CCM326, Galois Theory May 2022 Exam Solutions

√
A1. Let α denote the complex number e2πi/3 3 3.
a) Find the minimal polynomial √ of α over Q.
Solution: Since α3 = (e2πi/3 3 3)3 = 3, and X 3 − 3 is irreducible by
Eisenstein’s Criterion (with p = 3), it follows that mα,Q = X 3 − 3.
√
b) Find the minimal polynomial
√ of α over
√ Q( 3 3).
Solution: Let L = Q( 3 3). Since √ 3
3 is a root of X 3 − 3, we can
3 3
factor it in L[X] as X − 3 = (X − 3)g, where
√ √
g(X) = (X 2 + 3X + 9).
3 3

√ √
Since the roots of g are α = e2πi/3 3 3 and e4πi/3 3 3, which are not
elements of L (for example since L ⊂ R), it follows that g (being
quadratic) is irreducible in L[X]. Therefore g is the minimal polyno-
mial of α over L.
c) Describe all Q-embeddings from Q(α) to R.
Solution: By Artin’s Extension Theorem, the Q-embeddings τ :
Q(α) → R correspond
√ to the roots of mα,Q = X 3 − 3 in R. The only
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such root is 3, so there√ is just one Q-embedding τ : Q(α) → R,
determined by τ (α) = 3 3.
A2. For each of the following polynomials f in Q[X], determine the structure
of the Galois group Gal(Lf /Q), where Lf is a splitting field of f over Q.
a) f (X) = X 3 + X;
Solution: We can factor X 3 + X = X(X 2 + 1), so the roots of f (in
C) are 0 and ±i. Therefore Lf = Q(i), and since [Q(i) : Q] = 2, it
follows that Gal(Lf /Q) has order 2, so it is isomorphic to Z/2Z.
b) f (X) = X 3 + 3X 2 − 3X + 1.
Solution: The only possible rational roots of f are ±1, but f (1) = 2
and f (−1) = 6. Since f is cubic and has no roots in Q, f is irreducible
in Q[X]. The Galois group of f is therefore A3 or S3 , depending on
whether the discriminant of f is a square in Q. To use the given
formula for the discriminant, we may replace f by
g(X) = f (X −1) = (X −1)3 +3(X −1)2 −3(X −1)+1 = X 3 −6X +6
without changing the splitting field (or the discriminant). This has
discriminant −4a3 − 27b2 = 4(6)3 − 27(6)2 = −3(6)2 , which is not a
square in Q. Therefore Gal(Lf /Q is isomorphic to S3 .
A3. a) State the Fundamental Theorem of Galois Theory for extensions of
finite degree. (You do not need to define what it means for an exten-
sion to be Galois.)
Solution: Let K ⊂ L be a finite Galois extension of fields, and let
G = Gal(L/K). Then

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 i) The maps E 7→ Gal(L/E) and H 7→ LH define mutually inverse,
inclusion-reversing bijections:
   
intermediate fields E,
←→ subgroups H of G .
K⊂E⊂L

ii) An intermediate field E, K ⊂ E ⊂ L, is Galois over K if and only

if the corresponding subgroup H = Gal(L/E) is normal in G, in
which case the restriction map σ 7→ σ|E induces an isomorphism
of groups
∼
G/H −→ Gal(E/K).
b) Suppose that K is a field and that f is a separable irreducible polyno-
mial in K[X]. Let L be the splitting field of f over K, and let α ∈ L
be a root of f . Prove that if Gal(L/K(α)) is a normal subgroup of
Gal(L/K), then L = K(α).
Solution: Note that since L is the splitting field over K of a sep-
arable polynomial in K[X], it is a finite Galois extension of K. If
H = Gal(L/K(α)) is normal in G = Gal(L/K), then K(α) is Galois
over K (by part (ii) of the Fundamental Theorem). Since f is irre-
ducible, it is the minimal polynomial over K of α, and since K(α) is
Galois over K, it follows that f splits completely over K(α). Thus if
α1 , . . . , αn ∈ L are the roots of f , we have α1 , . . . , αn ∈ K(α), so

L = K(α1 , . . . , αn ) ⊂ K(α) ⊂ L,

and therefore L = K(α).

