Selected exercises from Abstract Algebra by Dummit

and Foote (3rd edition).

Bryan Félix
Abril 12, 2017

Section 14.2
Exercise 3. Determine the Galois group of (x2 − 2)(x2 − 3)(x2 − 5). Determine all the subfields
of the splitting field of this polynomial.
√ √ √ √
Proof.
√ Note that
√ the splitting
√ field
√ √ of the polynomial is Q( 2)( 3)( 5) if we show that 2∈
/
Q, 3 ∈ / Q( 2) and 5 ∈ / Q( 2)( 3). We sketch the implication without being rigorous as
the computations are straight forward.
√ √
1. 2 ∈ / Q. Otherwise 2 is a rational number; a contradiction.
√ √ √ √
2. 3 ∈ / Q( 2). Otherwise 3 has the form a + b 2, with √ a, b ∈ Q. By taking√the√square,
if follows that either a or b are√equal to 0, otherwise 2 ∈ Q. If a = 0 then 3/ 2 ∈ Q;
a contradiction. If b = 0 then 3 ∈ Q; again, a contradiction.
√ √ √ √ √ √ √
3. 5 ∈ / Q( 2)( 3). Otherwise, 5 has the form a + b 2 + c 3 + d 6, with a, b, c, d ∈ Q
[example√ 2, section 13.2 in Dummit and Foote]. By taking the square, we see that
√ √
3 ∈ Q( 2) (a contradiction to the above statement)√unless 5 has the form a0 + b0 2,
with a0 , b0 ∈ Q. Again a contradiction, since it implies 2 ∈ Q.
√ √ √
Thus Q( 2)( 3)( 5) is the splitting field of the polynomial, and furthermore its degree exten-
sion is 8 (since the quadratic polynomials are minimal in the respective extensions). It follows
that its Galois group is also of order 8.
Since roots of minimal polynomial are mapped to other roots of the same minimal polynomial,
we have the following natural choices for automorphisms in the Galois group:
 √ √
 √2 7→ √ − 2
σ2 = 3 7→ √3
 √
5 7→ 5
 √ √
 √2 7→ √ 2
σ3 = 3 7→ √
− 3
 √
5 7→ 5
 √ √
 √2 7→ √2
σ5 = 3 7→ √3
 √
5 7→ − 5
Note that these automorphisms
 are
 pairwise
 commutative and of order 2. Therefore our Galois
group is isomorphic to Z 2 × Z 2 × Z 2. From here we check the structure of this group
(via internet) and see that it contains the following proper subgroups, together with their
corresponding subfields:

1
 i) of order 2: √ √
h σ2 i ↔ Q(√3)(√5)
h σ3 i ↔ Q(√2)(√5)
h σ5 i ↔ Q(√2)(√3)
h σ2 σ3 i ↔ Q(√5)(√6)
h σ2 σ5 i ↔ Q(√3)(√10)
h σ3 σ5 i ↔ Q(√2)(√15)
h σ2 σ3 σ5 i ↔ Q( 6)( 10)

ii) of order 4: √
h σ2 , σ3 i ↔ Q(√5)
h σ2 , σ5 i ↔ Q(√3)
h σ3 , σ5 i ↔ Q(√2)
h σ2 , σ3 σ5 i ↔ Q(√15)
h σ3 , σ2 σ5 i ↔ Q(√10)
h σ5 , σ2 σ3 i ↔ Q(√6)
h σ2 σ3 , σ2 σ5 i ↔ Q( 30).

Exercise 11. Suppose f (x) ∈ Z[x] is an irreducible quartic whose splitting field has Galois
group S4 over Q. Let θ be a root of f (x) and set K = Q(θ). Prove that K is an extension of
Q of degree 4 which has no proper subfields. Are there any Galois extensions of Q of degree 4
with no proper subfields?
Proof. Since f (x) is irreducible in Z[x] it isalso irreducible in Q[x] then, by corollary 7[Dummit
and Foote, section 13.1] the extension K Q is of degree 4. Now, let J be the splitting field of
f (x) and assume that a proper subfield L ⊂ K exists. By the Fundamental Theorem of Galois 
Theory J, K, L, Q are in correspondence with subgroups  of S 4 . In particular, the extension K L
permutes the other 3 roots of f (x) therefore Gal(K L) = S3 . It suffices to show that there are
no proper subgroups between S4 and S3 . Which we show by looking at the group lattice of S4 .

