Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2017/ib/paper-3/11e/c/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 ib Paper 3 11E c Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-05
Write the Gaussian integer , with , and set . Complex conjugation preserves , because . Choose a nonzero . Then is a positive integer in . It cannot be one because is a proper prime ideal. Factoring into rational primes and applying primality repeatedly gives a prime .
The element satisfies the monic polynomial . Evaluation induces a ring homomorphism that is a surjectionThe source has elements by part (b), soIf , use instead and get at most elements. Moreover is an integral domain, so its finiteness makes it a field. This proves the finite residue-field theorem for Gaussian integer orders without incorrectly assuming that every Gaussian integer order is a principal ideal domain.
New to topics? Read the docs here!