3.II.18H

Galois Theory
Part II, 2008

Let L/KL / K be a field extension.

(a) State what it means for αL\alpha \in L to be algebraic over KK, and define its degree degK(α)\operatorname{deg}_{K}(\alpha). Show that if degK(α)\operatorname{deg}_{K}(\alpha) is odd, then K(α)=K(α2)K(\alpha)=K\left(\alpha^{2}\right).

[You may assume any standard results.]

Show directly from the definitions that if α,βL\alpha, \beta \in L are algebraic over KK, then so too is α+β\alpha+\beta.

(b) State what it means for αL\alpha \in L to be separable over KK, and for the extension L/KL / K to be separable.

Give an example of an inseparable extension L/KL / K.

Show that an extension L/KL / K is separable if LL is a finite field.