# Valuation (algebra)

In algebra (in particular in algebraic geometry or algebraic number theory), a valuation is a function on a field that provides a measure of size or multiplicity of elements of the field. It generalizes to commutative algebra the notion of size inherent in consideration of the degree of a pole or multiplicity of a zero in complex analysis, the degree of divisibility of a number by a prime number in number theory, and the geometrical concept of contact between two algebraic or analytic varieties in algebraic geometry. A field with a valuation on it is called a valued field.

## Definition

One starts with the following objects:

The ordering and group law on Γ are extended to the set Γ ∪ {∞}[a] by the rules

• ∞ ≥ α for all αΓ,
• ∞ + α = α + ∞ = ∞ for all αΓ.

Then a valuation of K is any map

v : K → Γ ∪ {∞}

which satisfies the following properties for all a, b in K:

• v(a) = ∞ if and only if a = 0,
• v(ab) = v(a) + v(b),
• v(a + b) ≥ min(v(a), v(b)), with equality if v(a) ≠ v(b).

A valuation v is trivial if v(a) = 0 for all a in K×, otherwise it is non-trivial.

The second property asserts that any valuation is a group homomorphism. The third property is a version of the triangle inequality on metric spaces adapted to an arbitrary Γ (see Multiplicative notation below). For valuations used in geometric applications, the first property implies that any non-empty germ of an analytic variety near a point contains that point.

The valuation can be interpreted as the order of the leading-order term.[b] The third property then corresponds to the order of a sum being the order of the larger term,[c] unless the two terms have the same order, in which case they may cancel, in which case the sum may have smaller order.

For many applications, Γ is an additive subgroup of the real numbers R,[d] in which case ∞ can be interpreted as +∞ in the extended real numbers; note that ${\displaystyle \min(a,+\infty )=\min(+\infty ,a)=a}$ for any real number a, and thus +∞ is the unit under the binary operation of minimum. The real numbers (extended by +∞) with the operations of minimum and addition form a semiring, called the min tropical semiring,[e] and a valuation v is almost a semiring homomorphism from K to the tropical semiring, except that the homomorphism property can fail when two elements with the same valuation are added together.

### Multiplicative notation and absolute values

We could define[1] the same concept writing the group in multiplicative notation as (Γ, ·, ≥): instead of ∞, we adjoin a formal symbol O to Γ, with the ordering and group law extended by the rules

• Oα for all αΓ,
• O · α = α · O = O for all αΓ.

Then a valuation of K is any map

v : K → Γ ∪ {O}

satisfying the following properties for all a, bK:

• v(a) = O if and only if a = 0,
• v(ab) = v(a) · v(b),
• v(a + b) ≤ max(v(a), v(b)), with equality if v(a) ≠ v(b).

(Note that the directions of the inequalities are reversed from those in the additive notation.)

If Γ is a subgroup of the positive real numbers under multiplication, the last condition is the ultrametric inequality, a stronger form of the triangle inequality v(a + b) ≤ v(a) + v(b), and v is an absolute value. In this case, we may pass to the additive notation with value group Γ+ ⊂ (R, +) by taking v+(a) = −log v(a).

Each valuation on K defines a corresponding linear preorder: abv(a) ≤ v(b). Conversely, given a '≼' satisfying the required properties, we can define valuation v(a) = {b: baab}, with multiplication and ordering based on K and ≼.

### Terminology

However, some authors use alternative terms:

• our "valuation" (satisfying the ultrametric inequality) is called an "exponential valuation" or "non-Archimedean absolute value" or "ultrametric absolute value";
• our "absolute value" (satisfying the triangle inequality) is called a "valuation" or an "Archimedean absolute value".

### Associated objects

There are several objects defined from a given valuation v : K → Γ ∪ {∞} ;

• the value group or valuation group Γv = v(K×), a subgroup of Γ (though v is usually surjective so that Γv = Γ);
• the valuation ring Rv is the set of aK with v(a) ≥ 0,
• the prime ideal mv is the set of aK with v(a) > 0 (it is in fact a maximal ideal of Rv),
• the residue field kv = Rv/mv,
• the place of K associated to v, the class of v under the equivalence defined below.

## Basic properties

### Equivalence of valuations

Two valuations v1 and v2 of K with valuation group Γ1 and Γ2, respectively, are said to be equivalent if there is an order-preserving group isomorphism φ : Γ1 → Γ2 such that v2(a) = φ(v1(a)) for all a in K×. This is an equivalence relation.

Two valuations of K are equivalent if and only if they have the same valuation ring.

An equivalence class of valuations of a field is called a place. Ostrowski's theorem gives a complete classification of places of the field of rational numbers Q: these are precisely the equivalence classes of valuations for the p-adic completions of Q.

### Extension of valuations

Let v be a valuation of K and let L be a field extension of K. An extension of v (to L) is a valuation w of L such that the restriction of w to K is v. The set of all such extensions is studied in the ramification theory of valuations.

