Field Extensions

Aditya Khurmi

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May 28, 2020

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Contents

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1 Polynomial Rings and adjoins 2

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2 Field Extensions 4
2.1 The Degree of an Extension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.2 Extensions and Polynomials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

3 Splitting Fields 8
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4 Problems 9
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§1 Polynomial Rings and adjoins

First, here’s a short note about polynomial rings. Let R be a ring. Then R[X], read as
”R adjoin X” is the ring of polynomials with coefficients in R, i.e. of the form

f (X) = an X n + · · · + a1 X + a0 ,

where ai ∈ R for all i.

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Remark. Can you see why this is a ring?

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It is very important to√note here that X need not be in R. So, for instance even if
f ∈ Z[X], the ”thing” f ( 2) makes sense.

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Remark. Technically, polynomial rings are defined as (n + 1)−tuples of the coefficients:
Tuples like (a0 , . . . , an ) ∈ Rn+1 .

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Now, time for some examples:

Example 1.1 (Integer Polynomials)

Now you know why polynomials with integer coefficients are denoted by Z[X] !
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Example 1.2 (Gaussian Integers)
Consider Q[i]. This contains expressions of the form

a0 + a1 i + a2 i2 + · · · + an in .
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Since i2 = −1 ∈ Q, hence this ring becomes

Q[i] = {a + bi : a, b ∈ Q}.
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Why is Q[i] ”like” a polynomial? Simple, because i 6∈ Q !

Example 1.3
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Let us look at something weird like Q[i, 3]. This is of the form (ignoring coefficients)
√ √ √ √ √ √ X √
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i0 ( 3)0 + i1 ( 3)0 + i0 ( 3)1 + i2 ( 3)0 + i1 ( 3)2 + i0 ( 3)2 + · · · = ik ( 3)` .

k,`
√
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Since i2 = −1 ∈ Q and ( 3)2 = 3 ∈ Q, this becomes the set

√ √ √
Q(i, 3) = {a + bi + c 3 + di 3 : a, b, c, d ∈ Q}.

By define R(X), with round brackets, as the ring with polynomials in the denominator
allowed too. For instance
x2 + 5x + 1
∈ Z(X).
x3 + 2

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Example 1.4
Consider Q(i). It is clearly
 
a + bi
Q(i) = : a, b, c, d ∈ Q .
c + di

Now, 1
3+i = 1
10 (3 − i) ∈ Q[i]. In a similar way can you show Q(i) ∼
= Q[i]?

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§2 Field Extensions
§2.1 The Degree of an Extension
Definition 2.1. If K, L are field and ϕ : K ,→ L is an embedding, then we say that L is
a field extension of K, and write it as

L : K is a field extension.

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It is easy to verify the axioms and hence valid to say that L is a vector space over K.

Definition 2.2. The dimension of this vector space is known as the degree of L over K,

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and denoted by [L : K].

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If the degree is finite, we say L is a finite extension of K. Otherwise, we say L is an
infinite extension of K.

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Example 2.3 (Reals to Complex)
Consider the embedding ϕ : R ,→ C given by a a + 0i. Then a basis of C over R
is {1, i}, and so [C : R] = 2.

Theorem 2.4
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Let L : K be a field extension. Then [L : K] = 1 if and only if L = K.
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Now, here is an easy to see theorem (the interesting case here is when any extension is
infinite)
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Theorem 2.5
Let M : L and L : K be field extensions. Then
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[M : K] = [M : L] · [L : K].

Proof. The idea of the proof is that if the basis of L in K is {1, α, . . . , αn } and M in L
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is {1, β, . . . , β m }, then the basis of M in K is the product of these two sets.

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Example 2.6
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To gain
√ intuition√ of the proof, consider√Q[i, 3]. Now, Q[i, 3] has the basis {1, i}
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in Q[ 3], and Q[ 3] has the basis {1, 3} in Q. Recall that

√ √ √
Q(i, 3) = {a + bi + c 3 + di 3 : a, b, c, d ∈ Q}
√ √ √ √
So, the basis of Q[i, 3] is {1, i, 3, i 3} = {1, i} · {1, 3}.

Here’s an easy problem:

Problem 2.7. Let L : K be a field extension so that [L : K] is a prime number. Show

that there is no subfield E of L such that K ⊂ E ⊂ L.

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§2.2 Extensions and Polynomials

Definition 2.8. Let K be a subfield of L and S be a subset of L. Then K(S) is defined
as the smallest subfield containing K ∪ S. In the case when S has only one element α,
we say K(α) is a simple extension of K.

The fact that K(α) is also used for fractions of polynomials is no coincidence as the
following theorem states:

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Theorem 2.9
The simple extension K(α) over L is the set of all rational polynomials in α with

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coefficients in K.

