Field Theory

............

by

Prof Shiv Datt Kumar

Department of Mathematics

Motilal Nehru National Institute of

Technology Allahabad (UP), India,

Pin-211004
E-mail: sdt@mnnit.ac.in
Shiv Datt Kumar Field Theory

2
Chapter 1

Field Theory

1.1 Field Extension

Definition 1.1.1. (Field Extension) If K is a subfield of a field L. Then we

say that L is a field extension of K, denoted by L/K. Note that L is a vector
space over K. If the dimension of L over K is finite, then this dimension is
called the degree of extension of L over K and is denoted by [L : K].

Note: (i) If K is a field of characteristic 0, then Q ⊆ K.

(ii) If K is a field of characteristic p, then Zp ⊆ K.
√ √
Example 1.1.2. 1. Q( 3) = {a + b 3|a, b ∈ Q} is a field extension of
√ √ √
Q and [Q( 3) : Q] = 2. Basis of Q( 3) over Q = {1, 3}.

2. Q(ω) = {a + b ω|a, b ∈ Q}is field extension of Q, where ω is a cube

root of unity and [Q(ω) : Q] = 2. Basis of Q(ω) = {1, ω} over Q, for
ω 3 = 1 ⇒ ω 2 + ω + 1 = 0 ⇒ ω 2 = −ω − 1.

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Shiv Datt Kumar Field Theory

√ √ √
3. Q( 3 2) = {a + b 3 2 + c( 3 2)2 |a, b, c ∈ Q} is field extension of Q and
√ √ √ √
[Q( 3 2 : Q] = 3. Basis of Q( 3) = {1, 3 2, ( 3 2)2 } over Q.

4. If K1 and K2 are field extensions of F and [K1 : F ] and [K2 : F ] are

√
coprime, then K1 ∩ K2 = F . For e.g. let K1 = Q( 3 2), K2 = Q(ω),
then K1 ∩ K2 = Q and ω ∈ / K1 so [K1 (ω) : K1 ] = 2 and [K1 (ω) : Q] = 6
√ √ √ √
i.e. [Q( 3 2, ω) : Q] = 6. Thus Q( 3 2, ω) = {a1 + a2 3 2 + a3 ( 3 2)2 +
√ √
a4 ω + a5 ω 3 2 + a6 ω( 3 2)2 |ai ∈ Q} is extension of Q of degree 6.

Proposition 1.1.1. Let K be a finite field of characteristic p and [K : Zp ] = n.

Then the number of elements in K are pn , where p is a prime number.

Proof. Since K is a finite field of characteristic p. Note that p|o(K). Define

injective homomorphism Zp → K by x → x.1. Then Zp is a subfield of
K. Thus K is a finite dimensional vector space Zp . Since [K : Zp ] = n,
let B = {x1 , x2 , . . . , xn } is a basis of K over Zp . Let x ∈ K. Then x =
a1 x1 + a2 x2 + . . . + an xn , where ai ∈ Zp . Since each ai has p choices, then
o(K) = pn and K ∼
= Zp n .

Proposition 1.1.2. Let L|K and K|F be finite field extensions. Then L|F is
also a finite field extension and [L : F ] = [L : K][K : F ].

Proof. Suppose [L : K] = n, & [K : F ] = m. Let {x1 , x2 . . . xn } be a basis of

L over K and {y1 , y2 , . . . , ym } be a basis of K over F . Then S = {xi yj |1 ≤
i ≤ n, 1 ≤ j ≤ m} is a basis of L over F . Let x ∈ L. Then x = a1 x1 +
. . . + an xn , ai ∈ K and ai = m
P Pn Pm
j=1 αij yj . Thus x = i=1 ( j=1 αij yj )xi . This
P
implies L = [S]. To show S is linearly independent. Suppose αij xi yj =

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Shiv Datt Kumar Field Theory

Pn Pm
0⇒ i=1 ( j=1 αij yj )xi = 0. Since {x1 , x2 . . . xn } is linearly independent,
Pm
j=1 αij yj = 0. Again since {y1 , y2 , . . . , ym } is linearly independent, αij = 0.

Corollary 1.1.3. Let L be a finite field extension of K and field F be a subfield

of K. Then [L : K] divides [L : F ] and also [F : K] divides [L : K].

Corollary 1.1.4. Let L be a field containing pn elements and let K be a

subfield of L. Then K contains pm elements, where m|n.

