Solvability of meromorphic equations in elementary functions
Abstract
An equation $f(x)=a$, where $f$ is a complex meromorphic function and $a\in\mathbb{C}$ is a parameter, is solvable in elementary functions if the inverse map $x=f^{-1}(a)$ can be expressed as a finite composition of arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division), the exponential function, the complex logarithm, and constants. Specific functions such as $\tan x - x$, $\exp x + x$, $x^x$ have been proven to be unsolvable by Kanel-Belov, Malistov, Zaytsev, while almost all entire surjective functions of at most exponential growth have been covered by Zelenko. All these rely on one-dimensional topological Galois theory, developed by Khovanskii. We generalize to provide a proof for the unsolvability of all elementary meromorphic functions $f$ such that the derivative of $f$ has infinitely many roots $x_i$ and the set of distinct values $f(x_i)$ is infinite.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Algebraic Geometry and Number Theory
Meromorphic and Entire Functions
Advanced Differential Equations and Dynamical Systems
Publication details
- Journal / source
- arXiv (Cornell University)
- Publication date
- 9 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Preprint