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Here comes the main result:

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Theorem 2.10
Let L be a field and K be a subfield of L. Let α ∈ L. Then either

1. K(α) is isomorphic to K(X), the field of all rational forms with coefficients in
K; or L
2. There exists a unique monic irreducible polynomial m ∈ K[X] with the
property that, for all f ∈ K[X],
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a) f (α) = 0 if and only if m | f ;
b) The field K(α) coincides with the ring K[α]; and
c) [K(α) : K] = ∂m.
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We sketch a proof since it give intuition about this result, (which is mainly degree
reduction by using Euclid):
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Proof. First say that there is no such polynomial m ∈ K[X] with m(α) = 0. In particular,
α 6∈ K (otherwise take m = X − α). Then consider the map ϕ : K(X) → K(α) by

ϕ(f /g) = f (α)/g(α).

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The map is defined since g(α) = 0 ⇔ g ≡ 0. Then it is easy to check this is an

isomorphism.
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Say now that there is a polynomial m so that m(α) = 0, and take the polynomial with
the smallest such degree. Since K is a field, we can divide by the leading coefficient to
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obtain a monic polynomial.

Further, m = f g is a contradiction to the minimality of the degree of m. Hence m is
irreducible in K.
Now, say f (α) = 0 for some f ∈ K[X]. Since K is a field, we can write

f = mp + q

for p, q ∈ K[X]. Then q(α) = 0 while ∂q < ∂m, a contradiction.

We now only need to show that the ring K[α] is a field, since then it would obviously
equal K(α). We just need to show that elements of K[α] are invertible. Indeed, consider

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any polynomial f ∈ K[α]. Since m is irreducible in K[X], hence if m - f ⇔ f (α) 6= 0,

then by Bezóut we get polynomials p, q with f p + mq = 1. So f (α)p(α) = 1 and hence
f (α) has an inverse.
Lastly, say that n = ∂m. Then we claim that L = {1, α, . . . , αn−1 } is a basis for
K(α) ≡ K[α]. Firstly, they are linearly independent because of the minimality of ∂m.
Next, to see they are spanning, write any polynomial f = mq + r with ∂m > ∂r. Then
f (α) = r(α) which is obviously equal to a linear combination of L (with coefficients in

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K). Hence done.

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Definition 2.11. If the polynomial m exists, then it is called the minimal polynomial
of α.

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Examples make this proof clearer:

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Example 2.12
Let m(X) = X 2 + X + 1 be the minimal polynomial over Q of some α ∈ C. Then
Q[α] is a field since, for instance
1 1
= ,
α2 −1
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−α − 2

and since X 2 + X + 1 = (−X − 2)(−X + 1) + 3, hence

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1 1
= − (−α + 1) ∈ Q[α].
−α − 2 3
Further, {1, α} is a basis clearly.
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Example 2.13
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√ √
Let’s try and find Q(i 3) over C. Since [Q(i 3) : Q] > 1, (say by Theorem 2.4)
hence the minimal polynomial is of 2
√ degree at least 2. Since
√ X + 3 works, hence it is
the minimal polynomial. So {1, i 3} is a basis for Q(i 3) and so
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Q(i 3) = {a + bi 3 : a, b ∈ Q}.

Further,
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√ √ √
   
a −b
(a + bi 3)−1 = + i 3 ∈ Q[i 3].
a + 3b2
2 a + 3b2
2
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Example 2.14
√ √ √ √ √
Let
√ us investigate √ Q( √2, 3). The √ surprising fact is that Q( 2, 3) ≡ Q( 2 +
√ first
3). Indeed, Q(√ 2 +√ 3) ⊂ Q(
√ 2, √3)−1 obviously.
√ √ √ √
Also, since ( 3 − 2) = ( 3 + √2) √∈ Q( 2 + 3), √ √hence 2,√ 3 are
√ both
expressible by sum of elements of Q( 2 + 3) and so Q( 2, 3) ⊂ Q( 2 + 3), so
done.
√ √ √ √ √ √
Now, we √ can
√ clearly
√ write Q( 2, 3) = (Q 2)[ 3]. Now, since 3 √ 6∈ Q[ 2],

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hence [Q( 2)[ 3] : Q[ 2]] 6= 1. So since X 2 − 3 is a polynomial with root 3, hence
it is the minimal polynomial and so

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√ √ h √ √ √ i h √ i
[Q( 2, 3) : Q] = Q( 2, 3) : Q[ 2] · Q[ 2] : Q = 2 · 2 = 4,

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√ √ √ √ √ √ √
And also, {1, 2} · {1, 3} = {1, 2, 3, 6} is a basis for Q( 2, 3) over Q.
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And in fact, the minimal polynomial of 2 + 3 is X 4 − 10X 2 + 1.

