Math 520A Written Assignment No. 4

due Monday, April 23, 2007

Directions. This assignment should be typeset. You must explain the reasoning underlying your answers. If you make use of a reference other than class notes, you must properly cite its use.

You may not seek help from others on this assignment.


  1. Decompose the polynomial t121Ft as the product of irreducible polynomials when F is the field

    1. Q.

    2. Z5Z.

  2. Let A denote the ring Rtt4+1Rt and π the quotient homomorphism π:RRtt4+1Rt; observe that A is an R-algebra via π.

    1. Determine the group of R-algebra automorphisms of A.

    2. Assuming as known the fact (a consequence of the “fundamental theorem of algebra”) that, up to R-algebra isomorphism, the only non-trivial finite extension of the field R is C, find all subfields of A that contain πR.

  3. Recall that the multiplicative group of a finite field must be cyclic. For the irreducible polynomial ptFt find a polynomial in Ft of degree 1 whose congruence class mod pt determines a generator for the multiplicative group of the finite field FtptFt when

    1. F=Z2Z,pt=t4+t+1.

    2. F=Z3Z,pt=t2+1.

    3. F=Z3Z,pt=t3t1.

    4. F=Z2Z,pt=t5+t2+1.

  4. Find a monic polynomial qt of degree 4 with integer coefficients having  α=2+3+6 β=2+36 γ=236 δ=23+6 as real roots. Explain why qt must be irreducible in Qt.

  5. For each of the following monic polynomials p of degree 4 with coefficients in Q determine the extension degree over Q of the smallest subfield of C in which all complex roots of p lie:

    1. t410t3+35t250t+24.

    2. t4+2.

    3. t42t21.

    4. t4+t1.

    5. t44t2+2.