Let F bea field of characteristic # 2 and let be an extension of F of degree 2, [K : F] = 2. Let @ € K not contained in F. Then axsatisfies an equation of degree at most 2 over F’. It follows that the minimal polynomial of ais the monic quadratic, M(t) = 2? +b +e Since FC F(a) C K and K and F(a) have the same degree we have that F(a) — K. The roots of the quadratic extension can be determined by the quadratic formule, ag bh Vet — 2 Here §? — 4c is nota square in F because @ in not an element of P. Now F(a) =F (ve = 4e) as follows: by the formula above, aris an element of the field B (vi—4e) IE? — de were a square in F, say 2 where k © F, then bik on} would be also in F, because a can be calculated with internal operations over F. This contradicts the previous assumption, so ? — 4c is not a square. Now, sinea ais in K, we have IK: P(a)|- (Pla): FI=(K:F=2 (2) ‘Now, @ isa root of a quadratic polynomial over F, so [F(a) : F]is 1 or 2, but a ¢ F, so (F(a) : F] = 2. This, with (+), implies that [K : F(a] = 1, thus K = F(a). Let 6 = VP —4e. Note that a = =M and +6 = 2a + 0 50 F(a) = F(8) = K. Double inclusion and