A4. Suppose that K is a field, and f ∈ K[X] is a monic polynomial of degree
d.
a) State what it means for the polynomial f to be separable.
Solution: A polynomial f of degree d is separable it it has d distinct
roots in its splitting field over K.
b) State a criterion involving the derivative of f that is equivalent to
the separability of f . (You do not need to prove this equivalence.)
Solution: f is separable if and only gcd(f, f 0 ) = 1 (where f 0 is the
derivative of f ).
c) Suppose that p is a prime and that L is an extension of Fp of degree
n. Write down a separable polynomial in Fp [X] whose roots (in L)
are precisely the elements of L. (You do not need to prove that your
answer is correct.)
n
Solution: f (X) = X p − X.
d) Use the criterion in part b) to show that the polynomial in part c) is
separable.
Solution: For f as in part c), we have
n
f 0 = pn X p −1
− 1 = −1

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 (since pn = 0 in Fp ). Therefore (f, f 0 ) = (f, −1) = 1, so the criterion
in part b) implies that f is separable.
A5. Let K ⊂ L be a finite extension of fields of characteristic 0.
a) State what it means for the extension L to be radical over K, and
for the extension L to be solvable by radicals over K.
Solution: We say that L is radical over K if L = K(α) for some
α ∈ L such that αn ∈ K for some integer n ≥ 1.
We say that L is solvable by radicals over K if there is a chain of
extensions:
K = L0 ⊂ L1 ⊂ L2 ⊂ · · · ⊂ Lm
such that L ⊂ Lm , and for each k = 1, . . . , m, Lk is radical over Lk−1
for k = 1, 2, . . . , m.
p
3
√
b) Prove that if α = e2πi/7 + 11 − 3, then Q(α) is solvable by radi-
cals over Q. √
Solution: Let L0 = Q, L 1 = Q( 3), L2 = L1 (β) where β =
p
7
√ √ 2
11 − 3,√and L3 = L2 (ζ) where ζ = e2πi/7 . Then 3 ∈ L0 ,
β 3 = 11 − 3 ∈ L1 , ζ 7 = 1 ∈ L2 , and α = β + ζ ∈ L3 , so Q(α) ⊂ L3 .
Therefore Q(α) is solvable by radicals over Q.
B6 Let L be the splitting field over Q of the polynomial f (X) = X 4 +2X −2 ∈
Q[X].
a) Use the cubic resolvent to determine the structure of Gal(L/Q).
Solution: Applying the formula for the cubic resolvent (with c = 2
and d = −2) gives that it is

g(X) = X 3 − 8X − 4.

The possible roots of g are ±1, ±2 or ±4, but g(±1) = ∓7 − 4,

g(±2) = ∓16 − 4 and g(±4) = ±32 − 4, none of which are zero.
Since g is cubic, it follows that it is irreducible in Q[X], and we can
determine its Galois group by computing its discriminant.
Applying the formula for the discriminant (with a = −8 and b = −4)
gives ∆g = 4(8)3 − 27(−4)2 = 42 (128 − 27) = 42 · 101. Since ∆g is
not a square, it follows that Gal(Lg /Q) is isomorphic to S3 , which in
turn implies that Gal(L/Q) is isomorphic to S4 .
√
b) (Level 6) Find a rational number D such that E = Q( D) is a
subfield of L and [E : Q] p= 2.
Solution: We have Q( ∆g ) ⊂ Lg ⊂ L, so we may take D = ∆g =
√
101. Since 101 is not a square, we have [Q( 101) : Q] = 2, as
required.
c) (level 6), b) (Level 7) Let α1 , α2 , α3 , α4 be the roots of f in L, and
for i = 1, 2, 3, 4, let Fi = Q(αi ) and Hi = Gal(L/Fi ). Describe Hi

