Number Fields
Number Fields
B1.9
Part II, 2001 commentLet be a number field, where . Let be the (normalized) minimal polynomial of over . Show that the discriminant of is equal to .
Show that is irreducible over Q. Determine and the ring of algebraic integers of , where is a root of .
B2.9
Part II, 2001 commentDetermine the ideal class group of .
Find all solutions of the diophantine equation
[Minkowski's bound is .]
B4.6
Part II, 2001 commentFor a prime number , set and .
(a) Show that the (normalized) minimal polynomial of over is equal to
(b) Determine the degrees and .
(c) Show that
(d) Show that .
(e) Show that contains , where .
(f) If are not divisible by , show that lies in .
(g) Show that the ideal is equal to .
B2.9
Part II, 2002 commentLet . By Dedekind's theorem, or otherwise, show that the ideal equations
hold in , where . Deduce that has class number 2 .
Verify that is the fundamental unit in . Hence show that the complete solution in integers of the equation is given by
Calculate the particular solution for .
[It can be assumed that the Minkowski constant for is .]
B4.6
Part II, 2002 commentWrite an essay on one the following topics.
(i) Dirichlet's unit theorem and the Pell equation.
(ii) Ideals and the fundamental theorem of arithmetic.
(iii) Dedekind's theorem and the factorisation of primes. (You should treat explicitly either the case of quadratic fields or that of the cyclotomic field.)
B1.9
Part II, 2002 commentExplain what is meant by an integral basis of a number field . Give an expression for the discriminant of in terms of the traces of the .
Let . By computing the traces , where runs through the three quadratic subfields of , show that the algebraic integers in have the form , where and are Gaussian integers. By further computing the norm , where , show that and are even and that . Hence prove that an integral basis for is .
Calculate the discriminant of .
B2.9
Part II, 2003 commentBy Dedekind's theorem, or otherwise, factorise and 7 into prime ideals in the field . Show that the ideal equations
hold in , where . Hence, prove that the ideal class group of is cyclic of order
[It may be assumed that the Minkowski constant for is .]
B4.6
Part II, 2003 commentWrite an essay on the Dirichlet unit theorem with particular reference to quadratic fields.
B1.9
Part II, 2003 commentLet , where , and let be the ring of algebraic integers of . Show that the field polynomial of , with and rational, is .
Let . By verifying that and determining the field polynomial, or otherwise, show that is in .
By computing the traces of , show that the elements of have the form
where are integers. By further computing the norm of , show that can be expressed as with integers. Deduce that form an integral basis for .
B1.9
Part II, 2004 commentLet , where is a root of . Prove that has degree 3 over , and admits three distinct embeddings in . Find the discriminant of and determine the ring of integers of . Factorise and into a product of prime ideals.
Using Minkowski's bound, show that has class number 1 provided all prime ideals in dividing 2 and 3 are principal. Hence prove that has class number
[You may assume that the discriminant of is .]
B2.9
Part II, 2004 commentLet be an integer greater than 1 and let denote a primitive -th root of unity in . Let be the ring of integers of . If is a prime number with , outline the proof that
where the are distinct prime ideals of , and with the least integer such that . [Here is the Euler -function of .
Determine the factorisations of and 11 in . For each integer , prove that, in the ring of integers of , there is a unique prime ideal dividing 2 , and a unique prime ideal dividing 3 .
B4.6
Part II, 2004 commentLet be a finite extension of , and the ring of integers of . Write an essay outlining the proof that every non-zero ideal of can be written as a product of non-zero prime ideals, and that this factorisation is unique up to the order of the factors.
1.II.20G
Part II, 2005 commentLet where is a prime with relative traces where runs through the three quadratic subfields of , show that the algebraic integers in have the form
where are rational integers. By further computing the relative norm where , show that 4 divides
Deduce that and are even and . Hence verify that an integral basis for is
2.II.20G
Part II, 2005 commentShow that is a unit in . Show further that 2 is the square of the principal ideal in generated by .
Assuming that the Minkowski constant for is , deduce that has class number 1 .
