Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2022 ib Paper 3 10E Solution Created 2026-09-23 Updated 2026-09-25
Matrices over a Euclidean domain are equivalent when for invertible matrices , equivalently when one can pass between them by invertible elementary row and column operations.
For a nonzero matrix, move a nonzero entry to the top left and use Euclidean division and row or column operations to replace it by any nonzero remainder. Repeating terminates with an entry dividing every entry; otherwise adding an offending entry into its row would permit one more strict Euclidean reduction. Clear its row and column, then apply induction to the remaining submatrix. This proves equivalence to a diagonal matrix. It is in Smith normal form when, up to units,
Applying these operations over does not change the isomorphism type of the quotient. If the Smith form of is , thenIt is finite exactly when every is nonzero, equivalently , and then
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2023 ib Paper 4 9E Solution Created 2026-09-23 Updated 2026-10-03
Letbe a primitive polynomial. The Eisenstein criterion states that if a prime number satisfiesthen is an irreducible polynomial in , equivalently in by Gauss lemma for polynomials.
To prove it, suppose that with of positive degree. Primitivity and Gauss's lemma let us take such an integral factorisation if a factorisation over exists. Reducing modulo givesBecause does not divide the leading coefficient of , neither factor loses degree on reduction. The polynomial ring is a unique factorization domain, so both reductions are monomials of positive degree. In particular, divides both constant terms and . It follows that dividesa contradiction. This proves the criterion.
For a prime , translate the geometric sum by one:Its leading coefficient is one, every other coefficient is divisible by , and its constant coefficient is , which is not divisible by . It is therefore Eisenstein at . Translation is an automorphism of , soThis is the geometric-sum irreducibility criterion.
The evaluation homomorphismhas image and contains in its kernel. Since is monic, division by in writes every as with . If , then ; the irreducibility of says that is the minimal polynomial of , so . Thus , and the first isomorphism theorem for rings gives
Now take . Then , and the Eisenstein integers areComplex conjugation sends to , so the field norm isGiven , choose integers with . For ,For with , apply this to and put . ThenHence the norm is a Euclidean function, proving that is a Euclidean domain. This is the Euclidean norm on the Eisenstein integers.
Finally suppose satisfies . Make the free abelian group into a -module by definingThis is well-defined precisely because obeys the same polynomial relation as . The module is finitely generated. It is also torsion-free module: if and , multiplication by the conjugate of gives , and the additive group has no nonzero integer torsion.
A Euclidean domain is a principal ideal domain, and the structure theorem for finitely generated modules over a principal ideal domain says that a finitely generated torsion-free module over one is free. Thusfor some . Since has free module basis over , comparison of abelian ranks gives . There can consequently be no such matrix when is odd.
If , choose a -basis . Thenis a -basis, and . In this basis the matrix of is a direct sum of copies ofEvery admissible matrix is therefore conjugate in to . Hence there is exactly one conjugacy class for even , and none for odd . This is the classification of integral matrices satisfying the third cyclotomic polynomial.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2025 ib Paper 2 9E Solution Created 2026-09-23 Updated 2026-09-25
A euclidean domain is an integral domain with a function on nonzero elements such that for there are with and either or .