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In field theory, a branch of mathematics, the Stufe s of a field F is the least number of squares that sum to −1. If −1 cannot be written as a sum of squares, s = ∞ {\displaystyle \infty }. In this case, F is a formally real field. Albrecht Pfister proved that the Stufe, if finite, is always a power of 2, and that conversely every power of 2 occurs.
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