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For a number field and finite subgroup $\Delta \subset K^{\ast }/K^{\ast n}$, adjoining all the indicated nth roots gives an extension unramified outside the displayed finite set. The valuations modulo $n$ are independent of representatives. At a finite place outside $S$, divide each radicand by a local nth power of a uniformizer to obtain a unit. Its polynomial has separable reduction because $n$ is invertible. A finite unramified extension containing all residue roots contains all lifted roots by Hensel's lemma. This proof does not require ${\mu }_n\subset K$.

Modulo three the right side is always minus one, a nonsquare. At two, $x=-2$ gives the square 2-adic integer $-7\equiv 1(\mathrm{mod}8)$. At twenty-three the same value is a nonzero square modulo the prime and lifts by Hensel's lemma. At every other prime at least five, the model has good reduction of an elliptic curve and the Hasse bound gives more than its single point at infinity, hence an affine smooth point. Lifting that point gives p-adic integer coordinates.

For a prime number $p$, a p-adic number is an element of the field ${\mathbb{Q}}_p$ obtained by completing the rational numbers for the metric $d_p(x,y)=|x-y{|}_p$. Here $|\cdot {|}_p$ is the p-adic absolute value. The Cauchy-sequence construction of a metric completion supplies limits for every Cauchy sequence, and addition, multiplication, and the p-adic absolute value extend to this complete metric space. The rational numbers form a dense subset. ^[ref]

For a concrete example with $p=2$, consider the partial sums of a geometric series:The first values $1,3,7,15,31$ have distances $1/2,1/4,1/8,1/16,1/32$ from $-1$ in the 2-adic absolute value. ConsequentlyThis is a statement about convergence in a metric space with the 2-adic absolute value. In the ordinary real number absolute value, the same partial sums grow without bound. Choosing a metric changes which approximation errors shrink.

More generally every nonzero P-adic number has a unique digit expansionOnly finitely many negative powers occur, while positive powers can continue indefinitely. Written with the highest powers on the left, the digits extend infinitely to the left; for example the P-adic number $-1$ at $p=2$ is written $\dots 111_2$. The p-adic integers are exactly the elements with $|x{|}_p\le 1$, whose digit expansions use only nonnegative powers. ^[ref]

The construction can be understood through modular arithmetic. Successively choose the low-order digits to agree modulo $p$, $p^2$, and higher powers. After fixing digits below $p^n$, the remaining error has p-adic absolute value at most $p^{-n}$; the partial sums form a Cauchy sequence, so completeness supplies a limit. If two expansions first differ at position $j$, their difference has P-adic valuation $j$, proving uniqueness. This turns compatible finite congruence classes into one exact number. In particular, Hensel's lemma upgrades suitable approximate roots of a polynomial modulo powers of $p$ into roots in the p-adic integers.

For $p=3$, a root would have valuation zero because five is a unit. It would therefore reduce to a unit cube modulo nine. The only cube residue classes modulo nine are $0,1,-1$, none equal to five. Thus no root exists in ${\mathbb{Q}}_3$.

For $p=5$, the valuation equation would be $3v_5(x)=1$, impossible because the valuation of a nonzero element of ${\mathbb{Q}}_5$ is an integer. Thus no root exists in ${\mathbb{Q}}_5$.

For $p=13$, $7^3\equiv 5(\mathrm{mod}13)$ and the derivative $3\cdot 7^2\equiv 4\not\equiv 0(\mathrm{mod}13)$. Hensel's lemma lifts this simple root to a root in ${\mathbb{Z}}_{13}\subseteq {\mathbb{Q}}_{13}$. Thus a root exists in ${\mathbb{Q}}_{13}$.

Let $\alpha ,\beta ,\gamma$ be the nonzero reductions of $a,b,c$. The square set in ${\mathbb{F}}_p$ has $(p+1)/2$ members, including zero. Multiplication by $\alpha$, and separately the transformation $z\mapsto \gamma -\beta z$, preserve this cardinality. Hence the two sets in the hint have total cardinality $p+1>p$ and must intersect. This gives a solution $(x_0,y_0)$ modulo $p$.

