Solvability of Equations by Quadratures and Newton’s Theorem

Abstract

Picard–Vessiot theorem (1910) provides a necessary and sufficient condition for solvability of linear differential equations of order n by quadratures in terms of its Galois group. It is based on the differential Galois theory and is rather involved. Liouville in 1839 found an elementary criterium for such solvability for $$n=2$$ . Ritt simplified Liouville’s theorem (1948). In 1973 Rosenlicht proved a similar criterium for arbitrary n. Rosenlicht work relies on the valuation theory and is not elementary. In these notes we show that the elementary Liouville–Ritt method based on developing solutions in Puiseux series as functions of a parameter works smoothly for arbitrary n and proves the same criterium.