Paper 1, Section II, 18H

Galois Theory
Part II, 2014

What is meant by the statement that LL is a splitting field for fK[X]?f \in K[X] ?

Show that if fK[X]f \in K[X], then there exists a splitting field for ff over KK. Explain the sense in which a splitting field for ff over KK is unique.

Determine the degree [L:K][L: K] of a splitting field LL of the polynomial f=X44X2+2f=X^{4}-4 X^{2}+2 over KK in the cases (i) K=QK=\mathbb{Q}, (ii) K=F5K=\mathbb{F}_{5}, and (iii) K=F7K=\mathbb{F}_{7}.