Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2025 iii Paper 136 2 b ii Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-24
Let and choose any positive integer coprime to the residue characteristic. Forone has and . The simple-root form of Hensel lemma produces with . Infinitely many integers are coprime to the residue characteristic, so .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2025 iii Paper 136 3 a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-24
One useful form of Hensel lemma is this: if is a complete discrete valuation ring, , andthen there is a unique such that and . Indeed, after constructing with , choose the unique modulo for whichand put . The resulting Cauchy sequence converges by completeness, and the same first-order congruence proves uniqueness.
Apply this to . Every nonzero class in is a simple root, so it has a unique Teichmuller representative in . These give all roots of unity of order prime to . For odd , the group has no nontrivial torsion: if , then the binomial theorem gives , which is incompatible with finite -power order. HenceFor , the subgroup is torsion-free by the same argument, while supplies the extra torsion element. Thus . This describes the roots of unity in a p-adic field for .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2025 iii Paper 136 4 b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-24
By local factorization and extended absolute values, extensions of to the number field correspond to the irreducible factors of over .
For , the polynomial is Eisenstein, hence irreducible, so there is one extension. For , a root would be a unit with , but then , not . A reducible cubic has a root, so the polynomial is again irreducible and there is one extension.
For , reduction givesThe factors are coprime, and the quadratic has discriminant , a nonsquare modulo . Hensel lemma lifts this as one linear and one irreducible quadratic factor over , giving two extensions. The requested numbers are thereforefor , respectively.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2026 iii Paper 136 2 a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-24
One form of Hensel lemma is: if is a complete discrete valuation ring, , and while , then there is a unique with and .
Inductively, if , choose modulo so thatand put . The unit makes unique. The resulting sequence is Cauchy, so completeness gives a root . Applying the same first-order congruence to two roots proves uniqueness.