Exercise 6.3

If α and β are algebraic integers, prove that any solution to f ( x ) = x 2 + αx + β = 0 is an algebraic integer. Generalize this result.

Answers

Proof.

Let γ be a root of x 2 + αx + β , where α , β verify :

α n + r 1 α n 1 + + r n = 0 , r i ,

β m + s 1 β m 1 + + s m = 0 , s j .

Let V the set of linear combinations with integer coefficients of

α i β j γ k , 0 i < n , 0 j < m , 0 k < 2 .

Then V if a finitely generated -module.

Moreover, for all δ V , γδ V . Indeed, every δ V is a linear combination with coefficients in of α i β j , α i β j γ , and

γ ( α i β j ) = α i β j γ V γ ( α i β j γ ) = α i β j γ 2 = α i β j ( αγ β ) = α i + 1 β j γ α i β j + 1 V .

(if i + 1 = n , we replace α i + 1 = α n by k = 1 n 1 r k α n k , and a similar replacement if if j + 1 = m .)

As for each x V , where V if a finitely generated -module, V , so γ is an algebraic integer (Proposition 6.1.4).

More generally, if γ n + α 1 γ n 1 + + α n = 0 , where the α i are algebraic integers, then x is an algebraic integer. □

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2022-07-19 00:00
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