The multiplicative field norm is an integer. Units have field norm one and are exactly . A nontrivial factorization of 2 would force both factors to have field norm two, which the displayed quadratic form cannot represent. Thus 2 is an irreducible element. It is not a prime element, since it divides but neither factor. This is an example in a nonmaximal quadratic order, rather than the full ring of integers of ; the precise ring matters for factorization.
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