Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2015/ii/paper-1/16h/a/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2015 ii Paper 1 16H a Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-06
Let be the coefficients of . Each is an algebraic integer. The ring is a finitely generated -module: reduce powers of each generator by its monic integral equation. As is monic, is generated over by , so is a finite -module. It is torsion-free as a subgroup of a characteristic-zero field, hence free of finite rank. Multiplication by on it is represented by an integer matrix. Its monic characteristic polynomial, by Cayley-Hamilton theorem, annihilates . Thus is an algebraic integer. This proves the required transitivity of integrality in this setting.
Every root of the monic is also a root of the monic polynomial , and is therefore an algebraic integer. The coefficients of are elementary symmetric polynomials in these roots, hence algebraic integers because algebraic integers form a ring. They also belong to , so belong to . Consequently .
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