Assuming further that is the fundamental unit in , show that the complete solution in integers of the equation is given by
Calculate the particular solution in positive integers when
4.II.20G
Part II, 2005 commentState Dedekind's theorem on the factorisation of rational primes into prime ideals.
A rational prime is said to ramify totally in a field with degree if it is the -th power of a prime ideal in the field. Show that, in the quadratic field with a squarefree integer, a rational prime ramifies totally if and only if it divides the discriminant of the field.
Verify that the same holds in the cyclotomic field , where with an odd prime, and also in the cubic field .
The cases and for the quadratic field should be carefully distinguished. It can be assumed that has a basis and discriminant , and that has a basis and discriminant
1.II.20G
Part II, 2006 commentLet denote the zeros of the polynomial , where is an integer. The discriminant of the polynomial is defined as
Prove that, if is square-free, then is an integral basis for .
By verifying that
and further that the field norm of the expression on the left is , or otherwise, show that . Hence prove that, when and , an integral basis for is .
2.II.20G
Part II, 2006 commentLet and let . By Dedekind's theorem, or otherwise, show that the ideal equations
hold in . Deduce that has class number 2 .
Show that is the fundamental unit in . Hence verify that all solutions in integers of the equation are given by
[It may be assumed that the Minkowski constant for is .]
4.II.20G
Part II, 2006 commentLet and let . Show that the discriminant of is 125 . Hence prove that the ideals in are all principal.
Verify that is a unit in for each integer with . Deduce that is a unit in . Hence show that the ideal is prime and totally ramified in . Indicate briefly why there are no other ramified prime ideals in .
[It can be assumed that is an integral basis for and that the Minkowski constant for is .]
1.II.20H
Part II, 2007 commentLet .
(a) Show that and that the discriminant is equal to .
(b) Show that 2 ramifies in by showing that , and that is not a principal ideal. Show further that with . Deduce that neither nor is a principal ideal, but .
(c) Show that 5 splits in by showing that , and that
Deduce that has trivial class in the ideal class group of . Conclude that the ideal class group of is cyclic of order six.
[You may use the fact that
2.II.20H
Part II, 2007 commentLet and put .
(a) Show that 2,3 and are irreducible elements in . Deduce from the equation
that is not a principal ideal domain.
(b) Put and . Show that
Deduce that has class number 2 .
(c) Show that is the fundamental unit of . Hence prove that all solutions in integers of the equation are given by
4.II.20H
Part II, 2007 commentLet be a finite extension of and let be its ring of integers. We will assume that for some . The minimal polynomial of will be denoted by . For a prime number let
be the decomposition of into distinct irreducible monic factors . Let be a polynomial whose reduction modulo is . Show that
are the prime ideals of containing , that these are pairwise different, and
1.II.20G
Part II, 2008 comment(a) Define the ideal class group of an algebraic number field . State a result involving the discriminant of that implies that the ideal class group is finite.
(b) Put , where , and let be the ring of integers of . Show that . Factorise the ideals [2] and [3] in into prime ideals. Verify that the equation of ideals
holds. Hence prove that has class number 3 .
2.II.20G
Part II, 2008 comment(a) Factorise the ideals [2], [3] and [5] in the ring of integers of the field . Using Minkowski's bound
determine the ideal class group of .
[Hint: it might be helpful to notice that for some
(b) Find the fundamental unit of and determine all solutions of the equations in integers . Prove that there are in fact no solutions of in integers .
4.II.20G
Part II, 2008 comment(a) Explain what is meant by an integral basis of an algebraic number field. Specify such a basis for the quadratic field .
(b) Let with , a fourth root of 2 . Write an element of as
with . By computing the relative traces and , show that if is an algebraic integer of , then and are rational integers. By further computing the relative norm , show that
are rational integers. Deduce that is an integral basis of .
Paper 2, Section II, H
Part II, 2009 commentSuppose that is a number field of degree , where has exactly real embeddings.
(i) Taking for granted the fact that there is a constant such that every integral ideal of has a non-zero element such that , deduce that the class group of is finite.
(ii) Compute the class group of , given that you can take
where is the discriminant of .
