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A number field is a finite field extension $K/\mathbb{Q}$ of the rational numbers. Its degree of a field extension $[K:\mathbb{Q}]$ is its dimension as a vector space over $\mathbb{Q}$. Every element is an algebraic number; the primitive element theorem also says that $K=\mathbb{Q}(\theta )$ for some single algebraic number $\theta$.

For example,The basis $1,\sqrt{2}$ makes arithmetic explicit: use $(\sqrt{2}{)}^2=2$ to reduce products. Every nonzero element has its inverse in the same field:The denominator cannot vanish unless $a=b=0$, since $\sqrt{2}$ is not a rational number. For instance, $(3+\sqrt{2}{)}^{-1}=(3-\sqrt{2})/7$ belongs to the number field, although it is not an algebraic integer.

A degree-$n$ number field has exactly $n$ distinct field embeddings into the complex numbers fixing $\mathbb{Q}$, because every finite field extension in characteristic zero is a separable field extension. For $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{2})$ these are the two real mapsBoth preserve addition and multiplication. Keeping both values, rather than just the positive choice of $\sqrt{2}$, is what makes the field norm and the Minkowski embedding of a number field useful.

For a number field $K$ of degree of a field extension $n$, an integral basis is a basis ${\omega }_1,\dots ,{\omega }_n$ over $\mathbb{Q}$ such thatThus every algebraic integer in $K$ has a unique expression with integer coefficients in this basis. Merely requiring its entries to be algebraic integers would not suffice: for example, $1,2\sqrt{2}$ is a rational basis of $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{2})$ but misses the algebraic integer $\sqrt{2}$ in its integer span.

Here is a proof of the existence of an integral basis. Start with any rational basis $v_1,\dots ,v_n$. Each $v_j$ has a nonzero integer multiple ${\alpha }_j$ that is an algebraic integer. Indeed, ifchoose a positive integer $q$ clearing all the denominators. Then $qv$ satisfies the monic polynomialThe ${\alpha }_j$ are still a rational basis. Put $M={\sum }_j\mathbb{Z}{\alpha }_j$ and form the matrixIts entries are integers, because products and sums of algebraic integers are algebraic integers and a rational algebraic integer is an integer. The nondegeneracy of the trace form of a number field gives $D\ne 0$: if $x\ne 0$, then $\mathrm{Tr}(x{x}^{-1})=n\ne 0$.

For $x={\sum }_j{x}_j{\alpha }_j\in {\mathcal{O}}_K$, each $\mathrm{Tr}(x{\alpha }_i)$ is an integer, soThe adjugate matrix formula for $T^{-1}$ gives $D{x}_j\in \mathbb{Z}$. ConsequentlyThe submodule theorem for free modules over a principal ideal domain says that every subgroup of the finite-rank free abelian group $D^{-1}M$ is again a free abelian group of rank at most $n$. Since ${\mathcal{O}}_K$ contains $M$, its rank is exactly $n$. A basis of this free abelian group is the required integral basis.

Put $\alpha =\sqrt{m_1}$, $\beta =\sqrt{m_2}$ and $F=\mathbb{Q}(\alpha )$. The hypotheses make $L/\mathbb{Q}$ a biquadratic extension. To check the degree of a field extension is four, if $\beta =x+y\alpha$ with rational $x,y$, squaring gives $xy=0$. The case $y=0$ would make $m_2$ a rational square; the case $x=0$ would make $m_2/m_1$ a rational square. Neither can occur for the specified distinct coprime square-free integers. Hence $[L:F]=2$.

The nonidentity field automorphism of $L/F$ fixes $\alpha$ and sends $\beta$ to $-\beta$. Thus, for $\gamma =(r+s\alpha )+(t+u\alpha )\beta$, the field norm and field trace areIf $\gamma$ is an algebraic integer, so is its conjugate, and their sum and product are algebraic integers. Conversely, put $T={\mathrm{Tr}}_{L/F}(\gamma )$ and $N=N_{L/F}(\gamma )$. The identityshows that $\gamma$ is integral over $\mathbb{Z}[T,N]$. If $T,N$ are algebraic integers, the ring generated by algebraic integers $\mathbb{Z}[T,N]$ is integral over $\mathbb{Z}$. Since integral dependence is transitive, $\gamma$ is an algebraic integer. This proves the trace and norm integrality criterion for a quadratic extension, including elements already in $F$.

Let $\alpha =\sqrt[3]{3}$. The polynomial $X^3-3$ is Eisenstein at three, so the number field has degree of a field extension three. Use the permitted ring of integers $R=\mathbb{Z}[\alpha ]$, whose integral basis is $1,\alpha ,{\alpha }^2$. The field traces $\mathrm{Tr}(1)=3$, $\mathrm{Tr}(\alpha )=\mathrm{Tr}({\alpha }^2)=0$, $\mathrm{Tr}({\alpha }^3)=9$, and $\mathrm{Tr}({\alpha }^4)=0$ giveThere is one real field embedding and one conjugate pair of nonreal field embeddings. The Minkowski bound for ideal classes is thereforeEvery ideal class has an integral ideal representative of ideal norm at most four, so it is enough to show that every prime ideal of ideal norm at most four is a principal ideal.

