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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 ee and π\pi.

Hint

Both are transcendental individually, but algebraic independence means neither is algebraic over Q\mathbb{Q} adjoined the other.

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Solution

Individual transcendence. ee (Hermite) and π\pi (Lindemann) are both transcendental.

Algebraic independence. Unknown whether ee and π\pi are algebraically independent over Q\mathbb{Q}. This would require showing no nonzero polynomial P∈Q[X,Y]P\in\mathbb{Q}[X,Y] satisfies P(e,π)=0P(e,\pi)=0.

Known. At most one of e+πe+\pi and eπe\pi can be rational (since if both were, e,πe,\pi would be algebraic of degree ≤2\le2). But even this is unknown.

Conclusion. Algebraic independence of e,πe,\pi is a major open problem.