The solution cannot have both coordinates zero since $\gamma \ne 0$. If $x_0\ne 0$, choose any integral lift of $y_0$ and apply Hensel's lemma to the polynomial $a{X}^2+b{y}_0^2-c$ in $X$: its derivative at the reduced root is $2\alpha x_0\ne 0$. If $y_0\ne 0$, use the other variable instead. The nonzero derivative uses $p\ne 2$. Thus a solution lifts to $\boxed{x,y\in {\mathbb{Z}}_p}$ as required.

The three suggested values areThere is an obstruction at $p=3$: every integer residue satisfies $x^3-x\equiv 0(\mathrm{mod}3)$, whereas $-1\equiv 2$ is not a square modulo three. Reduction of a solution in the p-adic integers would give an impossible solution modulo three.

At $p=2$, take $x=-2$. The odd 2-adic unit in a ring $-7$ is congruent to one modulo eight, so it is a square in ${\mathbb{Z}}_2$. We use the standard 2-adic square criterion that an odd unit in a ring is a square exactly when it is one modulo eight. Its sufficiency follows by successively adjusting an odd square root modulo $2^m$ by $2^{m-1}$ to obtain the next required square congruence. Thus $y^2=-7$ has a 2-adic integer solution.

For $p\ge 5$ other than $23$, the discriminant of $y^2=x^3-x-1$ isso this model has good reduction of an elliptic curve. Hasse's theorem on elliptic curves givesSince there is just one point at infinity, there is an affine point. Smoothness means that at least one partial derivative of $y^2-x^3+x+1$ is a unit in a ring modulo $p$, so Hensel's lemma lifts the affine point to ${\mathbb{Z}}_p^2$. The last exceptional odd prime is also soluble: at $p=23$, $h(-2)=-7\equiv 16$ has square roots $\pm 4$, which are simple roots of $Y^2+7$ modulo $23$, and lift by Hensel's lemma.

For small-prime checks the suggested values also give $x=0$ at $p=5$ and $x=3$ at $p=7$, where respectively $-1\equiv 2^2$ and $23\equiv 3^2$. ThereforeThe same prime list holds if one only asks for a solution modulo $p$, but the lifting above establishes the asserted p-adic integer solutions. This is local solubility of the cubic x cubed minus x minus one.

For a number field $k$, its ordinary Hilbert class field $H_k$ is the maximal finite abelian extension unramified at every finite prime and with every real place splitting completely. The Artin reciprocity map inducesThe image of an unramified prime ideal is its Frobenius automorphism. Thus a prime splits completely in $H_k$ precisely when its ideal class is trivial. This field packages ideal-class obstructions into splitting behavior. Ideals become principal in $H_k$ by the principal ideal theorem. Specifying the real-place convention matters for real fields: omitting it leads instead to the narrow class-field problem. Both illustrative fields below are imaginary quadratic, so there are no real places to discuss.

First consider $k=\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{-23})$, whose quadratic discriminant is $-23$. The correspondence between ideal classes and reduced primitive positive definite binary quadratic forms lets us compute its class number without guessing a class field. A reduced form $(a,b,c)$ obeys $|b|\le a\le c$, $b^2-4ac=-23$, and $a\le \sqrt{23/3}<3$; a boundary case uses $b\ge 0$. For $a=1$ the only class is $(1,1,6)$; for $a=2$ the two possibilities are $(2,1,3)$ and $(2,-1,3)$. Hence $h_k=3$ and its ideal class group is cyclic of order three.

Take $g(X)=X^3-X-1$. Its only possible rational roots are $\pm 1$, neither a root, so it is irreducible. Its polynomial discriminant is $4-27=-23$, which is nonsquare. Thus its splitting field $H$ has Galois group $S_3$ and the quadratic fixed field of $A_3$ is $k$, generated by the square root of its discriminant. Therefore $H/k$ is cyclic of degree three and $H=k(\theta )$ for a root $\theta$ of $g$.

