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For a finite abelian extension of number fields, its relative discriminant ideal is the product of the finite conductor ideals of the characters of its Galois group, with the trivial character contributing one. In a multiquadratic extension of $\mathbb{Q}$, the nontrivial characters correspond to its quadratic subfields, and their conductors are the absolute values of the corresponding fundamental discriminants. This gives an efficient discriminant computation and can prove that a compositum is unramified over a quadratic subfield.

The ideal class group of $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{-30})$ is $C_2\times C_2$. Its four reduced binary quadratic forms have coefficients $(1,0,30)$, $(2,0,15)$, $(3,0,10)$ and $(5,0,6)$. The displayed multiquadratic field has degree four over the base. The seven quadratic-subfield discriminants are $8,-3,5,-24,40,-15,-120$, whose product in absolute value is $120^4$. The conductor-discriminant formula and discriminant tower formula imply that the relative discriminant over $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{-30})$ is the unit ideal. This unramified abelian degree-four extension is therefore its Hilbert class field.

The relative discriminant of a finite extension of number fields is the relative norm of a fractional ideal applied to its different ideal. Consequently, at $\mathfrak{p}$,where $f_{\mathfrak{P}/\mathfrak{p}}$ is the residue-field degree and $d_{\mathfrak{P}}$ is the different exponent. Over $\mathbb{Q}$, $N({\mathfrak{D}}_{E/\mathbb{Q}})=|D_E|$.

For a number field $k$, its ordinary Hilbert class field $H_k$ is the maximal finite abelian extension unramified at every finite prime and with every real place splitting completely. The Artin reciprocity map inducesThe image of an unramified prime ideal is its Frobenius automorphism. Thus a prime splits completely in $H_k$ precisely when its ideal class is trivial. This field packages ideal-class obstructions into splitting behavior. Ideals become principal in $H_k$ by the principal ideal theorem. Specifying the real-place convention matters for real fields: omitting it leads instead to the narrow class-field problem. Both illustrative fields below are imaginary quadratic, so there are no real places to discuss.

First consider $k=\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{-23})$, whose quadratic discriminant is $-23$. The correspondence between ideal classes and reduced primitive positive definite binary quadratic forms lets us compute its class number without guessing a class field. A reduced form $(a,b,c)$ obeys $|b|\le a\le c$, $b^2-4ac=-23$, and $a\le \sqrt{23/3}<3$; a boundary case uses $b\ge 0$. For $a=1$ the only class is $(1,1,6)$; for $a=2$ the two possibilities are $(2,1,3)$ and $(2,-1,3)$. Hence $h_k=3$ and its ideal class group is cyclic of order three.

Take $g(X)=X^3-X-1$. Its only possible rational roots are $\pm 1$, neither a root, so it is irreducible. Its polynomial discriminant is $4-27=-23$, which is nonsquare. Thus its splitting field $H$ has Galois group $S_3$ and the quadratic fixed field of $A_3$ is $k$, generated by the square root of its discriminant. Therefore $H/k$ is cyclic of degree three and $H=k(\theta )$ for a root $\theta$ of $g$.

At a prime other than $23$, the separable residue polynomial splits over a finite residue-field extension; Hensel's lemma puts all its roots in an unramified local extension. At $23$ there is the exact factorizationThe simple factor lifts by Hensel's lemma. The remaining quadratic factor has discriminant valuation one, because the cubic discriminant is $-23$ and the resultant with the simple factor is a unit. Its local splitting field is ramified quadratic, with inertia group of order two. Its intersection with $A_3$ is trivial, so the relative extension $H/k$ is unramified at $23$ as well. There are no real places. An unramified abelian extension of degree $h_k=3$ must be all of $H_k$, givingThis is the Hilbert class field of Q of square root minus twenty-three.

