Past exam of the rings and modules course of the University of Oxford / 2023 / 3 / b

The Gaussian integers form an integral domain, since they are a subring of the complex numbers. Use the Gaussian integer normwhich is a positive integer for nonzero $a+bi$ and satisfies $N(\alpha \beta )=N(\alpha )N(\beta )$.

For $\alpha ,\beta \in \mathbb{Z}[i]$ with $\beta \ne 0$, write $\alpha /\beta =x+iy$. Choose integers $m,n$ with $|x-m|\le 1/2$ and $|y-n|\le 1/2$, put $q=m+in$, and set $r=\alpha -\beta q$. ThenThus division with remainder has either $r=0$ or a strictly smaller Gaussian integer norm. This proves that $N$ is a euclidean function and

Over a principal ideal domain $D$, an $m$-by-$n$ matrix is in Smith normal form if all entries off the main diagonal vanish and its nonzero diagonal entries $d_1,\dots ,d_r$ occur first and satisfyAll remaining diagonal entries are zero. The zero matrix is allowed, with $r=0$. For an arbitrary matrix $M$, the Smith normal form theorem gives invertible matrices $P\in {\mathrm{GL}}_m(D)$ and $Q\in {\mathrm{GL}}_n(D)$ withwhere the right side is interpreted as a rectangular diagonal matrix when necessary. The $d_j$ are determined up to multiplication by units. Positivity can be required over $\mathbb{Z}$, but is not a condition over the Gaussian integers.

Regard $A$ as a matrix over the rational numbers. Part (a)(ii), with $n=2$, gives its characteristic polynomial $X^2+1$. Therefore, writing $i$ for the imaginary unit,The matrix $M=iI-A$ is not zero: otherwise $A=iI$ would have noninteger diagonal entries. It consequently has rank of a matrix one over the fraction field $\mathbb{Q}(i)$ of the Gaussian integers.

By part (b)(i), $\mathbb{Z}[i]$ is a euclidean domain, hence a principal ideal domain, so apply Smith normal form. There exist $P,Q\in {\mathrm{GL}}_2(\mathbb{Z}[i])$ such thatIndeed, invertible multiplication preserves rank of a matrix, so exactly one diagonal entry is nonzero. For $e_2=(0,1{)}^{\mathsf{T}}$, multiplication on the right gives $P(iI-A)Q{e}_2=0$. Since $P$ is an invertible matrix,The Smith normal form supplies a kernel basis lemma ensures that the null vector $Q{e}_2$ is a column of an invertible matrix over $\mathbb{Z}[i]$; an arbitrary nonzero solution over $\mathbb{Q}(i)$ would not itself establish that requirement.

Each entry of the matrix $Q$ from part (b)(iii) has unique real and imaginary integer coefficients. WriteIt already belongs to the general linear group ${\mathrm{GL}}_2(\mathbb{Z}[i])$. Expanding the relation from part (b)(iii) givesThe real and imaginary parts must both vanish, soThese are the required identities, with $e_2=(0,1{)}^{\mathsf{T}}$.