Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2018 / ib / Paper 3 / 1G / b / Solution

The algebraic norm on $\mathbb{Z}[\sqrt{-5}]$ is $N(a+b\sqrt{-5})=a^2+5b^2$ and satisfies multiplicativity of the algebraic norm. The calculation in part (a) therefore gives all elements of norm $9$:If one of these factored into two nonunits, multiplicativity would force both factors to have norm $3$. But the Diophantine equation $a^2+5b^2=3$ has no solution. Hence all six displayed elements are irreducible. This is a standard example in which an irreducible element need not have prime norm.