Proof. Since K is a subfield of L. Char K = char L = p. Then |K| = pm ,

for some m. Suppose [L : K] = r. Therefore L is a vector space over K i.e.
L∼
= K r . This implies pn = |L| = (pm )r ⇒ n = mr ⇒ m|n.

Definition 1.1.3. (Algebraic element) Let L be a field extension of K and

α ∈ L. If α is a root of a non-zero polynomial in K[X], then α is called
algebraic element over K.

In other words, an element a ∈ L is said to be algebraic over K if there

exist elements α0 , α1 . . . αn ∈ K such that α0 an + α1 an−1 + . . . + αn = 0.

K(α) is a subfield of L generated by K & α i.e K(α) = intersection of

all subfields of L containing K & α.

Theorem 1.1.5. Let L be a field extension of K and α ∈ L. Then α is

algebraic over K iff K[α] = K(α).

Proof. Define η : K[X] −→ K[α] by η(f (x)) = f (α). Then η is a surjective

ring homomorphism. Therefore K[X]/ker(η) ∼
= K[α]. If ker(η) = {0}, then
α is called transcendental element over K.

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Shiv Datt Kumar Field Theory

Suppose ker(η) 6= 0. Since K[X] is PID, ker(η) is a nontrivial principle

ideal. Suppose ker(η) = hf (X)i and K[X]/hf (X)i = K[α], which is an
integral domain. Then f (X) is an irreducible element. Since ideal generated
by an irreducible element in PID is a maximal ideal. Therefore K[α] is a
field. Therefore K[α] = K(α).

Theorem 1.1.6. The element a ∈ K is algebraic element over F iff F (a) is a

finite extension of F and [F (a) : F ] = deg (minF (a)(X)).

Proof. Suppose F (a) is finite extension and [F (a) : F ] = m. Consider m + 1

elements 1, a, . . . am ∈ F (a). These elements are linearly dependent. There-
fore ∃ α0 , α1 , . . . , αm such that α0 +α1 a+. . .+αm am = 0 ⇒ a is algebraic over
F . Conversely, suppose a ∈ K is algebraic over F . Let p(x) be a polynomial
in F [x] of the smallest positive degree such that p(a) = 0. Therefore p(x) is
irreducible in F [x], for if p(x) = f (x)g(x), then 0 = p(a) = f (a)g(a). thus
f (a) = 0 or g(a) = 0 & deg(f (x)) < deg(p(x)) and deg(g(x)) < deg(p(x)).
Contradiction. Now define a map ψ : F [x] → F [a] by ψ(f (x)) = f (a).
Then ψ is a ring homomorphism. Ker(ψ) = {f (x)|f (a) = 0}. Note that
p(x) is of the smallest degree polynomial in ker(ψ). Also ψ(α) = α and
ψ(x) = a. ⇒ Image(ψ) = F [a] ⇒ F [x]/(ker(ψ)) ∼
= F [a]. Vector space dim
F [x]
( ker(ψ) ) = degree p(x) ⇒ [F (a) : F ] = degree p(x). Therefore [F (a) : F ] is
finite and [F (a) : F ] = deg(minF (a)(X)).

Definition 1.1.4. An element a ∈ K is said to algebraic of degree n over F if

it satisfies a nonzero polynomial f (x) of degree n but no non zero polynomial
of lower degree.

Theorem 1.1.7. If a ∈ K is algebraic of degree n over F , then [F (a) : F ] = n.

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Shiv Datt Kumar Field Theory

Theorem 1.1.8. If a, b ∈ K are algebraic over F , then a+b, ab, a/b (b 6= 0) are
all algebraic over F i.e the elements in K which are algebraic over F form a
subfield of K.

Proof. Let a be algebraic of degree m over F and b is algebraic element of

degree n over F . Then subfield T = F (a) of K is of degree m over F . Now
b is algebraic of degree n over F , it is algebraic of degree at most n over T ,
which contains F . The subfield W = T (b) of K is of degree atmost n over T .
But [W : F ] = [W : T ][T : F ]. This implies W is a finite extension of F and
if a, b ∈ W , then a + b, ab, ab ∈ W . Since [W : F ] is finite, then the elements
a+b, ab, a/b are algebraic over F .