Figure 1: Group structure of S4

For the second part, if the Galois extension is of degree 4, then it is in correspondence to a
group of order 4. By Cauchy theorem, this group must have a normal subgroup of order 2 and
thus, such extension will always have a proper subfield.

2
 
 extension and let α ∈ K. Let L be a Galois extension of
Exercise 17. Let K F be any finite
F containing K and let H ≤ Gal(L F ) be the subgroup corresponding to K. Define the norm
of α from K to F to be Y
NK/F (α) = σ(α),
σ

where the product is taken over all the embeddings of K into an algebraic closure of F . This is
a product of Galois conjugates of α. In particular, if K/F is Galois this is
Y
σ(α).
σ∈Gal(K/F )

i. Prove that NK/F (α) ∈ F.

ii. Prove that NK/F (αβ) = NK/F (α)NK/F (β), so that the norm is a multiplicative map from
K to F .

Proof. By definition
Y
NK/F (αβ) = σ(αβ)
σ
Y
= σ(α)σ(β)
σ
Y Y
= σ(α) σ(β)
σ σ
= NK/F (α)NK/F (β)

as desired.
√ √
iii. Let K = F ( D) be a quadratic extension of F . Show that NK/F (a + b D) = a2 − Db2 .
√
Proof. Observe that D satisfies x2− D = 0, thus x2 − D splits in K and therefore it is a
Galois extension. Since σ ∈ Gal(K F ) permutes the roots of irreducible polynomials we
√ √
have that, either σ is the trivial map, or σ( D) = − D. Thus
√ Y √
NK/F (a + b D) = σ(a + b D)
σ
√ √
= (a + b D)(a − b D)
= a2 − Db2

as desired.

iv. Let mα (x) = xd +ad−1 xd−1 +· · ·+a1 x+a0 ∈ F [x] be the minimal polynomial for α ∈ K. Let
n = [K : F ] . Prove that d divides n, that there are d distinct Galois conjugates of α which
n/d
are all repeated n/d times in the product above and conclude that NK/F (α) = (−1)n a0 .
 
Proof. First, consider the field extensions K F and F (α) F . The latter is of degree d
from the minimal polynomial mα (x). Then, by the basic property,

[K : F ] = [K : F (α)] [F (α) : F ]

we see that n = [K : F (α)] d. Thus d divides n.

Now, since K has degree n over F , the order of Gal(K/F ) is n. Furthermore, σ ∈ Gal(K/F )

3
 sends α to a root of the minimal polynomial mα (x). We see that there are d distinct roots
of mα (x), and thus α is mapped to a different root n/d times. Then,

d
!n/d
Y Y
NK/F (α) = σ(α) = αi
σ i=1

where {αi }di=1 is the set of roots of the minimal polynomial. Finally, the coefficient a0 in
mα (x) satisfies
d
Y
d
a0 = (−1) αi
i=1

thus,
n/d
NK/F (α) = (−1)n a0 .

Exercise 18. With notation as in the previous problem, define the trace of α from K to F to
be X
TrK/F (α) = σ(α)
σ

a sum of Galois conjugates of α.

i. Prove that TrK/F (α) ∈ F.

ii. Prove that TrK/F (α + β) = TrK/F (α) + TrK/F (β), so that the trace is an additive map from
K to F .

Proof. By definition
X
TrK/F (α + β) = σ(α + β)
σ
X
= (σ(α) + σ(β))
σ
X X
= σ(α) + σ(β)
σ σ
= TrK/F (α) + TrK/F (β)

as we wanted.
√ √
iii. Let K = F ( D) be a quadratic extension of F . Show that TrK/F (a + b D) = 2a.

Proof. Using the same reasoning as in Exercise 17, iii. we see that
√ X √
TrK/F (a + b D) = σ(a + b D)
σ
√ √
= (a + b D) + (a − b D)
= 2a.

iv. Let mα (x) be as in the previous problem. Prove that TrK/F (α) = − nd ad−1 .