At a prime other than $23$, the separable residue polynomial splits over a finite residue-field extension; Hensel's lemma puts all its roots in an unramified local extension. At $23$ there is the exact factorizationThe simple factor lifts by Hensel's lemma. The remaining quadratic factor has discriminant valuation one, because the cubic discriminant is $-23$ and the resultant with the simple factor is a unit. Its local splitting field is ramified quadratic, with inertia group of order two. Its intersection with $A_3$ is trivial, so the relative extension $H/k$ is unramified at $23$ as well. There are no real places. An unramified abelian extension of degree $h_k=3$ must be all of $H_k$, givingThis is the Hilbert class field of Q of square root minus twenty-three.

The other alternative, $k=\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{-30})$, has quadratic discriminant $-120$. Reduced forms have $a\le \sqrt{40}<7$ and even $b$. Testing $1\le a\le 6$, $|b|\le a$, and $c=(b^2+120)/(4a)\ge a$ gives exactlyThus $h_k=4$. Each class is its own inverse, because replacing $b$ by $-b$ leaves these representatives unchanged; consequently the ideal class group is $C_2\times C_2$.

Set $H=\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{2},\sqrt{-3},\sqrt{5})$. The square classes $2,-3,5$ are independent, so $[H:\mathbb{Q}]=8$. Their product gives $\sqrt{-30}$, and $H/k$ is abelian of degree four. Its seven quadratic subfields have discriminantsFor a multiquadratic abelian extension, the conductor-discriminant formula takes the product of these quadratic character conductors, namely the absolute quadratic discriminants. Hence $|d_H|=120^4$. The relative discriminant tower formula givesThe integral relative discriminant ideal therefore has norm one and is the unit ideal. Thus $H/k$ is everywhere unramified, and its degree equals the class number. This proves the other explicit answer:It agrees with the Hilbert class field of Q of square root minus thirty. Both alternatives have been computed independently from their class numbers and ramification.

Choose an integral Minimal Weierstrass equation over ${\mathbb{Z}}_p$. Let $E_0({\mathbb{Q}}_p)$ be the points with nonsingular reduction, and let $E_1({\mathbb{Q}}_p)$ be those reducing to $O$. This distinction matters at bad reduction of an elliptic curve: the whole singular reduced cubic is not a group. The smooth locus is a group under the induced elliptic curve group law, and Hensel's lemma lifts each of its rational points, givingThe formal kernel of a minimal Weierstrass equation identifies $E_1({\mathbb{Q}}_p)$ with $p{\mathbb{Z}}_p$ equipped with $F$. Indeed, the integral series $w(t)$ converges there, and $x=t/w(t)$, $y=-1/w(t)$ give the unique point for each nonzero parameter. If $v_p(t)=r>0$, then $v_p(x)=-2r$ and $v_p(y)=-3r$; the parameter zero gives $O$. Conversely a point reducing to $O$ has these local coordinates of positive valuation, so is recovered by the series.

Define $E_m$ for $m\ge 1$ by $t\in p^m{\mathbb{Z}}_p$. The linear part of the formal group law is addition, and the higher terms have degree at least two. Hence the filtration of elliptic-curve points over a local field hasAt good reduction, $E_0=E$ and $E/E_1\cong \tilde{E}({\mathbb{F}}_p)$. At bad reduction, there is also the finite quotient $E/E_0$: $E({\mathbb{Q}}_p)$ is a compact group because the curve is projective, and $E_0$ is an open subgroup, so its index of a subgroup is finite. Together these quotients and the formal filtration describe the group, including the extra components at bad primes.

The formal logarithm makes the deepest part explicit. Write $L(T)=T+{\sum }_{n\ge 2}{c}_n{T}^n$. Since its derivative is the integral invariant differential of a formal group law, $n{c}_n\in {\mathbb{Z}}_p$. ConsequentlyThe inequality $v_p(n)\le (n-1)/(p-1)$ shows that for an integer $m>1/(p-1)$ every nonlinear term on $p^m{\mathbb{Z}}_p$ has strictly higher valuation than the linear term. After scaling, $L$ is the identity plus a strictly contracting series; solving $L(t)=u$ by successive correction gives its inverse formal group exponential. Thus the deep logarithm subgroup of a formal group givesOne may take $m=1$ for odd $p$ and $m=2$ for $p=2$. In particular, $E({\mathbb{Q}}_p)$ contains an open subgroup isomorphic to the additive p-adic integers, and the remaining information is in finite quotients and their group extensions.

