Homework 6 Solutions

Problem 6.1.3. Suppose that u is algebraic over the field K, and that a ∈ K. Show that u + a is algebraic over
K, find its minimal polynomial over K, and show that the degree of u + a over K is equal to the degree of u over
K.
Proof. Let f (x) ∈ K[x] be the minimal polynomial of u over K. Now consider g(x) = f (x − a). Since a ∈ K
and f (x) is monic and irreducible over K[x] it follows that g(x) ∈ K[x] is monic and irreducible over K[x]. Note
that g(u + a) = f (u) = 0 so that u + a is algebraic over K and g(x) is the minimal polynomial for u + a. Since
deg f = deg g the degree of u + a over K is equal to the degree of u over K.
√ √
Problem 6.1.4. Show that 3 6∈ Q( 2).
√ √ 2
√
Proof.
√ Suppose for a contradiction that 3 = a + b 2. This would imply that (a p + 2b2 − 3) + 2ab 2 = 0. Since
2 is irrational this implies that
√ ab = 0. If a = 0 then 2b2 − 3 =√0 implies
√ that 3/2 ∈ Q which is false. If b = 0
2
then a − 3 = 0 implies that 3 ∈ Q which is false. Therefore 3 6∈ Q( 2).
Problem 6.1.8. Let F be an extension field of K.
(a) Show that F is a vector space over K.
(b) Let u ∈ F . Show that u is algebraic over K if and only if the subspace spanned by {1, u, u2 , u3 , . . .} is a
field.

Proof. (a) Since F is a field its an abelian group under addition so to show that F is a vector space over K it
suffices to show that the scalar multiplication K × F → F given by (k, f ) 7→ kf satisfies the axioms (vi)-(x) given
on page 485. One can check that these are satisfied by the axioms for the field F .
(b) If u is algebraic then let f (x) ∈ K[x] be the minimal polynomial for u over K. Recall that K(u) ∼ =
K[x]/hf (x)i is a vector space over K of dimension n = deg f . Let V ⊆ K(u) be the subspace spanned by
{1, u, u2 , u3 , . . .}. Since {1, u, u2 , . . . , un−1 } ⊆ V is a basis for K(u) it follows that K(u) ⊆ V . Hence V = K(u)
is a field.
Conversely if V is a field then u ∈ V has an inverse v = a0 +a1 u+· · ·+am um ∈ V where ai ∈ K. Thus uv = 1
implies that −1+a0 u+a1 u2 +· · ·+am um+1 = 0, i.e. u is a root of the polynomial −1+a0 x+· · ·+am xm+1 ∈ K[x].
Hence u is algebraic over K.
Problem 6.1.9. Let F be an extension field of K. If u ∈ F is transcendental over K, then show that every
element of K(u) that is not in K is also transcendental over K.
Proof. We will show the contrapositive: if v ∈ K(u) is algebraic then v is in K. Since K(u) is isomorphic to
K(x) by an isomorphism which is the identity on K (Proposition 6.1.5) we may assume that K(u) = K(x).
If v = 0 then the result is clearly true so assume v 6= 0. If v = f (x)/g(x) ∈ K(x) (with f (x), g(x) 6=
0 and (f (x), g(x)) = 1) is algebraic over K then let p(x) = a0 + a1 x + · · · + an xn ∈ K[x] be its minimal
polynomial. Since p(x) is irreducible it follows that a0 and an are both nonzero. Since p(v) = 0 it follows that
a0 g(x)n + a1 f (x)g(x)n−1 + · · · + an f (x)n = g(x)n p(v) = 0. The previous equality implies that f (x) | a0 g(x)n
and g(x) | an f (x)n and hence f (x) | a0 and g(x) | an since (f (x), g(x)) = 1. Since a0 and an are nonzero this
implies that f (x) ∈ K and g(x) ∈ K and hence v = f (x)/g(x) ∈ K.
Problem√6.2.1. √ Find the degree and a basis for each of the given field extensions.
(b) Q( √3, √7) over Q
(d) Q( 2, 3 2) over Q √
(f ) Q(ω) over Q, where ω = (−1 + 3i)/2
√ √ √ √ √ √ 2
Proof. (b) Note that [Q( 3, √ 7) : Q] = [Q( √3, 7) : Q( 7)][Q( 27) : Q]. Since x − 7 is irreducible √ √ over Q √ its
the minimal polynomial of 7 and √ hence [Q(
√ 7) : Q] = 2. Since
√ √ x − 3 is irreducible
√ over Q( 7)
√ √( 3 ∈
6 Q( 7))
its the minimal polynomial of 3 over Q( √ √ √7) and hence [Q( 3, 7) : Q( 7)] = 2. Thus [Q( 3, 7) : Q] = 4
and a basis for the field
√ √ extension is {1, 3,
√ √ 7, 21}.
√ √ √ √ √ √
3
(d) Note that [Q( 2, √
√ 2) : Q] = [Q( 2, 3 2) : Q( 2)][Q( 2) √ : Q]
√ = [Q( 2, 3 2) : Q( 3 2)][Q( 3 √ 2) : Q].
√ Since
[Q( 2) : Q] = 2 and [Q( 3 2) : Q] = 3 are both divisors of [Q( 2, 3 2) : Q] it follows that 6 | [Q( 2, 3 2) : Q].