4
 Proof. Analogous to part iv. in the previous exercise, α is mapped to one of its conjugates
n/d times. Therefore
d
X nX
TrK/F (α) = σ(α) = αi
σ
d i=1
where {ai }di=1 is the set of roots of mα (x). Now, observe that the coefficient ad−1 of mα (x)
satisfies
X d
− αi = ad−1
i=1
thus,
n
TrK/F (α) = − ad−1 .
d

Exercise 29. Let k be a field and let k(t) be the field
of rational functions

n variable t. Define
1 1
the maps σ and τ form k(t) to itself by σ(f ) = f 1−t and τ (f ) = f t for f ∈ (t).
i. Prove that σ and τ are automorphisms of k(t) and that the group G = h σ, τ i they generate
is isomorphic to S3 .

Proof. We prove this by means of exercise 8 [Section 14.1, Dummit and Foote]. The map
t 7→ at+b
ct+d
is an automorphism of the rational function field k(t) whenever a, b, c, d ∈ k and
ad − bc 6= 0. Clearly σ and τ satisfy this condition. To prove that G ∼
= S3 it suffices to show
that σ 3 = τ 2 = t (the identity map) and that τ στ = σ −1 (this is the usual representation
of S3 by generators).
Clearly τ 2 = t, and furthermore,
1 t−1 1
σ2 = 1 = = 1 − then,
1 − 1−t t t
1
σ 3 = 1 − 1 = 1 − (1 − t) = t.
1−t

It is left to show that τ στ = σ −1 , or equivalently, στ στ = t. Observe that

1
στ = 1 = 1 − t,
1−t
1
τ στ = 1 − , and
t
1
στ στ = 1 − 1 = 1 − (1 − t) = t
1−t
as we wanted.
(t2 − t + 1)3
ii. Prove that the element t = is fixed by all the elements of G.
t2 (t − 1)2
Proof. It suffices to check that the generators of G fix t. Observe that
 3  3
1 2 1 1 1


1−t
− 1−t
+ 1 (1−t)2 − 1−t
+ 1
σ(t) = 2 2 = 2
1 1



1−t 1−t
− 1 1 1−(1−t)
(1−t)2 1−t
 2
 3
1−(1−t)+(1−t) (1−t+t2 )3
(1−t)2 (1−t)6 (1 − t + t2 )3 (1 − t + t2 )3
=
2 = t2
= 2 = 2 ,
1
2
t
(1−t)4
t (1 − t)2 t (t − 1)2
(1−t) 1−t

5
 as desired. Analogously,

3  3
1 2 1 1−t+t2 (1−t+t2 )3
t
− t
+ 1 t2 (1 − t + t2 )3 (1 − t + t2 )3
t6
τ (t) = 2 2 =
= = = .
1 1 1 1−t 2 (1−t)2 t2 (1 − t)2 t2 (t − 1)2




t t
− 1 t2 t t4

Hence, t is fixed by G.

iii. Prove that k(t) is precisely the fixed field of G in k(t).

Proof. We have shown in exercise 18 [Section 13.2, Dummit and Foote] that the degree
of the extension  2
(t − t + 1)3


k(t) k
t2 (t − 1)2
is precisely max{deg(t2 − t + 1)3 , deg t2 (t − 1)2 } = 6. Furthermore, let K be the fixed field
described in ii., the previous part shows that [k(t) : K] = 6 as well. Then, by the basic
property
 2
(t − t + 1)3
 2
(t − t + 1)3
   
k(t) : k = [k(t) : K] K : k ,
t2 (t − 1)2 t2 (t − 1)2
h  2 i  2 
(t −t+1)3 (t −t+1)3
we have K : k t2 (t−1)2 = 1 and therefore K = k t2 (t−1)2 .

Exercise 31. Let K be a finite extension of degree n over F . Let α be an element of K.

i. Prove that α acting by left multiplication on K is an F -linear transformation Tα of K.

Proof. Let x, y be elements of K and c be an element of F . Then, Tα (c(x + y)) = Tα (cx +

cy) = α(cx + cy) = αcx + αcy = cαx + cαy = cTα (x) + cTα (y). Thus, Tα is F -linear.

ii. Prove that the minimal polynomial for α over F is the same as the minimal polynomial for
the linear transformation Tα .
Pn i
Proof. Let mα (x) = i=0 ci x
Pnbe the minimal polynomial of α over F . Then, by the
linearity in part i. mα (Tα ) = i=1 ci (Tα )i is the map
n
!
X
x 7→ ci (α)i · x
i=1
Pn
where i=1 ci (α)i = mα (α) = 0. Thus mα (Tα ) = 0, and furthermore, this polynomial is
irreducible by definition. Thus mα (x) is the minimal polynomial of Tα .

iii. Prove that the trace TrK/F (α) is the trace of the n × n matrix defined by Tα . Prove that
the norm NK/F (α) is the determinant of Tα .