Normalize each finite-place valuation to have image $\mathbb{Z}$. For a radical class $[a]$, the residue of $v(a)$ modulo $n$ is well-defined, because replacing $a$ by $a{b}^n$ adds $nv(b)$. A suitable finite set isOne can compute the last union from any finite generating set of $\Delta$. Each representative has only finitely many nonzero valuations, so this indeed defines a finite set depending only on $n$ and the classes, not on a choice of representatives. Including all infinite places safely allows possible real-to-complex ramification.

Fix $v\notin S$ and work over the completion $K_v$. A representative has $v(a)=nk$, so $a={\pi }^{nk}u$ with $u$ a unit. Adjoining an $n$th root of $a$ is the same as adjoining an $n$th root of $u$. Since $n$ is invertible in the residue field, $X^n-\bar{u}$ is separable: its derivative $n{X}^{n-1}$ has no common zero with it.

Take a finite extension of the finite residue field containing all roots of all these finitely many reduced polynomials. The corresponding finite unramified extension of $K_v$ exists by the classification proved in Question 2. Hensel's lemma lifts each simple residue root to a root of the original polynomial in that unramified extension. Thus all the required radicals, and every conjugate root, lie in an unramified local extension. Every completion of the radical field at $v$ is therefore unramified. This proves finite ramification support for radical extensions.

The local argument does not assume ${\mu }_n\subset K$: adjoining all roots proves the stronger unramified assertion for the splitting field, and hence for any field obtained by choosing the radicals. For $n=1$ the radical extension is trivial; the displayed set is still valid.

Use the strong form of Hensel lemma: for $f\in {\mathbb{Z}}_p[T]$ and $a\in {\mathbb{Z}}_p$, ifthere is a unique polynomial root $b$ in the ball $v_p(b-a)>v_p(f^{\prime }(a))$. In particular, a simple polynomial root modulo $p$ lifts uniquely in its residue class. Newton iteration gives $v_p(b-a)=v_p(f(a))-v_p(f^{\prime }(a))$ when $f(a)\ne 0$.

For odd $p\notin \{5,7,13\}$, the setseach have $(p+1)/2$ elements, so they intersect. This gives a zero modulo $p$ with $z=1$. The derivative with respect to $z$ is $26$, nonzero modulo $p$, so Hensel's lemma lifts $z$ while holding $x,y$ fixed. This is the elementary proof of isotropy of nondegenerate ternary quadratic forms over finite fields followed by a simple-root lift.

At $p=5$, the residue vector $(0,1,1)$ is a zero, and the derivative $14y$ is nonzero. At $p=13$, use $(3,1,0)$, for which the value is 52 and the derivative $10x=30$ is nonzero modulo 13. Again a single-variable Hensel lift suffices.

At $p=2$, hold $x=2,z=1$ and use $f(Y)=7Y^2+33$. At $Y=1$, $f(1)=40$ has valuation 3, while $f^{\prime }(1)=14$ has valuation 1. Since $3>2$, the strong Hensel inequality gives a polynomial root $y\in {\mathbb{Z}}_2$, indeed $y\equiv 1(\mathrm{mod}4)$. This yields a nonzero solution.

At $p=7$, suppose a nonzero solution exists and scale it so that all coordinates are in ${\mathbb{Z}}_7$ and at least one is a unit. Reduction modulo 7 gives $z^2=5x^2$. Since 5 is not a square modulo 7, both $x,z$ are divisible by 7. In the original equation their terms are then divisible by 49, so $7y^2$ is divisible by 49 as well, forcing $y$ divisible by 7. This contradicts the normalization. Thus local isotropy of the five seven thirteen form gives

A local field is nondiscrete and locally compact. In the non-Archimedean case its valuation ring is compact by the scaling argument in part (b). Any Cauchy sequence has a tail in a translate of a compact ball, so has a convergent subsequence; the Cauchy property forces the whole sequence to converge. Thus the field is complete. Part (b) gives a discrete valuation, a uniformizer $\pi$, and a finite residue field $k={\mathbb{F}}_q$, $q=p^f$.