Let L/K be a finite extension and let w be an extension of v to L. The index of Γv in Γw, e(w/v) = [Γw : Γv], is called the reduced ramification index of w over v. It satisfies e(w/v) ≤ [L : K] (the degree of the extension L/K). The relative degree of w over v is defined to be f(w/v) = [Rw/mw : Rv/mv] (the degree of the extension of residue fields). It is also less than or equal to the degree of L/K. When L/K is separable, the ramification index of w over v is defined to be e(w/v)pi, where pi is the inseparable degree of the extension Rw/mw over Rv/mv.

### Complete valued fields

When the ordered abelian group Γ is the additive group of the integers, the associated valuation is equivalent to an absolute value, and hence induces a metric on the field K. If K is complete with respect to this metric, then it is called a complete valued field. If K is not complete, one can use the valuation to construct its completion, as in the examples below, and different valuations can define different completion fields.

In general, a valuation induces a uniform structure on K, and K is called a complete valued field if it is complete as a uniform space. There is a related property known as spherical completeness: it is equivalent to completeness if Γ = Z, but stronger in general.

## Examples

The most basic example is the p-adic valuation vp associated to a prime integer p, on the rational numbers K = Q, with valuation ring R = Z. The valuation group is the additive integers Γ = Z. For an integer a ∈ R = Z, the valuation vp(a) measures the divisibility of a by powers of p:

${\displaystyle v_{p}(a)=\max\{e\in \mathbb {Z} \mid p^{e}{\text{ divides }}a\};}$

and for a fraction, vp(a/b) = vp(a) − vp(b).

Writing this multiplicatively yields the p-adic absolute value, which conventionally has as base ${\displaystyle 1/p=p^{-1}}$, so ${\displaystyle |a|_{p}:=p^{-v_{p}(a)}}$.

The completion of Q with respect to vp is the field Qp of p-adic numbers.

### Order of vanishing

Let K = F(x), the rational functions on the affine line X = F1, and take a point a ∈ X. For a polynomial ${\displaystyle f(x)=a_{k}(x{-}a)^{k}+a_{k+1}(x{-}a)^{k+1}+\cdots +a_{n}(x{-}a)^{n}}$ with ${\displaystyle a_{k}\neq 0}$, define va(f) = k, the order of vanishing at x = a; and va(f /g) = va(f) − va(g). Then the valuation ring R consists of rational functions with no pole at x = a, and the completion is the formal Laurent series ring F((xa)). This can be generalized to the field of Puiseux series K{{t}} (fractional powers), the Levi-Civita field (its Cauchy completion), and the field of Hahn series, with valuation in all cases returning the smallest exponent of t appearing in the series.

Generalizing the previous examples, let R be a principal ideal domain, K be its field of fractions, and π be an irreducible element of R. Since every principal ideal domain is a unique factorization domain, every non-zero element a of R can be written (essentially) uniquely as

${\displaystyle a=\pi ^{e_{a}}p_{1}^{e_{1}}p_{2}^{e_{2}}\cdots p_{n}^{e_{n}}}$

where the e's are non-negative integers and the pi are irreducible elements of R that are not associates of π. In particular, the integer ea is uniquely determined by a.

The π-adic valuation of K is then given by

• ${\displaystyle v_{\pi }(0)=\infty }$
• ${\displaystyle v_{\pi }(a/b)=e_{a}-e_{b},{\text{ for }}a,b\in R,a,b\neq 0.}$

If π' is another irreducible element of R such that (π') = (π) (that is, they generate the same ideal in R), then the π-adic valuation and the π'-adic valuation are equal. Thus, the π-adic valuation can be called the P-adic valuation, where P = (π).

### P-adic valuation on a Dedekind domain

The previous example can be generalized to Dedekind domains. Let R be a Dedekind domain, K its field of fractions, and let P be a non-zero prime ideal of R. Then, the localization of R at P, denoted RP, is a principal ideal domain whose field of fractions is K. The construction of the previous section applied to the prime ideal PRP of RP yields the P-adic valuation of K.

### Geometric notion of contact

Valuations can be defined for a field of functions on a space of dimension greater than one. Recall that the order-of-vanishing valuation va(f) on R = C[x] measures the multiplicity of the point x = a in the zero set of f; one may consider this as the order of contact (or local intersection number) of the graph y = f(x) with the x-axis y = 0 near the point (a,0). If, instead of the x-axis, one fixes another irreducible plane curve h(x,y) = 0 and a point (a,b), one may similarly define a valuation vh on R = C[x,y] so that vh(f) is the order of contact (the intersection number) between the fixed curve and f(x,y) = 0 near (a,b). This valuation naturally extends to rational functions f /gK = C(x,y).

In fact, this construction is a special case of the π-adic valuation on a PID defined above. Namely, consider the local ring ${\displaystyle R=\mathbb {C} [x,y]_{(h)}=\{{\tfrac {f}{g}}\in \mathbb {C} (x,y)\mid h{\text{ does not divide }}g\}}$, the ring of rational functions which are defined on some open subset of the curve h = 0. This is a PID; in fact a discrete valuation ring whose only ideals are the powers ${\displaystyle (h)^{k}}$. Then the above valuation vh is the π-adic valuation corresponding to the irreducible element π = hR.