Proof. Let f (x) be the characteristic polynomial of Tα and m(x) be its minimal polynomial
as in ii. Since the characteristic polynomial of Tα divides some power of the minimal
polynomial, and in our case, the minimal polynomial is irreducible it must hold that

deg m deg f.

Therefore f is of the form f (x) = (m(x))deg f / deg m . We see the following

6
 a) By Exercise 17 above we have
deg f / deg m
NK/F (α) = (−1)n c0
which coincides with the constant coefficient in f (x), and hence with the determinant
of Tα .
b) By Exercise 18 above we have
deg f
TrK/F (α) = − cdeg m−1
deg m
which coincides with the negative of the coefficient of xdeg f −1 in f (x), and hence with
the trace of Tα .

Section 14.3
Exercise 5. Exhibit an explicit isomorphism between the splitting fields of x3 − x + 1 and
x3 − x − 1 over F3 .

Construction. First we will show that F3 h x3 − x + 1 i is the splitting field of f (x) = x3 − x + 1.
First, note that f (x) is irreducible, as it has no roots over F3 , (f (0) = f (1) = f (2) = 1).
Byartificially adjoining a root of f (x), let it be θ, we get the extension F3 (θ) (isomorphic to
F3 h x3 − x + 1 i). Now, observe that f (θ + z) evaluates to
(θ + z)3 − (θ + z) + 1
= θ3 + z 3 − θ − z + 1
= (θ3 − θ + 1) + (z 3 − z)
= z 3 − z.
With z 3 −z = 0 for all z ∈ F3 . Thus F3 (α) contains all roots of f (x) and therefore itsplits. By an
analogous argument the splitting field of g(x) = x3 −x−1 is the field extension F3 h x3 −x−1 i.
Now consider the map
ϕ : F3 [x] → F3 [x] h x3 − x − 1 i


given by the evaluation

ϕ(h) = h(θ)
with θ as before. Since evaluation is a ring homomorphism it suffices to show that ker ϕ =
h x3 − x + 1 i, so that by the first isomorphism theorem
F3 [x] h x3 − x + 1 i ∼
= F3 [x] h x3 − x − 1 i.
 

Since θ is a root of f , we immediately see that ϕ(f ) = f (θ) = 0. Thus h f i ⊂ ker ϕ. Conversely,
take h ∈ ker ϕ, therefore h(θ) = 0. Since f is irreducible, it is also the minimal polynomial
of θ in F3 . Therefore f divides h, and hence h ∈ h f i. It follows that ker ϕ = h f i and the
construction of the isomorphism is complete.
Exercise 10. Prove that n divides ϕ(pn − 1). [Observe tat ϕ(pn − 1) is the order of the group
of automorphisms of a cyclic group of order pn − 1.]

×
Proof. Consider G = Z (pn − 1)Z ; the group of units of integers modulo pn − 1. The order
of G is ϕ(pn − 1). Note that p ∈ G as it is relatively prime to pn − 1. Now we inspect the
order of p in G. Clearly pn ≡ 1 mod (pn − 1), and by construction, n is the smallest number
for which this is true. Thus, the order of p in G in n. Then, by Lagrange’s n divides the order
of G, ϕ(pn − 1).

7
Section 14.6
Exercise 2. Determine the Galois groups of the following polynomials:
Note: the field is not stated in the original source of the problem, I presume it is intended to
be Q.

i. x3 − x2 − 4.

Solution. Note that x3 − x2 − 4 = (x − 2)(x2 + x + 2). The latter factor has discriminant
equal to −7. Hence, the Galois group is isomorphic to S2 .

ii. x3 − 2x + 4.

Solution. This polynomial is irreducible by the rational root test. Furthermore, its dis-
criminant is equal to −560, thus its Galois group is isomorphic to S3 .

iii. x3 − x + 1.

Solution. This polynomial is irreducible by the rational root test. Furthermore, its dis-
criminant is equal to −23, thus its Galois group is isomorphic to S3 .

iv. x3 + x2 − 2x − 1.

Solution. This polynomial is irreducible by the rational root test. Furthermore, its dis-
criminant is equal to 49, thus its Galois group is isomorphic to A3 .