We construct the coefficient field rather than presuming it exists. The polynomial $T^q-T$ has derivative $-1$ in characteristic $p$. Every residue element therefore has a unique polynomial root lift by Hensel's lemma. The set $S$ of these $q$ lifts is a field: qth powers preserve addition and multiplication, so sums and products remain polynomial root lifts; a nonzero lift has inverse $a^{q-2}$. Reduction identifies $S$ with ${\mathbb{F}}_q$. This is the finite coefficient field in positive-characteristic local fields.

For $x\in {\mathcal{O}}_K$, choose $a_0\in S$ with the same residue, write $x=a_0+\pi x_1$, and repeat with $x_1\in {\mathcal{O}}_K$. Completeness givesThe first nonzero coefficient determines the valuation, so the expansion is unique. Multiplying an arbitrary field element by a suitable power of $\pi$ reduces it to this case. Consequently substitution $T\mapsto \pi$ gives a valued-field isomorphismAddition and multiplication agree with those of Laurent series by convergence, and a nonzero series has a nonzero leading coefficient, establishing injectivity as well as surjectivity.

Conversely, ${\mathbb{F}}_q((T))$ is complete for its T-adic absolute value on a field. Its valuation ring ${\mathbb{F}}_q[[T]]$ is compact: fixing finitely many coefficients gives the finite partitions into balls, and the successive coefficient choices realize the inverse limit of the finite rings ${\mathbb{F}}_q[T]/(T^n)$. Equivalently it is the product of countably many finite discrete coefficient sets. Thus it is a non-Archimedean local field. Distinct $q$ give nonisomorphic valued fields because their residue fields have different sizes. Replacing $|T|$ by any number in $(0,1)$ gives an equivalent absolute value on a field.

For $L={\mathbb{Q}}_p({\zeta }_p)$, put $\pi ={\zeta }_p-1$. The polynomialis Eisenstein at $p$. It gives $[L:{\mathbb{Q}}_p]=e=p-1$, total ramification, and $v_L(\pi )=1$. Also ${\mathcal{O}}_L={\mathbb{Z}}_p[\pi ]$: in the power basis, terms $c_i{\pi }^i$ have valuations $(p-1)v_p(c_i)+i$ in different residue classes modulo $p-1$, so cannot cancel at the minimum. Integrality forces all $c_i$ integral.

Use part (b) with ${\Phi }_p(T)$ and differentiate the quotient at ${\zeta }_p$:The root of unity is a unit, while $v_L(p)=p-1$ and $v_L(\pi )=1$. Hence the cyclotomic local different exponent isThis includes $p=2$: that extension is trivial and the exponent is zero.

For $m=p^2-1$, construct an unramified quadratic extension $E/{\mathbb{Q}}_p$ by lifting an irreducible quadratic polynomial over ${\mathbb{F}}_p$. Its residue field is ${\mathbb{F}}_{p^2}$. Each of its nonzero residue elements is a simple polynomial root of $T^m-1$, so Hensel's lemma lifts all $m$ polynomial roots into $E$. A primitive residue element lifts to a primitive mth polynomial root: its reduction already has order $m$, and its mth power is one.

Such a primitive polynomial root cannot generate a proper subfield of $E$, since its residue has order $p^2-1>p-1$ and therefore generates the quadratic residue extension. Thus ${\mathbb{Q}}_p({\zeta }_m)=E$ is unramified of degree two. Part (a) gives ${\mathcal{O}}_E={\mathbb{Z}}_p[{\zeta }_m]$. The reduced minimal polynomial of an algebraic element has degree two and is separable, so its derivative at ${\zeta }_m$ is a unit. Part (b) givesBoth answers use normalized discrete valuations on the top field.

