If a number field of degree and signature has discriminant , every ideal class contains an integral ideal with
Since every nonzero integral ideal has norm at least one, the Minkowski bound for ideal classes impliesfor every number field of degree and signature .
For with , the field discriminant is and the Minkowski bound is . The prime ideals above and are principal, so every ideal class has a principal representative and
The imaginary quadratic field has discriminant , and its Minkowski bound for ideal classes isThe polynomial defining its ring of integers of a quadratic field has no root modulo or , so these rational primes are inert. Factoring an integral ideal of norm at most eight into prime ideals then shows that its only possible nontrivial factor is the principal ideal , of norm four. Every ideal class is therefore principal, and
The field has ring of integers , discriminant , and Minkowski bound below eight. The nonprincipal ramified ideals above two and three generate four classes, and the split primes above seven introduce no new class. Hence
The ring of integers is , its discriminant is , and its Minkowski bound for ideal classes is . The primes three and five are inert, whileThe ideal is nonprincipal because has no integer solution. Every class is represented by an ideal of norm at most five, so is the only possible nontrivial class and the class group is .
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