Differential Galois Theory

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Vivek Shende, Princeton University
Fine Hall 314

Algebraic groups, differential equations, and Galois theory: who isn't scared of at least one of those? It being the last GSS talk before Halloween, I'll do my best to mention all three. The ostensible purpose of doing so will be to explain why certain indefinite integrals cannot be written in terms of elementary functions. No knowledge of elementary functions will be presupposed.