Modulo two,where the quadratic factor is an irreducible polynomial over the finite field ${\mathbb{F}}_2$. The Dedekind factorization theorem givesNowThus $(\alpha -1)=P_2$, by containment and equality of ideal norms, and cancellation in the second identity gives $({\alpha }^2+\alpha +1)=Q_2$. This explicitly handles the prime ideal of ideal norm four, as well as the one of ideal norm two.

Modulo three the polynomial is $X^3$, soThese exhaust the prime ideals of ideal norm at most four. Every bounded representative factors into the listed principal ideals, and hence is a principal ideal. Therefore the Class group of Q of cube root of three is

Let $L/K$ be a finite Galois extension of number fields, with Galois group $G$, and let $\mathfrak{p}$ be a nonzero prime ideal of ${\mathcal{O}}_K$. Write its prime ideal factorization asThe Galois group acts transitively on the primes above $\mathfrak{p}$. One proof uses the Chinese remainder theorem. If $\mathfrak{Q}$ were outside the orbit of $\mathfrak{P}$, choose an integral element $a$ which is zero modulo $\mathfrak{Q}$ and one modulo every conjugate of $\mathfrak{P}$. Its field norm ${\prod }_{\sigma \in G}\sigma (a)$ belongs to $\mathfrak{Q}\cap {\mathcal{O}}_K=\mathfrak{p}$, hence to $\mathfrak{P}$. But each factor is one modulo $\mathfrak{P}$, a contradiction. Transitivity also makes all $e_j$ equal to a common ramification index $e$ and all $f_j$ equal to a common residue degree $f$.

Fix $\mathfrak{P}$ above $\mathfrak{p}$. Its decomposition group is the stabilizerThe orbit-stabilizer theorem gives $|D_{\mathfrak{P}}|=|G|/g$. Elements of $D_{\mathfrak{P}}$ act on the residue field $\kappa (\mathfrak{P})$ over $\kappa (\mathfrak{p})$; the group kernel is the inertia groupThus inertia measures the automorphisms invisible after reduction, whereas decomposition measures all automorphisms preserving the chosen prime.

The completion $L_{\mathfrak{P}}/K_{\mathfrak{p}}$ is a Galois extension with group $D_{\mathfrak{P}}$: preservation of $\mathfrak{P}$ lets an automorphism extend continuously to the completion, and the local embeddings of this normal extension arise in this way. The degree of a field extension formula is $[L_{\mathfrak{P}}:K_{\mathfrak{p}}]=ef$. Reduction gives the exact sequenceFor surjectivity, lift a primitive residue-field generator by the Hensel lemma to obtain the maximal unramified subextension of a local field extension of $L_{\mathfrak{P}}/K_{\mathfrak{p}}$. Its automorphisms are the residue-field automorphisms. They extend to $L_{\mathfrak{P}}$ because the latter is normal. Since a finite residue field extension has a cyclic Galois group of order $f$, the exact sequence yieldsThe fixed field of local inertia is the maximal unramified subextension of a local field extension, and the extension above it is totally ramified. Primes in the same global orbit have conjugate decomposition groups and inertia groups, so the orders do not depend on the chosen prime.

If $e=1$, inertia is trivial and $D_{\mathfrak{P}}$ is generated by the unique Frobenius automorphism acting on residues by $z\mapsto z^{N\mathfrak{p}}$. Its order is $f$. In a ramified extension this residue action determines only a coset modulo inertia. A prime splits completely exactly when $e=f=1$, equivalently its decomposition group is trivial. A totally ramified prime has $g=f=1$ and $I_{\mathfrak{P}}=D_{\mathfrak{P}}=G$; an unramified prime has $I_{\mathfrak{P}}=1$. In an abelian extension, conjugation does nothing, so the associated groups and unramified Artin symbol are independent of the prime above $\mathfrak{p}$.

The degree of a field extension $[K:M]$ is the dimension of a vector space of $K$ over $M$. If $({\alpha }_i)$ is an $M$-basis of $K$ and $({\beta }_j)$ a $K$-basis of $L$, then $({\alpha }_i{\beta }_j)$ spans $L$ over $M$. An $M$-linear relation among these products, regrouped by $j$, first vanishes coefficientwise by independence of the ${\beta }_j$, and then by independence of the ${\alpha }_i$. This proves the tower law $[L:M]=[L:K][K:M]$, including cardinal dimensions.

A finite field has prime characteristic $p$ and is a finite-dimensional vector space over its prime field ${\mathbb{F}}_p$. Thus its size is $p^n$. A subfield of size $p^m$ forces $m\mid n$ by the tower law. Conversely, if $m\mid n$, the polynomial $X^{p^m}-X$ divides $X^{p^n}-X$; all its $p^m$ distinct roots therefore lie in $K$. They are closed under addition, multiplication and inverses by the Finite-field Frobenius automorphism, forming the required subfield.

