Sums-of-Squares Formulas over Algebraically Closed Fields

Melissa Lynn

Published 2015-10-19Version 1

In this paper, we consider whether existence of a sums-of-squares formula depends on the base field. We reformulate the question of existence as a question in algebraic geometry. We show that if a formula exists in characteristic 0, then a formula exists over all algebraically closed fields, as well as some related results.