Example: Consider the curve ${\displaystyle V_{h}}$ defined by ${\displaystyle h(x,y)=x^{3}-xy-y=0}$, namely the graph ${\displaystyle \textstyle y={\frac {x^{3}}{1-x}}=\sum _{n=3}^{\infty }x^{n},}$ near the origin ${\displaystyle (a,b)=(0,0)}$. This curve can be parametrized by tC as:

${\displaystyle \textstyle (x,y)\!=\!(t,{\frac {t^{3}}{1-t}})=(t,\sum _{n=3}^{\infty }t^{n}),}$

with the special point (0,0) corresponding to t = 0. Now define ${\displaystyle v_{h}:\mathbf {C} [x,y]\to \mathbf {Z} }$ as the order of the formal power series in t obtained by restriction of any non-zero polynomial f in C[x, y] to the curve Vh:

${\displaystyle \textstyle v_{h}(f)=\mathrm {ord} _{t}(f|_{V_{h}})=\mathrm {ord} _{t}\!\left(f(t,\sum _{n=3}^{\infty }t^{n})\right),\quad {\text{for }}f\in \mathbf {C} [x,y].}$

This extends to the field of rational functions C(x, y) by ${\displaystyle v_{h}(f/g)=v_{h}(f)-v_{h}(g)}$, along with ${\displaystyle v_{h}(0)=\infty }$.

Some intersection numbers:

{\displaystyle {\begin{aligned}v_{h}(x)&=\mathrm {ord} _{t}(t)=1\\v_{h}(x^{6}-y^{2})&=\mathrm {ord} _{t}\left(t^{6}-t^{6}-2t^{7}-3t^{8}-\cdots \right)=\mathrm {ord} _{t}\left(-2t^{7}-3t^{8}-\cdots \right)=7\\v_{h}\!\left({\tfrac {x^{6}-y^{2}}{x}}\right)&=\mathrm {ord} _{t}\left(-2t^{7}-3t^{8}-\cdots \right)-\mathrm {ord} _{t}(t)\\&=7-1=6\end{aligned}}}

## Vector spaces over valuation fields

Suppose that Γ ∪ {0} is the set of non-negative real numbers under multiplication. Then we say that the valuation is non-discrete if its range (the valuation group) is infinite (and hence has an accumulation point at 0).

Suppose that X is a vector space over K and that A and B are subsets of X. Then we say that A absorbs B if there exists a αK such that λK and |λ| ≥ |α| implies that B ⊆ λ A. A is called radial or absorbing if A absorbs every finite subset of X. Radial subsets of X are invariant under finite intersection. Also, A is called circled if λ in K and |λ| ≥ |α| implies λ A ⊆ A. The set of circled subsets of L is invariant under arbitrary intersections. The circled hull of A is the intersection of all circled subsets of X containing A.

Suppose that X and Y are vector spaces over a non-discrete valuation field K, let A ⊆ X, B ⊆ Y, and let f : X → Y be a linear map. If B is circled or radial then so is ${\displaystyle f^{-1}(B)}$. If A is circled then so is f(A) but if A is radial then f(A) will be radial under the additional condition that f is surjective.

## Notes

1. ^ The symbol ∞ denotes an element not in Γ, with no other meaning. Its properties are simply defined by the given axioms.
2. ^ With the min convention here, the valuation is rather interpreted as the negative of the order of the leading order term, but with the max convention it can be interpreted as the order.
3. ^ Again, swapped since using minimum convention.
4. ^ Every Archimedean group is isomorphic to a subgroup of the real numbers under addition, but non-Archimedean ordered groups exist, such as the additive group of a non-Archimedean ordered field.
5. ^ In the tropical semiring, minimum and addition of real numbers are considered tropical addition and tropical multiplication; these are the semiring operations.

## References

1. ^ Emil Artin (1957) Geometric Algebra, page 48
• Efrat, Ido (2006), Valuations, orderings, and Milnor K-theory, Mathematical Surveys and Monographs, 124, Providence, RI: American Mathematical Society, ISBN 0-8218-4041-X, Zbl 1103.12002
• Jacobson, Nathan (1989) [1980], "Valuations: paragraph 6 of chapter 9", Basic algebra II (2nd ed.), New York: W. H. Freeman and Company, ISBN 0-7167-1933-9, Zbl 0694.16001. A masterpiece on algebra written by one of the leading contributors.
• Chapter VI of Zariski, Oscar; Samuel, Pierre (1976) [1960], Commutative algebra, Volume II, Graduate Texts in Mathematics, 29, New York, Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag, ISBN 978-0-387-90171-8, Zbl 0322.13001
• Schaefer, Helmuth H.; Wolff, M.P. (1999). Topological Vector Spaces. GTM. 3. New York: Springer-Verlag. pp. 10–11. ISBN 9780387987262.