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Math 418 Spring 2017 HW6

The document contains proofs of three claims about splitting fields of polynomials over the rational numbers Q: 1) The splitting field of x4 − 2 over Q is Q(√2,√2i), a degree 8 extension of Q. 2) The splitting field of x4 + 2 over Q is Q(√2(√2/2 + i√2/2), √2(√2/2 − i√2/2)), also a degree 8 extension of Q. 3) For any prime p and nonzero a in the finite field Fp, the polynomial xp − x + a is irreducible and separable.

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83 views2 pages

Math 418 Spring 2017 HW6

The document contains proofs of three claims about splitting fields of polynomials over the rational numbers Q: 1) The splitting field of x4 − 2 over Q is Q(√2,√2i), a degree 8 extension of Q. 2) The splitting field of x4 + 2 over Q is Q(√2(√2/2 + i√2/2), √2(√2/2 − i√2/2)), also a degree 8 extension of Q. 3) For any prime p and nonzero a in the finite field Fp, the polynomial xp − x + a is irreducible and separable.

Uploaded by

pankaj kumar
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Math 418 Spring 2017

Homework 6

√ √
13.4.1. Claim: The splitting field of x4 − 2 over Q is Q( 4 2, 4 2i), which is a degree 8
extension of Q.

Proof: The degree√of f (x) = x4 − 2√is 4, so the splitting field K of f (x) must contain
its 4 roots. Let α = 4 2 and let β = 4 2i. The roots of f (x) are α, −α, β, −β. Then we
claim K = Q(α, β) is the splitting field of f (x).
First, K contains α and β, but also −α and −β since it is a field. Hence f (x) =
(x − α)(x + α)(x − β)(x + β) in K. That is, f (x) splits in K[x]. Now suppose F is a
subfield of K in which f (x) splits. Then F contains Q, as well as the roots of f (x). Then
it contains α and β as well, so since K is the smallest field containing Q, α, and β, F = K.
By Theorem √ 13.14, [K : Q] = [K : Q(α)][Q(α) : Q]. First, [Q(α) : Q] = 4. The minimal
polynomial of 4 2 over Q is x4 −2, which is irreducible by Eisenstein’s Criterion with p = 2.
√ that β 6∈ Q(α) since Q(α) ⊆ R. However, β is
Next, [K : Q(α)] = 2. To see this, first note
a root of the quadratic polynomial x2 + 4 4. Hence [K : Q] = 8.
√ √ √ √ √
13.4.2.
√ Claim: The splitting field of x4 + 2 over Q is Q( 4 2( 2/2 + i 2/2), 4 2( 2/2 −
i 2/2)), which is a degree 8 extension of Q.

Proof: The degree of f (x) = x4 + 2 is 4, so the splitting field K of f (x) must contain
4
its four roots. These are√
2 2
√ which satisfy the equation x = −2.
complex numbers √ Therefore,
√
they satisfy either
√ x =
√ 2i or x = − 2i. The square roots of i
√ are α 1 √ 2/2 + i 2/2
=
√ α2 =√− 2/2 − i 2/2. The square roots of −i are α3 = − 2/2 + i 2/2 and α4 =
and
2/2 − i 2/2. Therefore the roots of f (x) are
√
4 1 √
4
√
4
2α1 = ( 8 + i 8),
2
√
4 1 √ 4
√4
2α2 = (− 8 − i 8),
2
√4 1 √ 4
√4
2α3 = (− 8 + i 8),
2
√4 1 √
4
√4
2α4 = ( 8 − i 8).
2
The polynomial f (x) is irreducible by Eisenstein’s
√ √ Criterion√with p = √
2. Therefore,
4 4
[Q( 2α1 ) : Q] = 4. This extension,
√ K1√= Q( 2α1 ), √ contains 2α2 = − 4 2α1 as well.
4

Hence x4 + 2 factors as (x − 4 2α1 )(x − 4 2α2 )(x2 + 2i) in K1 [x].

1
√
We claim that x2 + 2i is irreducible in K1 [x]. It is a degree 2 polynomial over a√ field,
is reducible if and only if its roots are contained in K1 . Its roots are necessarily 4 2α3
so it √
and√4 2α4√ . We can
√ check that √ these are not contained in K1 . We have a basis for K1 /Q :
{1, 4 2α1 , 2α12 , 4 8α13 }. So if 4 2α3 ∈ K1 , then there exist a, b, c, d ∈ Q so that
√ √ √ √
2α3 = a + b 42α1 + c 2α12 + d 8α13 .
4 4

Multiplying out, we get that


1 √ 4
√4 b √
4
√
4
√ √
4
√4
( 8 − i 8) = a + ( 8 + i 8) + c 2i + d(− 2 + 2i).
2 2
√
It is clear that no
√ such
√ rational
√ numbers
√ √ exist.√Hence x2 + 2i is irreducible over
√ K1√. √
4
Let√K = Q( √ 2( 2/2+i 2/2), 4 2( 2/2−i 2/2)). This extension contains 4 2α1 , 4 2α2 , 4 2α3 ,
and − 4 2α3 = 4 2α4 . Hence x4 + 2 splits over K. By construction, x4 + 2 splits over no
proper subfield of K, so K is the splitting field
√ for x4 + 2. And the degree of K/Q is 8,
the product of the degree of x4 + 2 and x2 + 2i.

13.5.5. Claim: For any prime p and nonzero a ∈ Fp , the polynomial xp −x+a is irreducible
and separable.

Proof: Let f (x) = xp − x + a. Then the derivative Dx f (x) = −1 has no roots.


Therefore f (x) is separable. Suppose by way of contradiction that f (x) were reducible.
Say f (x) = g(x)h(x) for some monic polynomials g(x), h(x) of positive degree lower than
p. Taking the derivative, we see −1 = g(x)Dx h(x) + h(x)Dx g(x). Say the degree of
g(x) = d and the degree of h(x) = e. Since both e and d are smaller than p, the degree of
Dx h(x) = e − 1 and the degree of Dx g(x) = d − 1.
Looking at the previous equation, the leading term of g(x)Dx h(x) is exe+d−1 , and
the leading term of h(x)Dx g(x) is dxe+d−1 . The full equation can therefore only hold if
(e + d)xe+d−1 is 0, or if e + d − 1 = 0. It is not possible for (e + d)xe+d−1 = 0 to hold, since
e and d are bother larger than 0. Similarly, it is not possible for e + d − 1 = 0. Therefore
f (x) is irreducible.

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