Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2007/ii/paper-4/20h/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2007 ii Paper 4 20H Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
Since , reduction gives . The maximal ideals of this quotient are precisely those generated by the distinct irreducible factors . Their inverse images are thereforethe distinct prime ideals above . In fact is a field of size . Every prime containing arises this way; independence of the choice of lift follows because another lift differs by a multiple of .
To prove the ideal factorization, set . A generator of the product either contains a factor , and hence lies in , or is the product . The latter also lies in , since its polynomial reduces to and . Thus . The ideal norm is multiplicative for nonzero ideals in the ring of integers; henceEqual finite indices together with the containment imply equality. ThereforeThis proves the Dedekind factorization theorem in the stated monogenic case by containment and norms, rather than assuming the desired factorization.
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