Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 iii Paper 123 4 a Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
Normalize the discrete valuation by , and put . For , define its ramification numberand set . The minimum exists: all finite values are nonnegative integers, and a nonidentity automorphism moves some integral element. The lower ramification numbering isThus , is the inertia group, and is the wild inertia group. This states the convention at integer endpoints as well as between them. Automorphisms preserve , so these are normal subgroups of .
Define the Herbrand function and its inverse byThe integrand is positive and piecewise constant. Since for sufficiently large , the function is continuous, strictly increasing and unbounded, and its inverse is defined on all nonnegative reals. The upper ramification numbering isIn particular, the denominator in the Herbrand integral involves , even when is not totally ramified. These conventions are also given in Milne's Class Field Theory, Chapter I, §4.
Now use the monogenic hypothesis . Since is Galois, its minimal polynomial has the distinct conjugates as roots, soTaking valuations proves the first equality.
For every polynomial , the difference is divisible in by . Every element of is such a polynomial value, and taking the element attains the resulting lower bound. HenceFor an integer , the element lies in exactly the groups ; if , it lies in none. Summing this count over the nonidentity elements and interchanging the two finite sums givesThis proves the ramification-group sum for a monogenic integer ring. Equivalently it is the different exponent from ramification groups, since the different ideal is generated by under the same monogenic hypothesis.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 iii Paper 136 2 b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Let and normalize . In lower numbering,These are the ramification groups; is the inertia group and is the wild inertia group.
Because , every is for some . The polynomial identity has integral coefficients. Consequently the inequality for implies it for every , and the converse follows by taking . Therefore
Since is a Finite Galois extension, the minimal polynomial factors asDifferentiating and evaluating at givesand henceFor a fixed nonidentity , its valuation is exactly the number of integers for which . Interchanging the two finite sums proves the ramification-group sum for a monogenic integer ring: