Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2014/ib/paper-2/11e/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2014 ib Paper 2 11E Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-06
Let be a finite integral domain. For any , multiplication is injective: implies , hence because there are no zero divisors. An injective map of a finite set to itself is surjective, so for some . Every nonzero element is invertible; therefore a finite integral domain is a field.
For an irreducible polynomial , consider a nonzero class in the quotient ring . Since does not divide , irreducibility gives . The Euclidean algorithm in the polynomial ring gives polynomials with . Modulo , . Thus the quotient by an irreducible polynomial is a field.
For a field with four elements, useThe quadratic has no root in , so is irreducible. Write . Polynomial division shows the elements are , with . Its multiplication table is
For a field with nine elements, useThe values of at are , so the quadratic is irreducible. Every class is uniquely , , with . These nine classes form a finite field; multiplication is , with coefficients modulo three.
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