1
 √ √ √ √
At the same time we have [Q( 2, 3 2) : Q] ≤ 6 since the degrees of 2 and 3 2 over Q are 2 and 3 respectively.
√ √ √ √ √ 2 √ 5 √ 7
Hence [Q( 2, 3 2) : Q] = 6 and a basis for the field extension is {1, 2, 3 2, 3 2 , 6 2 , 6 2 }
2πi
(e) Note that ω = e 3 and hence ω is a root of x3 − 1 = (x − 1)(x2 + x + 1). Since ω 6= 1 it follows that ω is a
2
root of x + x + 1 which is irreducible over Q (Corollary 4.4.7). Hence ω has degree 2 over Q, i.e. [Q(ω) : Q] = 2.
A basis for the field extension is {1, ω}.
Problem √ 6.2.2.
√ Find the degree
√ and a basis for each of the given field extensions.
(a) Q(√ 3, √ 21) over Q( √7)
(b) Q(√3 + √ 7) over Q(√ 7) √
(c) Q( 3, 7) over Q( 3 + 7)
√ √ √ √ √ √ √
Proof. (a)√ Since
√ 21√= 7 · 3 it follows that Q( 3, 21) = Q( 3, √ 7). From the solution for (b) we know
that [Q( 3, 7) : √ Q( 7)]√= 2 and √a basis
√ for the field extension
√ √ is−1{1, 3}.
√ √ √ √
√ (b)√Clearly√ Q( 3
√ + 7)
√ ⊆ Q( √3, 7).
√ Note that
√ ( 3√ 7)
+ √ = ( 7 − √3)/4 √ ∈ Q( 3√+ √ 7) and hence
− √
7√ 3 ∈ Q( 3√+ 7) √ ⇒ 7 ∈ Q( 3 + 7) and 3 ∈ Q( 3 + 7). Hence Q( 3, 7) ⊆ Q( 3 + 7) and thus
Q( 3, 7) = Q( 3 + 7). Therefore the answer for (b) is the same as that of (a).
(c) By part (b) the two fields are the same and hence the degree of the extension is one with basis {1}.
√ √
Problem 6.2.3. Find the degree of Q( 3 2, 4 5) over Q.
√ √
Proof. Since 3 2 has degree 3 over Q and 4 5 has degree 4 over Q it follows that 3 and 4 divide the degree of the
field extension and hence 12 also
√ divides √ the degree of the field extension.
√ √ However the field extension is at most
the product of the degrees of 3 2 and 4 5 over Q. Therefore [Q( 3 2, 4 5) : Q] = 12.
Problem 6.2.4. Let F be a finite extension of K such that [F : K] = p, a prime number. If u ∈ F but u 6∈ K,
show that F = K(u).

Proof. Note that [F : K(u)] | [F : K] = p and hence [F : K(u)] = 1 or p. If [F : K(u)] = p then [F : K] = [F :

Proof. Let u be a root of f (x) contained in some field extension of F . Observe that [F (u) : F ][F : K] = [F (u) :
K] = [F (u) : K(u)][K(u) : K]. Note that [K(u) : K] = deg(f (x)) since u is a root of f (x) which is irreducible over
K[x]. Since [K(u) : K] | [F (u) : F ][F : K] and ([K(u) : K], [F : K]) = 1 it follows that [K(u) : K] | [F (u) : F ].
However, the degree of u over F is at most the degree of u over K, i.e. [F (u) : F ] ≤ [K(u) : K]. Hence
[F (u) : F ] = [K(u) : K] and therefore f (x) must be irreducible over F (otherwise the degree of u over F would
be less than the degree of u over K).
Problem 6.2.7. Let F ⊇ K be fields, and let R be a ring such that F ⊇ R ⊇ K. If F is an algebraic extension
of K, show that R is a field. What happens if we do not assume that F is algebraic over K?
Proof. Let u ∈ R be nonzero. Since u ∈ F is algebraic over K the extension K(u)/K is finite with basis
B = {1, u, u2 , . . . , uk } for some k. Since R is a ring containing K and the basis B it follows that K(u) ⊆ R. As
K(u) is a field and u is nonzero it follows that u−1 is in R.
If the extension is not algebraic then R need not be a field. For example if F = Q(x), R = Q[x] and K = Q
then the extension F/K is not algebraic and R is not a field.