D-MATH Algebra II FS 2014

Prof. Brent Doran

Solutions 12
Galois extensions and Galois correspondence

1. Consider the polynomial f (x) = x2 −2. Determine the Galois group of K/Q, where
K is the splitting field. The same question as above for

g(x) = (x2 − 2)(x2 − 3).

Then, via the Galois correspondence, give the factorisation of g over each inter-
mediate field Q ⊂ L ⊂ K.
√
Solution : The splitting field is K = Q( 2). This is an extension of degree 2 of
Q, so the Galois group has order 2, and Gal(K/Q) = Z/2Z. (The two√elements√are
the identity and the automorphism that is constant on rationals and 2 → − 2.)
√ √
In the second case, the splitting field is K = Q( 2, 3). Then the Galois group
has order 4, and is therefore isomorphic to either the cyclic group Z/4Z or the
Klein four-group Z/2Z × Z/2Z. Since its elements are the automorphisms
(√ √ (√ √ (√ √ (√ √
2 7→ 2 2 7→ − 2 2 7→ 2 2 7→ − 2
σ1 : √ √ σ2 : √ √ σ3 : √ √ σ4 : √ √
3 7→ 3 3 7→ 3 3 7→ − 3 3 7→ − 3

and all the non-identity automorphisms have order 2, the Galois group is isomor-
phic to Z/2Z × Z/2Z.
Then the intermediate fields corresponding to the fixed fields of the subgroups
hσi i, for i = 2, 3, 4, are, respectively
√ √ √
Q( 3), Q( 2), Q( 6).
√ √ √
The
√ corresponding factorisations are (x2 − 2)(x − 3)(x + 3), (x − 2)(x +
2)(x2 − 3), and (x2 − 2)(x2 − 3).

2. Let q = pn be the n-th power of a prime p. Show that the extension Fq /Fp is
Galois and that its Galois group is the cyclic group Cn generated by the Frobenius
endomorphism Φp (x) = xp . Prove that the Main Theorem of Galois theory is true
for this extension.
Solution : Denote by H the finite group generated by the Frobenius endomor-
phism, i.e. H = hΦp i. The fixed field FH p
q consists of all x ∈ Fq such that x = x,
H
i.e. Fq = Fp . It follows that Fq /Fp is a Galois extension and that H is its Galois
group. Hence H ' Cn .

1
 We show there is a bijective correspondence between subgroups of H and interme-
diate fields of Fp ⊂ Fq . The subgroups of Cn are exactly the subgroups isomorphic
to Cd for each d that divides n. In particular, here, they are all hΦdp i for d|n. On the
other hand, we know that the subfields of Fq are exactly Fpd for d|n. We see now
easily that the fixed field of hΦdp i is Fpd and that conversely the Galois extension
Fq /Fpd has Galois group hΦdp i, for each d|n.
√
3. Set K = Q( 3 2, ω) for ω = e2πi/3 . Show that K/Q is Galois and that its Galois
group is isomorphic to S3 . Describe the Galois correspondence for this particular
example.
Solution : The extension K/Q is Galois as one sees that K is the splitting field for
(x3 − 2)(x2 + x + 1) over Q. The Galois group G = AutQ K has order [K : Q] = 6,
and its elements are given by
(√ √ (√ √ (√ √
3
2 7→ 3 2 3
2 7→ 3 2ω 3
2 7→ 3 2ω 2
σ1 : σ2 : σ3 :
ω 7→ ω ω 7→ ω ω 7→ ω
(√ √ (√ √ (√ √
3
2 7→ 3 2 3
2 7→ 3 2ω 3
2 7→ 3 2ω 2
σ4 : σ5 : σ6 :
ω 7→ ω 2 ω 7→ ω 2 ω 7→ ω 2
√ √ √
Note G acts on the subset of roots { 3 2, 3 2ω, 3 2ω 2 }. One can check directly that
this action is faithful. Hence the permutation representation G → S3 gives an
isomorphism between G and S3 .
√ √ √
The intermediate fields of K/Q are Q(ω), Q( 3 2), Q( 3 2ω), Q( 3 2ω 2 ) and the
corresponding subgroups are those generated by the 3-cycle and the three trans-
positions respectively.

4. In this exercise, we give a proof of the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra using

Galois theory.
Let K be a finite field extension of R.

(a) Assume that K/R is a Galois extension. Show that there is a chain of fields

R ⊂ K 1 ⊂ · · · ⊂ Kn = K

with [Ki+1 : Ki ] = 2, for 1 6 i 6 n − 1, and [K1 : R] odd.

Solution : By assumption, K/R is a Galois extension and denote by G its
Galois group. Write the order of G as |G| = 2n m, where m is an odd natural
number.
By Sylow, there exists a subgroup G1 < G of order |G1 | = 2n . Under the
Galois correspondence, there is then an intermediate field K1 such that

[K1 : R] = [G : G1 ] = m.

2
 Now repeat the process with the subgroup G1 of order 2n . There is a chain
of normal subgroups
Gn / Gn−1 / · · · / G1
such that each Gl has order 2n−l+1 . By Galois correspondence, it corresponds
to a chain of intermediate fields

K1 ⊂ · · · ⊂ Kn

with [Ki+1 : Ki ] = 2.

(b) Recall that if [K : R] = 2, then K is isomorphic to C.

Solution : There exists an element α ∈ K that is not a real. Then we may
set K = R(α). The irreducible polynomial for α must be of the form
 a 2 ∆
f (x) = x2 + ax + b = x + − .
2 4
Moreover, the discriminant ∆ must be strictly negative, since f is irreducible.
Hence, via successive substitutions,
 
2 ∆
K = R[x]/(f (x)) ' R[y]/ y − ' R[z]/(z 2 + 1) ' C.
4

(c) Show that if [K : R] is odd, then K = R.

Solution : There exists an element α ∈ K that is not a real. The irreducible
polynomial for α has degree exactly [R(α) : R]. Because this degree divides
[K : R], it must be odd. By the Intermediate Value Theorem, the irreducible
polynomial must have a real zero. But since the polynomial is by definition
irreducible, it must be of degree 1 and α ∈ R.
(d) Conclude that K is either R or C.
Solution : The finite extension K is contained in a Galois extension k of R.
In particular, for the chain of fields

R ⊂ K1 ⊂ · · · ⊂ Kn = k,

we conclude from subquestions (b) and (c) that K1 = R and, if n > 1,

k = K2 = C, since there can be no extension of degree two over C. In fact,
assume there was : let α ∈ K that is not a complex value and [K : C] = 2.
But then by the quadratic formula, we know explicitly that the minimal
polynomial for α has complex roots, contradicting the irreducibility of the
polynomial over C.