Meanings
- mathematicsA theorem stating that there is no solution in radicals to general polynomial equations of degree five or higher with arbitrary coefficients.
Synonyms: Abel's impossibility theorem
Synonyms & antonyms
proper nounA theorem stating that there is no solution in radicals to general polynomial equations of degree five or higher with arbitrary coefficients.
Origin
Named after Paolo Ruffini, who made an incomplete proof in 1799, and Niels Henrik Abel, who provided a proof in 1824.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
Abel-Ruffini theorem. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Abel-Ruffini%20theorem
“Abel-Ruffini theorem.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Abel-Ruffini%20theorem. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Abel-Ruffini theorem,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Abel-Ruffini%20theorem.
Source: Abel-Ruffini theorem on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.