(iii) Find all integer solutions of .
Paper 4, Section II, H
Part II, 2009 commentSuppose that is a number field of degree , where has exactly real embeddings.
Show that the group of units in is a finitely generated abelian group of rank at most . Identify the torsion subgroup in terms of roots of unity.
[General results about discrete subgroups of a Euclidean real vector space may be used without proof, provided that they are stated clearly.]
Find all the roots of unity in .
Paper 1, Section II, H
Part II, 2009 commentSuppose that is a number field with ring of integers .
(i) Suppose that is a sub- -module of of finite index and that is closed under multiplication. Define the discriminant of and of , and show that
(ii) Describe when .
[You may assume that the polynomial has discriminant .]
(iii) Suppose that are monic quadratic polynomials with equal discriminant , and that is square-free. Show that is isomorphic to .
[Hint: Classify quadratic fields in terms of discriminants.]
Paper 1, Section II, G
Part II, 2010 commentSuppose that is a square-free positive integer, . Show that, if the class number of is prime to 3 , then has at most two solutions in integers. Assume the is even.
Paper 2, Section II, G
Part II, 2010 commentCalculate the class group of the field .
Paper 4, Section II, G
Part II, 2010 commentSuppose that is a zero of and that . Show that . Show that , the ring of integers in , is .
[You may quote any general theorem that you wish, provided that you state it clearly. Note that the discriminant of is .]
Paper 1, Section II, F
Part II, 2011 commentCalculate the class group for the field .
[You may use any general theorem, provided that you state it accurately.]
Find all solutions in of the equation .
Paper 2, Section II, F
Part II, 2011 comment(i) Suppose that is a square-free integer. Describe, with justification, the ring of integers in the field .
(ii) Show that and that is not the ring of integers in this field.
Paper 4, Section II, F
Part II, 2011 comment(i) Prove that the ring of integers in a real quadratic field contains a non-trivial unit. Any general results about lattices and convex bodies may be assumed.
(ii) State the general version of Dirichlet's unit theorem.
(iii) Show that for is a fundamental unit in .
[You may not use results about continued fractions unless you prove them.]
Paper 4, Section II, F
Part II, 2012 commentLet where and are distinct primes with . By computing the relative traces where runs through the three quadratic subfields of , show that the algebraic integers in have the form
where are rational integers. Show further that if and are both even then and are both even. Hence prove that an integral basis for is
Calculate the discriminant of .
Paper 2, Section II, F
Part II, 2012 commentLet where is a root of . Factor the elements 2,3 , and as products of prime ideals in . Hence compute the class group of .
Show that the equation has no integer solutions.
Paper 1, Section II, F
Part II, 2012 commentLet be a number field, and its ring of integers. Write down a characterisation of the units in in terms of the norm. Without assuming Dirichlet's units theorem, prove that for a quadratic field the quotient of the unit group by is cyclic (i.e. generated by one element). Find a generator in the cases and .
Determine all integer solutions of the equation for .
Paper 4, Section II, H
Part II, 2013 commentState Dedekind's criterion. Use it to factor the primes up to 5 in the ring of integers of . Show that every ideal in of norm 10 is principal, and compute the class group of .
Paper 2, Section II, H
Part II, 2013 comment(i) State Dirichlet's unit theorem.
(ii) Let be a number field. Show that if every conjugate of has absolute value at most 1 then is either zero or a root of unity.
(iii) Let and where . Compute . Show that
Hence or otherwise find fundamental units for and .
[You may assume that the only roots of unity in are powers of ]
Paper 1, Section II, H
Part II, 2013 commentLet be a monic irreducible polynomial of degree . Let , where is a root of .
(i) Show that if is square-free then .
(ii) In the case find the minimal polynomial of and hence compute the discriminant of . What is the index of in ?
[Recall that the discriminant of is .]
Paper 4, Section II, F
Part II, 2014 commentExplain what is meant by an integral basis for a number field. Splitting into the cases and , find an integral basis for where is a square-free integer. Justify your answer.
Find the fundamental unit in . Determine all integer solutions to the equation .