The polynomial is Eisenstein at every prime number $p$, so a polynomial root $\alpha$ generates a totally ramified cubic field $F/{\mathbb{Q}}_p$. The splitting-field Galois group is a transitive subgroup of $S_3$, hence $C_3$ or $S_3$. Its polynomial discriminant isThe product of the three polynomial root differences is a square root of $\Delta$, transformed by the sign of the polynomial root permutation. Thus the group is $C_3$ exactly when $\Delta$ is a square, and otherwise it is $S_3$. In the latter case the splitting field isIndeed adjoining one polynomial root leaves a quadratic factor, whose polynomial discriminant is $\Delta /f^{\prime }(\alpha {)}^2$, so the square root of $\Delta$ supplies its remaining polynomial roots.

Suppose first that $p>3$. The unit $-(4p+27)$ reduces to $-27$, and Hensel's lemma makes it a square exactly when $-3$ is a square modulo $p$. Quadratic reciprocity givesIf $p\equiv 1(\mathrm{mod}3)$, the field generated by $\alpha$ is already the cyclic splitting field, totally ramified of degree three. If $p\equiv 2(\mathrm{mod}3)$, the nonsquare unit gives an unramified quadratic field $E={\mathbb{Q}}_p(\sqrt{\Delta })$. Since $F$ and $E$ have coprime degrees, $[FE:{\mathbb{Q}}_p]=6$. Its residue degree is at least two and its ramification index at least three; their product is six, so they are exactly two and three. Thus its inertia group is the normal $C_3$ inside $S_3$.

In both cases the ramification index is three and is not divisible by $p$. The wild inertia group is trivial, so all positive lower groups are trivial. As a different check, $f^{\prime }(\alpha )=3{\alpha }^2+p$ has valuation two in $F$ when $p>3$, agreeing with tame different exponent $3-1$.

For $p=3$ the polynomial discriminant is $-351=-3^3\cdot 13$, which is nonsquare. Hence $G=S_3$. The quadratic subfield can be written $E={\mathbb{Q}}_3(\beta )$ with ${\beta }^2=-39$. It is ramified of degree two, by the Eisenstein polynomial $T^2+39$. Together with the totally ramified cubic field this forces $e(L/{\mathbb{Q}}_3)$ to be divisible by both two and three. Since $[L:{\mathbb{Q}}_3]=6$, the splitting field is totally ramified. In its normalized valuation,

All differences between distinct polynomial roots have the same valuation, since $S_3$ permutes the polynomial root pairs and preserves the absolute value on a field. Alsohas valuation six, so each polynomial root difference has valuation three. A nonidentity three-cycle fixes $\beta$, and thereforeThe transposition fixing $\alpha$ negates $\beta$, so sends $\pi$ to $-\pi$ and has displacement valuation $v_L(2\pi )=1$. The other transpositions have the same value by conjugacy. The uniformizer criterion now determines every group:For the wild case the different exponent is $5+2=7$. Independently, the cubic subfield has different exponent $v_F(3({\alpha }^2+1))=3$, and the quadratic extension $L/F$ is tame with exponent one. The tower formula gives $1+2\cdot 3=7$, confirming the filtration. Its positive upper break is $1/2$, because $[G_0:G_1]=2$. This completes ramification of the splitting field of X3 plus pX plus p for every odd prime number.

An additive valuation on a field is a map $v:K^{\times }\to \Gamma$, where $\Gamma$ is a totally ordered abelian group, with $v(xy)=v(x)+v(y)$ and $v(x+y)\ge \min (v(x),v(y))$ whenever $x+y\ne 0$. Set $v(0)=\infty$. We consider nontrivial valuations; if the trivial valuation is allowed, it must be listed separately from the asserted classification. Two valuations are equivalent when their valuation rings agree, or equivalently their ordered value-group images identify in a way compatible with the maps. Real-valued equivalent nontrivial valuations differ by positive scaling.

