Definition:Transcendental Number

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Definition

A number (either real or complex) is transcendental if and only if it is not algebraic.


Transcendental Number over Field

Some sources define a transcendental number over a more general field:


Let $F$ be a field.

Let $z$ be a complex number.

$z$ is a transcendental number over $F$ if and only if $z$ cannot be expressed as a root of a polynomial with coefficients in $F$.


Also see

  • Results about transcendental numbers can be found here.


Historical Note

The first numbers that were demonstrated as being transcendental were presented by Joseph Liouville in $1851$.

He did this with the aid of what is now known as Liouville's theorem.


Sources