Paper 2, Section II, F
Part II, 2014 comment(i) Show that each prime ideal in a number field divides a unique rational prime . Define the ramification index and residue class degree of such an ideal. State and prove a formula relating these numbers, for all prime ideals dividing a given rational prime , to the degree of over .
(ii) Show that if is a primitive th root of unity then . Deduce that if , where and are distinct primes, then is a unit in .
(iii) Show that if where is prime, then any prime ideal of dividing has ramification index at least . Deduce that .
Paper 1, Section II, F
Part II, 2014 commentState a result involving the discriminant of a number field that implies that the class group is finite.
Use Dedekind's theorem to factor and 7 into prime ideals in . By factoring and , or otherwise, prove that the class group of is cyclic, and determine its order.
Paper 4, Section II, H
Part II, 2015 commentLet be a number field. State Dirichlet's unit theorem, defining all the terms you use, and what it implies for a quadratic field , where is a square-free integer.
Find a fundamental unit of .
Find all integral solutions of the equation .
Paper 2, Section II, H
Part II, 2015 comment(i) Let or . Show that remains prime in if and only if is irreducible .
(ii) Factorise , (3) in , when . Compute the class group of .
Paper 1, Section II,
Part II, 2015 comment(a) Let be a number field, and a monic polynomial whose coefficients are in . Let be a field containing and . Show that if , then is an algebraic integer.
Hence conclude that if is monic, with , then .
(b) Compute an integral basis for when the minimum polynomial of is .
Paper 2, Section II, F
Part II, 2016 comment(a) Prove that is a fundamental unit in . [You may not assume the continued fraction algorithm.]
(b) Determine the ideal class group of .
Paper 1, Section II, F
Part II, 2016 comment(a) Let be an irreducible polynomial of degree a root of , and . Show that .
(b) Now suppose . Write down the matrix representing multiplication by with respect to the basis for . Hence show that
(c) Suppose . Determine . [You may quote any standard result, as long as you state it clearly.]
Paper 4, Section II, F
Part II, 2016 commentLet be a number field, and a prime in . Explain what it means for to be inert, to split completely, and to be ramified in .
(a) Show that if and for some , then 2 does not split completely in .
(b) Let , with and square-free. Determine, in terms of , whether splits completely, is inert, or ramifies in . Hence show that the primes which ramify in are exactly those which divide .
Paper 2, Section II, 18H
Part II, 2017 comment(a) Let be a number field, the ring of integers in the units in the number of real embeddings of , and the number of pairs of complex embeddings of .
Define a group homomorphism with finite kernel, and prove that the image is a discrete subgroup of .
(b) Let where is a square-free integer. What is the structure of the group of units of ? Show that if is divisible by a prime then every unit of has norm . Find an example of with a unit of norm .
Paper 1, Section II, H
Part II, 2017 commentLet be the ring of integers in a number field , and let be a non-zero ideal of .
(a) Show that .
(b) Show that is a finite abelian group.
(c) Show that if has , then .
(d) Suppose , and , with and . Show that is principal.
[You may assume that has an integral basis.]
Paper 4, Section II, H
Part II, 2017 comment(a) Write down , when , and or . [You need not prove your answer.]
Let , where is a square-free integer. Find an integral basis of [Hint: Begin by considering the relative traces , for a quadratic subfield of
(b) Compute the ideal class group of .
Paper 2, Section II, 20G
Part II, 2018 commentLet be a prime, and let . Let .
(a) Show that .
(b) Calculate . Deduce that .
(c) Now suppose . Prove that . [You may use any general result without proof, provided that you state it precisely.]
Paper 4, Section II, G
Part II, 2018 commentLet be a square-free integer, and let be an integer. Let .
(a) By considering the factorisation of into prime ideals, show that .
(b) Let be the bilinear form defined by . Let . Calculate the dual basis of with respect to , and deduce that .
(c) Show that if is a prime and , then .
Paper 1, Section II, G
Part II, 2018 comment(a) Let be an integer such that is prime. Suppose that the ideal class group of is trivial. Show that if is an integer and , then is prime.
(b) Show that the ideal class group of is trivial.
