Minimal-polynomial coefficient proof of Northcott finiteness

ID: minimal-polynomial-coefficient-proof-of-northcott-finiteness

For the primitive minimal polynomial , the height-Mahler measure formula gives . Expanding the product bounds every integer coefficient by . There are finitely many bounded coefficient lists and each has finitely many roots, proving finiteness of the algebraic numbers. On a projective coordinate chart, every coordinate ratio has height at most the point's projective height; applying the scalar bound proves the projective Northcott theorem too. A degree bound is essential, as the infinitely many roots of unity all have height one.

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