For an irreducible polynomial of degree $d$ over ${\mathbb{F}}_q$, a root generates ${\mathbb{F}}_{q^d}$. Its conjugates are $\alpha ,{\alpha }^q,\dots ,{\alpha }^{q^{d-1}}$, so this field is already the splitting field. The automorphism $x\mapsto x^q$ cycles these roots and has order $d$. Consequently

The inclusion $F\subseteq K$ makes $K$ a vector space over $F$ by its own addition and multiplication by elements of $F$. The extension is finite when this vector space has a finite basis. Its degree of a field extension isBeing a finite field extension concerns vector-space dimension, not the cardinality of the underlying field.

A field extension $K/F$ is finite when $K$, regarded as a vector space over $F$, has finite dimension. Its degree of a field extension isThus a finite basis $u_1,\dots ,u_m$ means that every $k\in K$ is uniquely expressible as ${\sum }_i{c}_i{u}_i$ with coefficients $c_i\in F$.

The degree of a field extension is the dimension of the larger field, regarded as a vector space over the smaller field:The scalar multiplication is the multiplication of $K$ restricted to scalars in $F$. A finite extension has finite dimension; otherwise the degree is infinite.

The degree of a field extension is the dimension of the larger field as a vector space over the smaller one:The field extension is a finite field extension precisely when this dimension is finite, equivalently when finitely many elements of $K$ span $K$ over $F$. Finiteness here concerns the dimension, not the number of elements of the fields; for example, $\mathbb{C}$ has degree two over $\mathbb{R}$ although both fields are infinite.

The degree of a field extension is the dimension of the larger field as a vector space over the smaller one:The field extension is a finite field extension precisely when this dimension is finite, equivalently when finitely many elements of $K$ span $K$ over $F$. Finiteness here concerns the dimension, not the number of elements of the fields; for example, $\mathbb{C}$ has degree two over $\mathbb{R}$ although both fields are infinite.

The cubic has no root in ${\mathbb{F}}_2$, since its values at $0$ and $1$ are both $1$. A cubic over a field is irreducible precisely when it has no root. Consequentlyis a field extension of degree $3$, with eight elements. The Frobenius endomorphism $x\mapsto x^2$ takes a root of a polynomial over ${\mathbb{F}}_2$ to another root, so the roots are $\alpha ,{\alpha }^2,{\alpha }^4$. They are distinct: equality between any two would make the Frobenius endomorphism orbit have length less than $3$, contradicting the minimal polynomial of $\alpha$. They all lie in $K$, and one of them generates $K$. Hence

The roots are $\pm \sqrt{2}$ and $\pm \sqrt{3}$, so the splitting field is $K=\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{2},\sqrt{3})$. The first adjunction has degree $2$. To see that the second does too, suppose $\sqrt{3}=u+v\sqrt{2}$ with $u,v\in \mathbb{Q}$. Squaring and comparing rational and irrational parts gives $uv=0$ and $u^2+2v^2=3$. If $v=0$, then $u^2=3$; if $u=0$, then $v^2=3/2$. Neither is a rational square, as follows by comparing prime exponents in numerator and denominator. Thus $\sqrt{3}\notin \mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{2})$. The tower law now yieldsA basis is $1,\sqrt{2},\sqrt{3},\sqrt{6}$.

The degree of a field extension $[K:F]$ is the dimension of $K$ as a vector space over $F$. The tower law states that for finite extensions $F\subseteq E\subseteq K$,If the left side is prime, one factor is one. Degree one forces equality of the corresponding fields, so there is no proper intermediate field.

Let $K$ have 32 elements. Its prime field is ${\mathbb{F}}_2$, and its dimension over that field is five, since a dimension-$d$ vector space over ${\mathbb{F}}_2$ has $2^d$ elements. Every element outside ${\mathbb{F}}_2$ has minimal polynomial of degree five: its generated intermediate field has degree greater than one and dividing five.

Every element of $K$ satisfies $x^{32}=x$, by the multiplicative group of a field of order 31 for nonzero elements. Hence $X^{32}-X$ splits completely over $K$ and has no repeated roots, since its derivative is minus one. Conversely any irreducible polynomial $q$ over ${\mathbb{F}}_2$ gives a quotient ring ${\mathbb{F}}_2[X]/(q)$ with 32 elements. Its defining element satisfies $X^{32}-X$, so $q$ divides that polynomial and therefore has all five distinct roots in $K$.

The 30 elements of $K\setminus {\mathbb{F}}_2$ are thus partitioned into disjoint five-element root sets of the irreducible polynomials. Their number isNo classification of the six individual polynomials is needed; the tower degree and separability already count them all.

A quadratic number field is a number field of degree of a field extension two, necessarily of the form $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{d})$ for a square-free integer $d\ne 0,1$. Its two field embeddings send $a+b\sqrt{d}$ to $a\pm b\sqrt{d}$. If $d>0$, both images lie in the real numbers, giving a totally real number field; if $d<0$, they form a pair related by complex conjugation, giving an imaginary quadratic field. The ring of integers of a quadratic field depends on $d$ modulo four.^[ref]