Paper 4, Section II, 20G
Part II, 2019 comment(a) Let be a number field, and suppose there exists such that . Let denote the minimal polynomial of , and let be a prime. Let denote the reduction modulo of , and let
denote the factorisation of in as a product of powers of distinct monic irreducible polynomials , where are all positive integers.
For each , let be any polynomial with reduction modulo equal to , and let . Show that are distinct, non-zero prime ideals of , and that there is a factorisation
and that .
(b) Let be a number field of degree , and let be a prime. Suppose that there is a factorisation
where are distinct, non-zero prime ideals of with for each . Use the result of part (a) to show that if then there is no such that .
Paper 2, Section II, G
Part II, 2019 comment(a) Let be a number field. State Minkowski's upper bound for the norm of a representative for a given class of the ideal class group .
(b) Now let and . Using Dedekind's criterion, or otherwise, factorise the ideals and as products of non-zero prime ideals of .
(c) Show that is cyclic, and determine its order.
[You may assume that
Paper 1, Section II, 20G
Part II, 2019 commentLet .
(a) Write down the ring of integers .
(b) State Dirichlet's unit theorem, and use it to determine all elements of the group of units .
(c) Let denote the ideal generated by . Show that the group
is cyclic, and find a generator.
Paper 2, Section II, 20G
Part II, 2020 comment(a) Let be a number field of degree . Define the discriminant of an -tuple of elements of , and show that it is nonzero if and only if is a -basis for .
(b) Let where has minimal polynomial
and assume that is a prime such that, for every , but .
(i) Show that is a prime ideal, that and that . [Do not assume that .]
(ii) Show that the index of in is prime to .
(iii) If with , show that . [You may assume without proof that the discriminant of is .]
Paper 4, Section II, 20G
Part II, 2020 commentLet be a number field of degree , and let be the set of complex embeddings of . Show that if satisfies for every , then is a root of unity. Prove also that there exists such that if and for all , then is a root of unity.
State Dirichlet's Unit theorem.
Let be a real quadratic field. Assuming Dirichlet's Unit theorem, show that the set of units of which are greater than 1 has a smallest element , and that the group of units of is then . Determine for , justifying your result. [If you use the continued fraction algorithm, you must prove it in full.]
Paper 1, Section II, 20G
Part II, 2020 commentState Minkowski's theorem.
Let , where is a square-free positive integer, not congruent to 3 Show that every nonzero ideal contains an element with
Deduce the finiteness of the class group of .
Compute the class group of . Hence show that the equation has no integer solutions.
Paper 1, Section II, 20G
Part II, 2021 commentLet , where
(a) Show that .
(b) Let . By considering the matrix of acting on by multiplication, or otherwise, show that is an algebraic integer, and that is a -basis for [The discriminant of is , and 307 is prime.]
(c) Compute the prime factorisation of the ideal (3) in . Is (2) a prime ideal of Justify your answer.
Paper 2, Section II, 20G
Part II, 2021 commentLet be a field containing . What does it mean to say that an element of is algebraic? Show that if is algebraic and non-zero, then there exists such that is a non-zero (rational) integer.
Now let be a number field, with ring of integers . Let be a subring of whose field of fractions equals . Show that every element of can be written as , where and is a positive integer.
Prove that is a free abelian group of , and that has finite index in . Show also that for every nonzero ideal of , the index of in is finite, and that for some positive integer is an ideal of .
Suppose that for every pair of non-zero ideals , we have
Show that .
[You may assume without proof that is a free abelian group of rank ] ]
Paper 4 , Section II, 20G
Part II, 2021 comment(a) Compute the class group of . Find also the fundamental unit of , stating clearly any general results you use.
[The Minkowski bound for a real quadratic field is ]
(b) Let be real quadratic, with embeddings . An element is totally positive if and . Show that the totally positive elements of form a subgroup of the multiplicative group of index 4 .
Let be non-zero ideals. We say that is narrowly equivalent to if there exists a totally positive element of such that . Show that this is an equivalence relation, and that the equivalence classes form a group under multiplication. Show also that the order of this group equals