For a valuation on $\mathbb{Q}$, every integer has nonnegative value, because it is a sum of copies of $1$ or its negative. If all prime numbers had value zero, unique factorization would make the valuation trivial. Thus some prime $p$ has $v(p)>0$. There cannot be two such primes: for distinct $p,q$, Bézout's identity gives $ap+bq=1$ with integers $a,b$, and the valuation inequality would give $v(1)>0$. All other prime values therefore vanish. Factoring the numerator and denominator of a rational number givesThe image is the cyclic ordered group generated by $v(p)>0$, proving equivalence to the P-adic valuation. This is the classification of nontrivial valuations on the rational numbers; an Archimedean absolute value is not an additive valuation satisfying this ultrametric inequality.

The simple-root form of Hensel's lemma says that for a complete discrete valuation ring $\mathcal{O}$ with maximal ideal $\mathfrak{p}$, a polynomial $f\in \mathcal{O}[X]$ and $a\in \mathcal{O}$ with $f(a)\equiv 0(\mathrm{mod}\mathfrak{p})$ and $f^{\prime }(a)\not\equiv 0(\mathrm{mod}\mathfrak{p})$ have a unique root in $a+\mathfrak{p}$.

For $X^3+1$ over ${\mathbb{Q}}_7$, all roots are integral: a negative valuation would make the leading term the unique term of lowest valuation. Modulo $7$, the roots are $3,5,6$, and $3X^2$ is nonzero at each. Hensel's lemma gives three distinct lifts, and a cubic has no further roots. The number is $3$.

For $X^2+2X+4$ over ${\mathbb{Q}}_2$, a root is again integral and reduces to zero modulo $2$. Write it as $2y$ with $y\in {\mathbb{Z}}_2$. The equation becomes $y^2+y+1=0$, impossible modulo $2$. The number is $0$.

For $3X^3+X+3$ over ${\mathbb{Q}}_3$, a putative root of valuation $k<0$ gives term valuations $1+3k,k,1$. The first is uniquely minimal, a contradiction. Thus all roots are integral. Reduction modulo $3$ is $X$, whose root zero is simple since the derivative $9X^2+1$ is a unit everywhere. Hensel's lemma gives exactly one lift. The number is $1$.

Normalize the discrete valuations so a uniformiser has value one, and write $k_K,k_L$ for the residue fields. The ramification index $e$ is specified by $v_L{|}_K=e{v}_K$, and the residue degree is $f=[k_L:k_K]$. For finite extensions of complete discretely valued fields, $[L:K]=ef$. One way to see the degree equality is that ${\mathcal{O}}_L$ is a finite free ${\mathcal{O}}_K$-module of rank $[L:K]$; reduction modulo a uniformiser of $K$ has $e$ successive quotients isomorphic to $k_L$, hence dimension $ef$ over $k_K$.

An unramified extension has $e=1$ and separable residue extension, equivalently $[L:K]=f$ with separable residue extension. A totally ramified extension has $f=1$, equivalently $[L:K]=e$. The separability condition in the unramified extension definition matters if the residue field is imperfect; it is automatic for finite residue fields.

Suppose $L/K$ is unramified. Choose a primitive element of a field extension $\bar{x}$ for the finite separable extension $k_L/k_K$ and lift it to $x\in {\mathcal{O}}_L$. Since the residue degree of $K(x)/K$ is at least $[k_K(\bar{x}):k_K]=[L:K]$, necessarily $K(x)=L$. Its monic minimal polynomial of an algebraic element $f_x$ has coefficients in ${\mathcal{O}}_K$. Its reduction has degree $[L:K]$ and annihilates $\bar{x}$, whose minimal polynomial over $k_K$ has that same degree. The two coincide, so ${\bar{f}}_x$ is separable.

