plural of Legendre

A surname.

plural of Legendre polynomial

(mathematics) Any of a certain system of complete and orthogonal polynomials, with numerous mathematical properties and applications.

(mathematics) Given a function f(x,y,z,...) which is concave up with respect to x (i.e., its second derivative with respect to x is greater than zero), an involutive procedure for replacing x with another variable, say p=∂f/∂x thus yielding another function, say F=F(p,y,z,...). This new function contains all of the information of the original f encoded, as it were, within it so that ∂F/∂p=x and applying a similar transformation to F yields the original f. The formula is: F(p,y,z,...)=p·x(p)-f(x(p),y,z,...) where x must be expressed as a function of p. (Note: The concave upwardness means that ∂f/∂x is monotonically increasing, which means that p as a function of x is invertible, so x should be expressible as a function of p.)

(number theory) A mathematical function of an integer and a prime number, written (a/p), which indicates whether a is a quadratic residue modulo p.

plural of Legendre symbol

(mathematics) The equation that defines the Legendre polynomials: d/dx[(1-x²)d/dxP_n(x)]+n(n+1)P_n(x)=0.