Normalize the discrete valuation by , and put . For , define its ramification number
and set . The minimum exists: all finite values are nonnegative integers, and a nonidentity automorphism moves some integral element. The lower ramification numbering is
Thus , 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 by
The 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 is
In 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, so
Taking 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. Hence
For 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 gives
This 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.
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 as
Differentiating and evaluating at gives
and hence
For 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:
The extension is unramified exactly when , which by this nonnegative sum is equivalent to , or . Moreover , so the term is . Equality
holds exactly when , which is exactly tame ramification.