Let K be a field of characteristic 0 , and let P(X)=X4+bX2+cX+d be an irreducible quartic polynomial over K. Let α1,α2,α3,α4 be its roots in an algebraic closure of K, and consider the Galois group Gal(P) (the group Gal(F/K) for a splitting field F of P over K ) as a subgroup of S4 (the group of permutations of α1,α2,α3,α4).
Suppose that Gal(P) contains V4={1,(12)(34),(13)(24),(14)(23)}.
(i) List all possible Gal(P) up to isomorphism. [Hint: there are 4 cases, with orders 4 , 8,12 and 24.]
(ii) Let Q(X) be the resolvent cubic of P, i.e. a cubic in K[X] whose roots are −(α1+α2)(α3+α4),−(α1+α3)(α2+α4) and −(α1+α4)(α2+α3). Construct a natural surjection Gal(P)→Gal(Q), and find Gal(Q) in each of the four cases found in (i).
(iii) Let Δ∈K be the discriminant of Q. Give a criterion to determine Gal(P) in terms of Δ and the factorisation of Q in K[X].
(iv) Give a specific example of P where Gal(P) is abelian.