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If α has a minimal polynomial over K, we see that α is algebraic over K, and that
K[α] is a simple algebraic extension of K. A complex number algebraic over Q is
called an algebraic number.
Here’s a nearly obvious result:
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Lemma 2.15
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Let L be a extension of F and αi ∈ L for all 1 ≤ i ≤ n. Let mi be the minimal
polynomial of αi over F. Then

[F (α1 , . . . , αn ) : F ] ≤ ∂m1 ∂m2 · · · ∂mn .

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Remark 2.16. We can’t easily assert equality above. For instance

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√ √ √
[Q( 2) : Q] = 2, [Q( 3) : Q] = 2, [Q( 6) : Q] = 2,
 √ √ √  √ √ √
however Q( 2, 3, 6) : Q = 4 since 6 ∈ Q( 2, 3).
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This motivates the following:

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Lemma 2.17
A field extension L of K is finite if and only if there exists α1 , . . . , αn that are
algebraic over K and such that L = K(α1 , . . . , αn ).
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I will leave the proof as an exercise.

Before I conclude this part, I would like to state a theorem which is quite intuitive:

Theorem 2.18 (Artin’s Primitive Root Theorem)

Any finite field extension L : K is of the form L = K(α) for some α.

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§3 Splitting Fields
Let’s start by an example.

Example 3.1
Consider the polynomial p(X) = X 2 + 1. Clearly, p(X) is irreducible over Q, however,

X 2 + 1 = (X + i)(X − i).

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Clearly, i, −i ∈ Q[i]. Thus both the factors have are in Q(i)[X].

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As in the above example, we say that X 2 + 1 splits completely (into linear factors)
over Q[i].

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Definition 3.2. We say that an extension L of the field K is a splitting field for a
polynomial f ∈ K[X] if

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(i) f splits over L; and
(i) f does not split over any proper subfield of L.
Alternatively, we can say that L : K is a splitting field extension.
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Proposition 3.3
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Let K be a field and f ∈ K[X] be a polynomial. Then there exists a splitting field
L for f over K, and [L : K] ≤ n!.
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In fact, splitting field extensions are unique upto isomorphisms:

Lemma 3.4
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Let K, K ∗ be fields and let ϕ : K → K ∗ be an isomorphism extending to an

isomorphism ϕ̂ : K[X] → K ∗ [X]. Let f ∈ K[X], and let L, L∗ be the splitting
field of f and ϕ̂(f ) over K and K ∗ respectively. Then there exists an isomorphism
ϕ∗ : L → L∗ extending ϕ.
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Example 3.5
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Consider
f = X 4 − 2 = (X − α)(X + α)(X + i)(X − i),
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where α = 4 2. Thus the splitting field of f over Q is Q(α, i).
Since f is irreducible over Q, hence f is the minimal polynomial of α. So [Q(α) :
Q] = 4. Further, the minimal polynomial of i is X 2 + 1, and since i 6∈ Q(α), hence
[Q(α, i) : Q(α)] = 2. Hence,

[Q(α, i) : Q] = [Q(α, i) : Q(α)] · [Q(α) : Q] = 2 · 4 = 8.

Dealing with extensions of Q is not that interesting, since each splitting field would be
a subfield of C (by the fundamental theorem of algebra). However, finite fields are more
interesting.

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§4 Problems
Here are some problems for Practice. The first one is another way to motivate algebraic
integers and is a good revision about all your ring theory stuff, so I suggest you try it.

Problem 4.1. Consider any α ∈ C which is a root of some polynomial in R[X] for some
(commutative) subring R of C.

1. Show that the set of polynomial that have α as a root form an ideal. Call this ideal

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I.

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2. What is special about R[X] that implies that I = (f ) for some polynomial f ?

3. Show that f is irreducible. Thus we have established the minimal polynomial.

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4. Use the above to conclude that any polynomial which has α as a root must be a
multiple of f.

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5. Now, show that I is prime. Why does this imply I is maximal?

6. What does the above tell about R[X]/I?

7. Use this to show that

R[X]/I ∼
= R[α]
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is a field. Hence R[α] ∼
= R(α).
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This establishes Theorem 2.10.
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Problem 4.2. For arbitrary a, b ∈ Q, find the minimum polynomial of a + b 2 over Q.
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Problem 4.3. Let α be a root in C of the polynomial X 2 + 2X + 5. Express the element

α3 + α − 2
α2 − 3
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of Q(α) as a linear combination of the basis {1, α}.

Problem 4.4. Let L : K be a field extension, and let g ∈ K[X]. Show that

• If g is irreducible over L, then it is irreducible over K.

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• If g is reducible over K, then it is irreducible over L.

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Remark. The above problem, though seems obvious, is really useful as a lemma. For
instance, if you want to check a polynomial is irreducible over Q, you can show that it
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is irreducible over Fp and that would finish the problem. See this for some applications:
[Link]

√ √
Problem 4.5. Show that the splitting field of X 4 + 3 over Q is Q(i, α 2), where α = 4 3.
What is its degree over Q?