The other alternative, $k=\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{-30})$, has quadratic discriminant $-120$. Reduced forms have $a\le \sqrt{40}<7$ and even $b$. Testing $1\le a\le 6$, $|b|\le a$, and $c=(b^2+120)/(4a)\ge a$ gives exactlyThus $h_k=4$. Each class is its own inverse, because replacing $b$ by $-b$ leaves these representatives unchanged; consequently the ideal class group is $C_2\times C_2$.

Set $H=\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{2},\sqrt{-3},\sqrt{5})$. The square classes $2,-3,5$ are independent, so $[H:\mathbb{Q}]=8$. Their product gives $\sqrt{-30}$, and $H/k$ is abelian of degree four. Its seven quadratic subfields have discriminantsFor a multiquadratic abelian extension, the conductor-discriminant formula takes the product of these quadratic character conductors, namely the absolute quadratic discriminants. Hence $|d_H|=120^4$. The relative discriminant tower formula givesThe integral relative discriminant ideal therefore has norm one and is the unit ideal. Thus $H/k$ is everywhere unramified, and its degree equals the class number. This proves the other explicit answer:It agrees with the Hilbert class field of Q of square root minus thirty. Both alternatives have been computed independently from their class numbers and ramification.

Put $t=\sqrt{-30}$ and $K=\mathbb{Q}(t)$. The ring of integers is $\mathbb{Z}[t]$, and the fundamental discriminant is $D_K=-120$. For a reduced positive definite binary quadratic form $(a,b,c)$ of discriminant $-120$, reduction givesThe coefficient $b$ is even; checking $1\le a\le 6$ and $|b|\le a$, with the usual nonnegative sign choice at boundary equalities, leaves preciselyThe correspondence between proper quadratic forms and ideal classes therefore gives $h_K=4$. All four classes equal their inverses, since inversion replaces $b$ by $-b$. HenceThe three nontrivial classes may be represented by the ramified prime ideals ${\mathfrak{p}}_2=(2,t)$, ${\mathfrak{p}}_3=(3,t)$ and ${\mathfrak{p}}_5=(5,t)$. They square to principal ideals and satisfy ${\mathfrak{p}}_2{\mathfrak{p}}_3{\mathfrak{p}}_5=(t)$. None is principal: an integral generator of norm $2$, $3$ or $5$ would require $a^2+30b^2$ to equal that number, which is impossible. The relation then makes the three classes distinct, consistently with the four-form calculation.

ConsiderThe three rational square classes are independent, so $[H:\mathbb{Q}]=8$. Their radical product is $\sqrt{-30}$, so $K\subset H$ and $[H:K]=4$; the extension $H/K$ is abelian. To verify that it is unramified, rather than assuming that radical adjunctions are harmless at $2,3,5$, use the conductor-discriminant formula. The seven quadratic subfields have fundamental discriminantsThe formula givesThe discriminant tower identity now givesThus the relative discriminant is the unit ideal and no finite prime ramifies. The base has no real places, so there is no infinite ramification to check. This unramified abelian degree-four extension has degree $h_K$, and part (i) provesThis is the Hilbert class field of Q of square root minus thirty.

Next translate prime representation into an ideal class. For $p\nmid 30$, we claimIf a representation exists, $\alpha =2x+yt$ lies in ${\mathfrak{p}}_2$ and has $N_{K/\mathbb{Q}}\alpha =2p$. The integral ideal $(\alpha ){\mathfrak{p}}_2^{-1}$ has norm $p$, so it is a prime ideal $\mathfrak{P}$. Its class is $[{\mathfrak{p}}_2{]}^{-1}=[{\mathfrak{p}}_2]$. Conversely, if $[\mathfrak{P}]=[{\mathfrak{p}}_2]$, the product ${\mathfrak{p}}_2\mathfrak{P}$ is principal, say $(\alpha )$. Since this ideal lies in ${\mathfrak{p}}_2$, its generator has the form $\alpha =2x+yt$ with integers $x,y$. Taking norms gives $4x^2+30y^2=2p$, proving the reverse implication. This is prime representation via an ideal class, and it proves sufficiency as well as necessity.

