Exercise 2173Number theory › IrrationalityM1Added 3 Nov 2026
Algebraic independence of $e$ and $\pi$
#algebraic independence#e#pi
Statement
State what is known about algebraic independence of and .
Hint
Both are transcendental individually, but algebraic independence means neither is algebraic over adjoined the other.
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Solution
Individual transcendence. (Hermite) and (Lindemann) are both transcendental.
Algebraic independence. Unknown whether and are algebraically independent over . This would require showing no nonzero polynomial satisfies .
Known. At most one of and can be rational (since if both were, would be algebraic of degree ). But even this is unknown.
Conclusion. Algebraic independence of is a major open problem.