Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 ii Paper 4 19H a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-05
For a square-free integer or , the ring of integers of the quadratic field is . Square-freeness is the usual convention underlying the first request: congruence alone would not suffice, for example gives the same field as .
Now take the stipulated square-free and put , . For any integral , relative traces to the three quadratic subfields show . Those subfields all have integral bases and their square root, including . Write with integer coefficients.
Its relative field norm to isThus is even, and the constant numerator is divisible by four. Since , these conditions force both even: one odd makes the numerator odd, and both odd contradicts even. They then force to have the same integer parity. Every algebraic integer consequently belongs to the lattice generated byConversely the last generator satisfies and the monic integer equationAll four generators are integral and linearly independent over , so this lattice is exactly , proving this integral basis of an odd biquadratic field containing square root of two without an unproved index assumption.