The polynomial satisfies the Eisenstein criterion at the prime two: every nonleading coefficient is even, the leading coefficient is not, and the constant term is not divisible by four. Hence it is irreducible over . Its ideal is maximal in ; explicitly, for any polynomial not divisible by , the Euclidean algorithm gives , furnishing the inverse of its residue class. Thus
For the integer quotient, division by the monic polynomial gives a unique remainder of degree below five with integer coefficients. If an integer polynomial becomes zero in the rational quotient, its integer remainder is still divisible by over , so must be zero. This gives an injective ring map , proving the monic irreducible integer-polynomial quotient is a domain.
The same unique-remainder argument makes the integer quotient a free abelian group with basis . The class of two is nonzero and cannot have an inverse: twice an integer remainder cannot equal the remainder one. Consequently