Corollary 1.1.9. If a, b in K are algebraic over F of degrees m and n respec-

tively, then a+b, ab and a/b, b 6= 0 are algebraic over F of degree atmost
mn.

Definition 1.1.5. The extension K is called an algebraic extension of F if

every element in K is algebraic over F .

Theorem 1.1.10. If L is an algebraic extension of K and K is an algebraic

extension of F , then L is an algebraic extension of F .

Proof. Let u ∈ L be an arbitrary element. Then u satisfies some polynomial

xn + δ1 xn−1 + . . . + δn , where δi ∈ K. But K is algebraic over F . Then
M = F (δ1 , δ2 . . . δn ) is a finite extension of F . Since u satisfies the polynomial
xn + δ1 xn−1 + . . . + δn , whose coefficients are algebraic over M . Therefore
M (u) is a finite extension of M . Then [M (u) : F ] = [M (u) : M ][M : F ].

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Shiv Datt Kumar Field Theory

Hence M (u) is a finite extension of F . But this implies u is algebraic over

F.

Definition 1.1.6. An extension K of F is called simple extension if there

is an element α ∈ K such that K = F (α). Such an element α is called a
primitive element of the extension.

Example 1.1.7. (i) i is algebraic over R and [C : R] = 2. Also C is a simple

extension of R.
√ √
(ii) Q( 2) is algebraic extension of Q. Also 2 is algebraic element and
√
[Q( 2) : Q] = 2. Let ω be a cube root of unity i.e ω is a root of x2 +x+1 = 0.
Then [Q[ω] : Q] = 2 and ω 2 + ω + 1 = 0.

1.2 Finite Fields

Lemma 1.2.1. Let F be a finite field with q elements and suppose K is a

finite extension of the field F . Then K has q n elements, where n = [K : F ].

Corollary 1.2.2. If a finite field F has pm elements, then every a ∈ F satisfies

m
ap = a.

Proof. If a = 0, then it is trivially true. The non zero elements of F form a

m −1
group under multiplication of order pm − 1, this implies ap = 1, ∀a ∈ F ,
m
a 6= 0. Then by multiplying a both sides, we obtain ap = a.

m
Lemma 1.2.3. If a finite field F has pm elements, then the polynomial xp −x
m
in F [x] factors as xp − x = Πλ∈F (x − λ).

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Shiv Datt Kumar Field Theory

m
Proof. The polynomial xp − x has atmost pm roots in F . Since
0 m −1
f (x) = pm xp − 1 = −1, all the roots are distinct and we conclude that
m m
xp − x = Πλ∈F (x − λ). Thus xp − x can not split in any smaller field
for that field would have to have at least pm elements. Therefore F is the
m
splitting field of xp − x.

Lemma 1.2.4. Any two finite fields having same number of elements are
isomorphic.

Proof. Let F1 and F2 be two finite fields of order pn . By previous lemma

n
xp − x = Πλ∈F1 (x − λ) = Πλ∈F2 (x − λ) splits in both fields. Also roots are
n
distinct. Thus F1 and F2 are the splitting fields of xp − x. Hence these fields
are isomorphic.

Theorem 1.2.5. For every prime number p and for every integer n, there is a
unique field having pn elements.
n
Proof. Consider the polynomial xp − x ∈ Zp [x], where Zp is a field of char p.
m
Let K be the splitting field of this polynomial. Consider F = {a ∈ K|ap =
m d n
a}. Elements of F are roots of xp − x. Since dx
(xp − x) = −1, all the roots
n
of xp − x are distinct and the field F containing all the roots is the splitting
n
field. It is sufficient to show that the set of all roots of xp − x from a field.
n n
Let a, b ∈ F be roots of this polynomial. Then ap = a & bp = b. Then
n n n n n n n
(a + b)p = ap + bp = a + b and (ab)p = ap bp = ab. If a 6= 0, (a−1 )p =
n
(ap )−1 = a−1
n
This shows that a + b, ab, a−1 are all roots of xp − x. This completes the
proof of existence of a field of order pn .

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Shiv Datt Kumar Field Theory

Proof. Uniqueness: Let F1 and F2 be two fields of order pn . Then both are
n
splitting fields of the polynomial xp − x. Since any two finite fields having
the same number of elements are isomorphic and for every prime p. Therefore
such a field is unique up to isomorphism. Since prime fields are isomorphic
to Zp , F1 ∼
= F2 .