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 as a subgroup of Gal(L/Q) in terms of your answer to part a), and
deduce that the fields F1 , F2 , F3 and F4 are distinct.
Solution: Under the isomorphism between Gal(L/Q) and S4 in
part a), the automorphism σ of L corresponds to the permutation
π defined by σ(αi ) = απ(i) . Since σ ∈ Hi if and only if σ(αi ) = αi ,
the subgroup of S4 corresponding to Hi consists of the permutations
π such that π(i) = i. Therefore
– H1 corresponds to {e, (12), (13), (23), (123), (132)};
– H2 corresponds to {e, (13), (14), (34), (134), (143)};
– H3 corresponds to {e, (12), (14), (24), (124), (142)};
– H4 corresponds to {e, (23), (24), (34), (234), (243)}.
Since these subgroups are distinct, so are the corresponding fields Fi .
c) (Level 7) Determine whether any of the fields Fi in part b) contain
a subfield E such that [E : Q] = 2.
Solution: If E is a subfield of Fi , then E is also a subfield of L, and
the corresponding subgroup Gal(L/E) of Gal(L/Q) has order

[L : E] = [L : Q]/[E : Q] = 24/2 = 12.

The only subgroup of S4 of order 12 is A4 . (Such a subgroup must

be normal in S4 , so it must be a union of conjugacy classes, including
that of the identity. Since there are 12 transpositions, all conjugate,
it must contain the remaining elements, which comprise A4 .)
Since none of the subgroups Hi in the answer to part b) is contained
in A4 , and the Galois correspondence is inclusion-reversing, it follows
that none of the fields Fi contains such a field E.
B7 Let L be the splitting field over F7 of the polynomial f (X) = X 3 +X +1 ∈
F7 [X], and let α ∈ L be a root of f .
a) Prove that f is irreducible in F7 [X], and determine the number of
elements in L.
Solution: Since f is cubic, it suffices to show that f has no roots
in F7 = {0, ±1, ±2, ±3} in order to conclude that f is irreducible in
F7 [X]. We find that

f (0) = 1, f (1) = 3, f (−1) = −1, f (2) = −3,

f (−2) = −2, f (3) = 3 and f (−3) = −1.

Therefore f is irreducible, and therefore f = mα,F7 .

Since every extension of finite fields is Galoios, F7 (α) is Galois over
F7 . Therefore f splits completely over F7 (α), so L = F7 (α). It follows
that
[L : F7 ] = [F7 (α) : F7 ] = deg(f ) = 3,
and therefore L has 73 = 343 elements.

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 b) Express all the roots of f as powers of α, and deduce that α114 = 1.
Solution: The roots of f are given by applying the automorphisms
in Gal(L/F7 ) to α. Since Gal(L/F7 ) = {e, φ, φ2 }, where φ(α) = α7 ,
it follows that the roots are:

α, φ(α) = α7 and φ2 (α) = α49 .

Since
X 3 + X + 1 = (X − α)(X − α7 )(X − α49 ),
comparing constant terms gives 1 = −α1+7+49 = −α57 . Therefore
α114 = (α57 )2 = (−1)2 = 1.
c) (Level 6) Determine the number of monic irreducible polynomials
of degree 3 in F7 [X].
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Solution: The polynomial X 7 − X is the product of all monic
irreducible polynomials in F7 [X] of degree dividing 3, i.e., of degree
1 or 3. There are precisely 7 monic polynomials in F7 [X] of degree 1
(obviously irreducible), namely X, X ±1, X ±2, X ±3. Therefore the
product of all monic irreducible cubic polynomials in F7 [X] has total
degree 73 − 7 = 336. It follows that there are precisely 336/3 = 112
such polynomials.
c) (Level 7) Prove that the polynomial
18
X
g(X) = X i = X 18 + X 17 + · · · + X 2 + X + 1 ∈ F7 [X]
i=0

