W11 Lec 1 Galois extension Intermediate fields Characteristic properties

Definition: An extension field K / F is algebraic if any α ∈ K is algebraic over F .

Lemma 2: Let K / F be an algebraic extension and K is not a finite extension of F . Then there
exists an element in K whose degree over F is arbitrarily large.

Proof:

Let α 1 ∈ K ∖ F . Let F 1=F ( α 1 ). Since α 1 is algebraic over F , [ F ( α 1 ) : F ] is finite. Thus F ( α 1 ) ≠ K .

Let α 2 ∈ K ∖ F ( α 1 ). Similarly, F ( α 2 , α 1 ) is a finite extension of F and so F ( α 1 , α 2 ) ≠ K . Repeat
this argument and we get a strictly increasing sequence

F ⊂ F ( α1 ) ⊂ F ( α 1 , α 2 ) ⊂ …

For any given n> 0, [ F ( α 1 , … , α n ) : F ] ≥ n. Since F has characteristic 0 ,

∃ γ ∈ F ( α 1 , … , α n ) : F ( α 1 ,… ,α n )=F ( γ ). Thus deg F ( γ )= [ F ( γ ) : F ] ≥ n and so we found an element
whose degree is larger than n .

Theorem 2: (Fixed field theorem)

Let K be a field and H ⊆ Aut ( K ) be a finite subgroup. Then K is a finite extension of K H and
moreover, [ K : K H ] =|H |.

Proof:

From theorem 1, we know that ∀ α ∈ K , α is algebraic over K H and deg K ( α ) ∣|H |. Since the
H

H
degree of elements of K are bounded above, it follows that K / K is a finite extension. As F has
characteristic 0, ∃ γ ∈ K : K=K H ( γ ). We want to show that deg K ( γ )=| H |. Let σ ∈ H ⊆ Aut ( K ).
H

H H
If σ ( γ )=γ then σ : K ( γ ) → K ( γ ) is the identity in H . So, the only element of H which fixes γ is
the identity in H . Using the Orbit-stabilizer relation, it follows that |H ⋅γ |=| H| . From theorem 1
, |H ⋅γ |=deg K ( γ ) and so deg K ( γ )=| H |.
H H

Definition: If K is an extension field of F , an intermediate field L is a field such that F ⊆ L ⊆ K .

An intermediate field if proper if L ≠ K , L≠ F .

Note: If F ⊆ L ⊆ K then G ( K / L ) ⊆G ( K / F ).

Lemma 3:

a) Let K / F be a finite extension. Then |G ( K / F )|∣ [ K : F ].

b) Let K be a field, H ⊆ Aut ( K ) be a finite subgroup. Then K is a Galois extension of K H
and G ( K / K H )=H .
Proof:

a) F ⊆ K G ( K / F ) ⊆ K (since every F – automorphism of K fixes points in F ). From the

multiplicative property, [ K : K G ( K / F ) ] ∣ [ K : F ]. Using the fixed field theorem,
[ K : K G ( K / F ) ]=|G ( K / F )| and thus, |G ( K / F )|∣ [ K : F ].
b) From a) we know that |G ( K / K H )|∣ [ K : K H ] =|H | so |G ( K / K H )|≤| H |. But since
H H
H ⊆ G ( K / K H ), |H|≤|G ( K / K )| and thus |H|=|G ( K / K )|. Since
|G ( K / K H )|=[ K : K H ], it follows that K is a Galois extension of K H. Since
H ⊆ G ( K / K H ), H=G ( K / K H ).

Lemma 4: Let K / F be a finite extension. Let γ 1 ∈ K be a primitive element such that K=F ( γ 1 ).
Suppose that f =irr F ( γ 1 ). Let γ 1 ,… , γ r ∈ K be roots of f . Then for each γ i ,i ≤r , there exists a
unique F – automorphism σ i of K such that σ i ( γ 1 )=γ i . Moreover, we have G ( K / F )={ σ 1 , … , σ r }
and σ 1 =¿ identity map and |G ( K / F )|=r .

From lemma 3, we also know that r ∣ [ K :F ] .

Proof: Fix i≤ r . There is a unique F – isomorphism σ i : F ( γ 1 ) → F ( γ i ) such that σ i ( γ 1 )=γ i . Now

since K=F ( γ 1 ) and F ( γ i ) ⊆ K and [ F ( γ i ) : F ]=[ F ( γ 1) : F ]=[ K : F ]=deg ( f ), it follows that
K=F ( γ i ). Thus, σ i is also an automorphism of K and moreover, σ i ∈G ( K / F ).

Conversely, if σ ∈G ( K / F ) then σ ( γ 1 ) =γ i for some i≤ r as it must map roots of f to each other.

Thus σ =σ i .

Theorem 3: (Characteristic properties of Galois extensions)

Let K / F be a finite extension. Then TFAE:

a) K / F is a Galois extension. That is, |G ( K / F )|=[ K : F ]

b) K G ( K / F ) =F
c) K is a splitting field of F for some f ∈ F [ x ]

Note:

- b) can be used to show if α ∈ K is in F or not.

- c) can be used to show that an extension is Galois.
Proof:

 a) ⇔ b)
- ⇒From the fixed field theorem, |G ( K / F )|=[ K : K G ( K / F ) ] . Then [ K :F ] =[ K : K G ( K / F ) ] . But
G(K /F)
F ⊆ K G ( K / F ) ⊆ K so [ K : F ][ K : K G ( K / F ) ]=[ K : F ]. Thus, [ K G ( K / F ) : F ]=1. Since
F ⊆ K G ( K / F ), F=K G ( K / F ) .
- ⇐ By definition.
  a)⇔ c)

Let K=F ( γ 1 ) and f =irr F ( γ 1 ). Then [ K :F ] =deg ( f ) and suppose that n=deg ( f ). Let γ 1 ,… γ r ∈ K
be roots of f . Then lemma 4 implies that |G ( K / F )|=r . Thus, K / F is Galois ⇔ r=n ⇔ f splits
completely in K .

Note that since K=F ( γ 1 ), f splits completely in K ⇔ K is a splitting field over F .

 ⇒ Note that F ( γ 1 ) =F ( γ 1 ,… , γ r ) since γ 2 , … , γ r ∈ F ( γ 1 ). Thus, K=F ( γ 1 ) is the splitting

field of f over F .
 ⇐ Since K is a splitting field over F , and f is irreducible and has a root γ 1 ∈ K , f splits
completely in K .