Lemma 1.2.6. Let G be a finite abelian group with the property that the
relation xn = e is satisfied by atmost n elements of G for every integer n.
Then G is a cyclic group.

Proof. We first suppose o(G) = pn , for some prime number p. Let a ∈ G be

such that o(a) is as large as possible. Therefore o(a) = pr , for some r. The
r −1 r
elements e, a, a2 , . . . ap give us pr distinct solution of the equation xp = e
by hypothesis these are all the solutions of this equation in G. Now if b ∈ G,
r s r−s
and o(b) = ps , where s ≤ r. Hence bp = (bp )p = e. This implies b = ai ,
for some i. Hence G is cyclic.

The general finite abelian group G is isomorphic to the direct sum of finite
cyclic groups. Then G = Sp1 Sp2 . . . Spk , where pi are distinct prime divisor
of o(G), and Spi are Sylow subgroups of G. Moreover ∀g ∈ G can be written
as g = s1 s2 . . . sk , uniquely, where si ∈ Spi . Any solution of xn = e in Spi is
one of the solution of xn = e in G so that each Spi inherits the hypothesis we
have imposed on G. Since each Spi is cyclic. Suppose Spi = hai i, for some
ai ∈ Spi .

Proof. Claim: a = a1 a2 . . . ak generates G.

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Shiv Datt Kumar Field Theory

Let o(a) = m. To show o(G)|o(a). Since am = e = a1 m a2 m . . . am

k = e.

By the uniqueness of the representation of an element of G, as an element

of Spi , we conclude that each ai m = e. Thus o(Spi )|m, ∀i. Hence o(G) =
o(Sp1 ) . . . o(Spk )|m. Since m divides o(G), we have o(G) = m. Therefore G
is a cyclic.

Lemma 1.2.7. Let K be a finite field and K ∗ be the multiplicative group of

nonzero elements of K. Then K ∗ is a cyclic group.

Proof. Since K is a field, any polynomial of degree n in K[X] has atmost n

roots in K. Thus in particular for any integer n, the polynomial xn − 1 has
atmost n roots in G. Then by previous lemma G is cyclic.

Theorem 1.2.8. The multiplicative group of non-zero elements of a finite field

is cyclic.

1.3 Exercises

1. Consider the ring C[0, 1] with the operations of pointwise addition and-
pointwise multiplication. Give an example of an ideal in this ring which
is not a maximal ideal.

2. Compute the (multiplicative) inverse of 4x + 3 in the field Z11 [x]/(x2 +

1).

3. Prove that φ : F [x] → F [a] defined by φ(f (x)) = f (a) is a ring homo-
morphism.

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Shiv Datt Kumar Field Theory

√ √
4. Show that 2 and 3 are algebraic over Q.

√ √
5. Find polynomial of least degree satisfied by 2+ 3.

√ √ √ √
6. What is degree of (a) 2+ 3 (ii) (b) 2 3. over Q ?

7. Describe the elements of the following fields

√
• K = Q( 3)
√
• K = Q( 5 7)

• K = Q(ω), where ω is a primitive cube root of unity.

In each of the above cases, write K = Q[x]/f (x) for an appropriate

polynomial f . What is the vector space dimension of K over Q ?.

Z
1. Show that Fp∗n ∼
=
(pn − 1)Z

2. Give an example of an algebraic extension, which is not a finite exten-

sion.

3. Let Q be the algebraic closure of Q. Then show that [Q : Q] an infinite

extension.

√ √
4. Show that (Q[ 4 5, 7]) is finite extensions of Q and find its degree of
extension.

5. Show that sin mo is an algebraic, for all rational numbers m.

Z[i]
6. Show that is a field How many elements does it have.
(2 + i)

7. Let p be an odd prime. Find the number of non-zero squares in Fp .

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Shiv Datt Kumar Field Theory

8. Find a generator of Z∗7 , the multiplicative group of non-zero elements

of Z7 .

9. Find the number of non-zero elements in the field Zp , where p is an odd

prime number, which are squares, i.e. of the form m2 , m ∈ Zp , m 6= 0.

10. Let R = C[0, 1] be considered as a ring with the usual operations of

point wise addition and point wise multiplication. Let

I = {f : [0, 1] −→ R| f (1/2) = 0}. Then show that I is a maximal

ideal.

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