is separable, the ramification
index of w over v is defined to be e(w/v)pi, where pi is the inseparable degree of the extension Rw/mw over
Rv/mv.

Complete valued fields

When the ordered abelian group Γ is the additive group of the integers, the associated valuation is
equivalent to an absolute value, and hence induces a metric on the field K. If K is complete with respect to
this metric, then it is called a complete valued field. If K is not complete, one can use the valuation to
construct its completion, as in the examples below, and different valuations can define different completion
fields.

In general, a valuation induces a uniform structure on K, and K is called a complete valued field if it is
complete as a uniform space. There is a related property known as spherical completeness: it is equivalent
to completeness if but stronger in general.

Examples

p-adic valuation

The most basic example is the p-adic valuation νp associated to a prime integer p, on the rational numbers
with valuation ring where is the localization of at the prime ideal . The
valuation group is the additive integers For an integer the valuation νp(a) measures the
divisibility of a by powers of p:

and for a fraction, νp(a/b) = νp(a) − νp(b).

Writing this multiplicatively yields the p-adic absolute value, which conventionally has as base ,
so .

The completion of with respect to νp is the field of p-adic numbers.

Order of vanishing

Let K = F(x), the rational functions on the affine line X = F1, and take a point a ∈ X. For a polynomial
with , define va(f) = k, the order of
vanishing at x = a; and va(f /g) = va(f) − va(g). Then the valuation ring R consists of rational functions with no
pole at x = a, and the completion is the formal Laurent series ring F((x−a)). This can be generalized to the
field of Puiseux series K{{t}} (fractional powers), the Levi-Civita field (its Cauchy completion), and the field
of Hahn series, with valuation in all cases returning the smallest exponent of t appearing in the series.

π-adic valuation

Generalizing the previous examples, let R be a principal ideal domain, K be its field of fractions, and π be an
irreducible element of R. Since every principal ideal domain is a unique factorization domain, every non-zero
element a of R can be written (essentially) uniquely as

where the e's are non-negative integers and the pi are irreducible elements of R that are not associates of
π. In particular, the integer ea is uniquely determined by a.

The π-adic valuation of K is then given by

If π' is another irreducible element of R such that (π') = (π) (that is, they generate the same ideal in R), then
the π-adic valuation and the π'-adic valuation are equal. Thus, the π-adic valuation can be called the P-adic
valuation, where P = (π).

P-adic valuation on a Dedekind domain

The previous example can be generalized to Dedekind domains. Let R be a Dedekind domain, K its field of
fractions, and let P be a non-zero prime ideal of R. Then, the localization of R at P, denoted RP, is a principal
ideal domain whose field of fractions is K. The construction of the previous section applied to the prime
ideal PRP of RP yields the P-adic valuation of K.

Vector spaces over valuation fields

Suppose that Γ ∪ {0} is the set of non-negative real numbers under multiplication. Then we say that the
valuation is non-discrete if its range (the valuation group) is infinite (and hence has an accumulation point
at 0).

Suppose that X is a vector space over K and that A and B are subsets of X. Then we say that A absorbs B if
there exists a α ∈ K such that λ ∈ K and |λ| ≥ |α| implies that B ⊆ λ A. A is called radial or absorbing if A
absorbs every finite subset of X. Radial subsets of X are invariant under finite intersection. Also, A is called
circled if λ in K and |λ| ≥ |α| implies λ A ⊆ A. The set of circled subsets of L is invariant under arbitrary
intersections. The circled hull of A is the intersection of all circled subsets of X containing A.

Suppose that X and Y are vector spaces over a non-discrete valuation field K, let A ⊆ X, B ⊆ Y, and let f : X
→ Y be a linear map. If B is circled or radial then so is . If A is circled then so is f(A) but if A is radial
then f(A) will be radial under the additional condition that f is surjective.

See also

Discrete valuation

Euclidean valuation

Field norm

Absolute value (algebra)

Notes

a. ^ The symbol ∞ denotes an element not in Γ, with no other meaning. Its properties are simply defined by the
given axioms.

b. ^ With the min convention here, the valuation is rather interpreted as the negative of the order of the leading
order term, but with the max convention it can be interpreted as the order.

c. ^ Again, swapped since using minimum convention.

d. ^ Every Archimedean group is isomorphic to a subgroup of the real numbers under addition, but non-
Archimedean ordered groups exist, such as the additive group of a non-Archimedean ordered field.

e. ^ In the tropical semiring, minimum and addition of real numbers are considered tropical addition and tropical
multiplication; these are the semiring operations.

References

1. ^ Emil Artin Geometric Algebra , pages 47 to 49, via Internet Archive

Efrat, Ido (2006), Valuations, orderings, and Milnor K-theory, Mathematical Surveys and Monographs, vol. 124,
Providence, RI: American Mathematical Society, ISBN 0-8218-4041-X, Zbl 1103.12002

Jacobson, Nathan (1989) [1980], "Valuations: paragraph 6 of chapter 9", Basic algebra II (2nd ed.), New York: W.
H. Freeman and Company, ISBN 0-7167-1933-9, Zbl 0694.16001 . A masterpiece on algebra written by one of
the leading contributors.

Chapter VI of Zariski, Oscar; Samuel, Pierre (1976) [1960], Commutative algebra, Volume II, Graduate Texts in
Mathematics, vol. 29, New York, Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag, ISBN 978-0-387-90171-8, Zbl 0322.13001

Schaefer, Helmut H.; Wolff, M.P. (1999). Topological Vector Spaces. GTM. Vol. 3. New York: Springer-Verlag.
pp. 10–11. ISBN 9780387987262.

External links

Danilov, V.I. (2001) [1994], "Valuation" , Encyclopedia of Mathematics, EMS Press

Discrete valuation at PlanetMath.

Valuation at PlanetMath.

Weisstein, Eric W. "Valuation" . MathWorld.

Last edited on 20 December 2023, at 20:44

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