splits completely over L, and deduce that g factors as a product of 6

irreducible polynomials of degree 3 in F7 [X].
Solution: Since g(X) = (X 19 − 1)/(X − 1), we have that β ∈ L is a
root of g if and only if β 19 = 1, but β 6= 1, i.e., β has order 19 in L× .
Since L× is cyclic of order 342, and 19|342, we know that L× has
φ(19) = 18 elements of order 19. Therefore g has 18 distinct roots in
L, so it splits completely in L.
The monic divisors of g are precisely the minimal polynomials of its
roots. Since F× 7 has order 6, it has no elements of order 19, so g has
no roots in F7 . It follows that if β is a root of g, then L = F7 (β),
so mβ,F7 has degree 3. Therefore every monic irreducible factor of g
has degree 6, and since deg(g) = 18, there must be 6 such factors.
B8 Let K ⊂ L be a finite extension of fields of characteristic 0.
a) State what it means for a finite group to be solvable, and for the
extension L to be solvable over K.
Solution: A group G is solvable if there is a chain of subgroups:

{e} = H0 ⊂ H1 ⊂ H2 ⊂ · · · ⊂ Hm = G

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 such that for each k = 1, . . . , m, Hk−1 is a normal subgroup of Hk ,
and Hk /Hk−1 is a cyclic group.
The extension L is solvable over K if there is a finite extension M of
L such M is Galois over K and Gal(M/K) is a solvable group.
b) For the rest of the question, let f (X) = X 5 − 20X 2 + 30, and let
α ∈ C be a root of f . Prove that Q(α) is not solvable over Q.

Solution: First note that f (X) = X 5 − 20X 2 + 30 satisfies Eisen-

stein’s Criterion with p = 5, so f is irreducible in Q[X].
We claim that f has 3 exactly real roots. To see this, note that

f 0 (X) = 5X 4 − 40X = 5X(X 3 − 8)

has exactly two real roots X = 0 and X = 2. Since f (X) → ±∞ as

X → ±∞, it follows that f is increasing on (−∞, 0) and (2, ∞) and
decreasing on (0, 2). Since f (0) = 30 > 0, and f (2) = −18 < 0, it
follows that f has exactly one real root in each of the 3 intervals. By
results from lecture, we know that Gal(Lf /Q) is isomorphic to S5 ,
which is not solvable. Since any extension of Q(α) which is Galois
over Q must contain Lf , it follows that Q(α) is not solvable over Q.
c) (Level 6) Let L ⊂ C be the splitting field of f over Q. Prove that
L is solvable by radicals over Q(α).
Solution: We have that L is (also) the splitting field of f over Q(α),
and
f (X) = (X − α)g(X)
for some polynomial g ∈ Q(α)[X] of degree 4. Therefore L is (also)
the splitting field of g over Q(α). Since deg(g) ≤ 4, its splitting field
over Q(α) is solvable by radicals over Q(α).
c) (Level 7) Let L ⊂ C be the splitting field of f . Prove that there is
a subfield E ⊂ L such that [E : Q] = 12, and that E is not solvable
by radicals over Q.
Solution: We first show that Gal(L/Q), or equivalently S5 , has a
subgroup of index 12, i.e., of order #S5 /12 = 10. Letting g = (12345)
and h = (15)(24), we have that g has order 5, h has order 2, and

hgh−1 = (54321) = g −1 .

Therefore {e, g, g 2 , g 3 , g 4 , h, hg, hg 2 , hg 3 , hg 4 } is a subgroup of S5 of

order 10 (isomorphic to the dihedral group D5 ). So if H is the cor-
responding subgroup of Gal(L/Q), we have [E : Q] = 12, where
E = LH .
The chain of subgroups {e} ⊂ hgi ⊂ hg, hi shows that H is solvable,
and therefore L is solvable over E, hence solvable by radicals over
E. If E were solvable by radicals over Q, then this would imply
L is solvable by radicals over Q. But we have seen that L is not

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solvable over Q, which implies that is not solvable by radicals over
Q. Therefore E cannot be solvable by radicals over Q.