Let have degree , and suppose a rational prime factors into distinct prime ideals of norm . If , then is not monogenic. Otherwise the Dedekind factorization theorem would force the degree- minimal polynomial of a power-basis generator to have distinct linear factors over , although only the polynomials are available.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2007 ii Paper 4 20H Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-24
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2012 iii Paper 28 2 c Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-07
The polynomial is an Eisenstein polynomial at , so it is irreducible and . Its polynomial discriminant isOne must remove the index at before using this as the field discriminant. Put . Direct reduction using givesThus is a ring finite over , so its elements are integral. Its basis has discriminant of elements of a number field . The discriminant-index formula for an integral lattice says , so only could divide the remaining index.
We use these standard different ideal facts: the norm of the different is the absolute field discriminant; its localization is the local different; an unramified prime has different exponent zero, and a tamely ramified prime of ramification index has different exponent . The Eisenstein polynomial at gives total ramification of degree three, which is tame because . Its contribution to is therefore two. This excludes a further index factor , proving and .
Since the index is prime to and , Dedekind factorization theorem applies at both primes. Modulo , , giving a single prime with residue degree one and ramification index three. Modulo ,Thus has residue degree one and ramification index two; the other prime over is unramified. Both ramified primes are tame. No other prime ramifies because none divides . Consequently
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 ii Paper 4 20G a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-03
Evaluation at gives the ring isomorphismand reducing modulo givesFor each ,This quotient is a field because is irreducible. Hence is a nonzero prime ideal; it is nonzero because it contains . Its ideal norm is
The ideals are distinct. Indeed, if with , then both and would vanish in the same quotient. Since distinct monic irreducibles are coprime, a Bezout identity between them would make vanish there, a contradiction.
Because the chosen lifts satisfyfor some , evaluation at givesEvery generator of the product ideal either contains a factor or is the displayed product, soOn the other hand, multiplicativity of ideal norms and giveTwo finite-index ideals with one contained in the other and equal index are equal. Thus the Dedekind factorization theorem is proved in this monogenic case:
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2021 ii Paper 1 20G c Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
The minimal polynomial of isand part (b) showed that . Modulo ,The quadratic has no root in , so it is irreducible. The Dedekind factorization theorem therefore givesThe two factors are distinct prime ideal, with norms and , respectively.
Modulo ,and the quadratic is irreducible over . HenceThis is a product of two distinct proper prime ideals, so is not prime. These decompositions are collected in prime ideals above two and three in the cubic field of discriminant minus 307.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2022 ii Paper 2 20H b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
The Dedekind factorization theorem says that, when a rational prime does not divide the index of an order , a factorizationof the minimal polynomial modulo gives
Let with square-free , and let be odd. The resulting splitting of rational primes in a quadratic field is:
Finally suppose and
has norm , with integers
chosen coprime. ThenIf an odd ramified, then . Reduction modulo gives
. Since is not a square modulo such a prime, . Dividing the equation's divisibility shows as well (use that square-free has -adic valuation one), contradicting coprimality. Hence no prime ramifies.
has norm , with integers
chosen coprime. ThenIf an odd ramified, then . Reduction modulo gives
. Since is not a square modulo such a prime, . Dividing the equation's divisibility shows as well (use that square-free has -adic valuation one), contradicting coprimality. Hence no prime ramifies.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2023 ii Paper 2 20H b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Put . The given ring of integers has integral basis . The discriminant of the power basis, equivalently of , isThe field has signature : one real embedding and one conjugate pair of complex embeddings. The Minkowski bound for ideal classes is thereforeEvery ideal class consequently has an integral representative of norm at most four.
It remains to inspect prime ideals above and . Modulo ,The Dedekind factorization theorem giveswhereButso the principal ideal is contained in and has the same norm; henceAlsosoBoth primes above are principal.
Finally,Thus the unique prime above is the principal ideal . By unique factorization of ideals in a number field, every integral ideal of norm at most four is built from these principal prime ideals. Every ideal class is therefore trivial, and the Class group of Q of cube root of three is
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 iii Paper 136 5 b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Let . Its minimal polynomial is , whose discriminant is . Since , the prime does not divide the index , so the Dedekind factorization theorem applies at . In ,The quadratic factor has discriminant , which is a quadratic nonresidue modulo , so it is irreducible. ThereforewhereTheir residue-field degrees are one and two. Both factors of occur with multiplicity one, so both prime-ideal exponents are one. Hence neither nor is ramified.