Conversely, suppose $L=K(x)$, $x\in {\mathcal{O}}_L$, and ${\bar{f}}_x$ is separable. It must be irreducible: otherwise its coprime factors lift by the factorization form of Hensel's lemma, contradicting irreducibility of $f_x$. Hence $\bar{x}$ has degree $[L:K]$ over $k_K$. The degree equality forces $f=[L:K]$ and $e=1$, and the residue extension is separable. We have proved the unramified generator criterion with separable reduction:

Now let $k_L={\mathbb{F}}_q$, $q=p^f$. Every element of $k_L^{\times }$ is a simple root of $X^{q-1}-1$, whose derivative is a unit at each root. Hensel's lemma lifts each of these $q-1$ elements uniquely to a root in ${\mathcal{O}}_L^{\times }$. Thus $L$ contains all $q-1$ roots of $X^{q-1}-1$; these are the nonzero Teichmuller lifts.

More generally, a root of unity of order prime to $p$ reduces injectively into $k_L^{\times }$. Indeed, if such a root reduces to $1$, uniqueness in Hensel's lemma for $X^m-1$ makes it equal to $1$. Consequently every prime-to-$p$ order divides $q-1$.

A root whose order has a nontrivial $p$-part produces a primitive $p$th root of unity $\zeta$. It reduces to $1$ in characteristic $p$. Sinceall the factors have the same positive integral valuation. HenceThis is the ramification bound for a primitive pth root of unity. ThereforeFor $p=2$ the hypothesis $e<1$ cannot occur, so that instance is vacuous rather than a claim excluding the ever-present root $-1$.

A strong lifting lemma. Let $R$ be a complete discrete valuation ring, with fraction field $F$ and normalized discrete valuation $v$. A useful strong form of Hensel lemma says that for $f\in R[T]$ and $a\in R$ satisfyingthere is a root $b\in R$ withIf $f(a)=0$, take $b=a$. Otherwise the hypothesis ensures that $f^{\prime }(a)\ne 0$. The root is unique among $b$ satisfying $v(b-a)>v(f^{\prime }(a))$. In particular, a simple root of the reduction of $f$ lifts uniquely with its specified residue.

Here is a proof by Newton iteration over a valued field. Put $a_0=a$ andWrite $A_j=v(f(a_j))$ and $B=v(f^{\prime }(a_0))$. Taylor expansion over $R$ shows, inductively, that the increment has valuation $A_j-B>B$, that $v(f^{\prime }(a_{j+1}))=B$, and thatIndeed, the constant and linear terms of $f(a_{j+1})$ cancel, leaving terms of valuation at least twice that of the increment. The change in $f^{\prime }$ has valuation greater than $B$, so its valuation stays $B$. Thus all iterates lie in $R$ and form a Cauchy sequence. Completeness and continuity give a root $b$. The later increments have strictly larger valuations than the first, proving the displayed distance formula. For uniqueness, if $b,c$ are in the stated ball, Taylor expansion factorsThe second factor is nonzero, so two roots must coincide. This proves Hensel's lemma in the form needed here.

Odd residue characteristic. For odd $p$, a p-adic unit $u$ is a square exactly when its reduction is a square in ${\mathbb{F}}_p^{\times }$. Necessity follows by reduction. For sufficiency, a nonzero residue root of $T^2-u$ has derivative $2T$ invertible modulo $p$, so the Hensel lemma lifts it. The multiplicative group of a finite field is cyclic, and its subgroup of squares has index two. ThereforeRepresentatives are $1$ and any unit whose reduction is a quadratic nonresidue.

Residue characteristic two. An odd integer has square congruent to one modulo eight, so a square 2-adic unit must lie in $1+8{\mathbb{Z}}_2$. Conversely, if $u\equiv 1(\mathrm{mod}8)$, take $f(T)=T^2-u$ and $a=1$. Then $v_2(f(1))\ge 3>2v_2(f^{\prime }(1))=2$, and the strong form of Hensel lemma produces a square root. HenceThe four unit square classes of the p-adic integers have representatives $1,3,5,7$.

A finite extension of complete discretely valued fields is unramified exactly when it has an integral generator whose reduced minimal polynomial of an algebraic element is separable. In one direction, lift a residue-field primitive element. In the other, the factorization form of Hensel's lemma makes the separable reduction irreducible, forcing residue degree to equal the entire extension degree.