Identify the required class in $\mathrm{Gal}(H/K)$ through the Artin map. We can use the explicit representation $17=2+15$: $2+t$ has norm $34$, so the prime above $17$ obtained from $(2+t){\mathfrak{p}}_2^{-1}$ has class $[{\mathfrak{p}}_2]$. Its Frobenius in the multiquadratic extension acts on the three radicals with signsTheir product is one, so this automorphism fixes $K$. Because $H/\mathbb{Q}$ is abelian, for any unramified rational prime $p$ that splits in $K$, the Frobenius at either prime of $K$ of norm $p$ is its rational Frobenius restricted to $H/K$. The Artin isomorphism therefore makes the required class condition equivalent toConversely, these signs already imply splitting in $K$, since their product is $(\frac{-30}{p})=1$. No extra splitting condition is missing.

The supplementary law for $2$, quadratic reciprocity for $-3$ and $5$, and then the Chinese remainder theorem turn these sign conditions intoTheir four simultaneous residue classes modulo $120$ are $17,23,47,113$. Finally, $2$ is represented by $(x,y)=(\pm 1,0)$, whereas $3$ and $5$ cannot be represented: $y\ne 0$ gives a value at least $15$, and $y=0$ gives twice a square. We have proved the complete criterion

Set $K=\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{pq})$ and $E=\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{p},\sqrt{q})$. The distinct primes give independent square classes, so $[E:\mathbb{Q}]=4$ and $[E:K]=2$. In particular $K(\sqrt{p})=K(\sqrt{q})=E$: these are the same quadratic extension of $K$. We prove it is unramified by an explicit field discriminant calculation.

Since $p,q\equiv 1(\mathrm{mod}4)$, put $a=(1+\sqrt{p})/2$, $b=(1+\sqrt{q})/2$. Both are algebraic integers. The ring $R=\mathbb{Z}[a,b]\subseteq {\mathcal{O}}_E$ has basis $1,a,b,ab$. Up to the ordering of the basis, its trace pairing matrix is the tensor product of the quadratic trace matrices, because the four embeddings of $E$ choose the two radical signs independently. The two quadratic matrices areThusOn the other hand, $pq$ is squarefree and congruent to one modulo four, so $d_K=pq$. Let $j=[{\mathcal{O}}_E:R]$. The discriminant-index formula for an integral lattice and the relative discriminant tower formula giveThe ideal norm on the right is a positive integer, while $j$ is a positive integer. Hence $N({\mathfrak{d}}_{E/K})=1/j^2$ forces $j=1$ and ${\mathfrak{d}}_{E/K}={\mathcal{O}}_K$. Its prime divisors are exactly the ramified finite primes, so $E/K$ is unramified at every finite prime, including primes above $2,p,q$. This also proves $d_E=p^2{q}^2$, agreeing with the discriminant of a biquadratic field formula.

Every embedding of $E$ is real, so the real places of $K$ split as well. The extension is quadratic, hence abelian. The ordinary Hilbert class field characterization therefore impliesFinally, the Artin reciprocity map identifies $\mathrm{Cl}(K)$ with $\mathrm{Gal}(H_K/K)$. Restriction onto $\mathrm{Gal}(E/K)\simeq C_2$ is surjective, so the ideal class group has a quotient of order two. Therefore $\boxed{|\mathrm{Cl}(K)|\text{ is even}}$.

For a finite extension $E/K$ of number fields, the inverse different is the fractional idealThe different ideal is its inverse. The trace pairing is nondegenerate because extensions of number fields are separable, so this definition gives a full fractional ideal. The inclusion ${\mathcal{O}}_E\subseteq {\mathfrak{D}}_{E/K}^{-1}$ shows that ${\mathfrak{D}}_{E/K}$ is integral.

Write its prime ideal factorization as ${\mathfrak{D}}_{E/K}={\prod }_{\mathfrak{P}}{\mathfrak{P}}^{d_{\mathfrak{P}}}$. For $\mathfrak{P}$ above $\mathfrak{p}$, with ramification index $e_{\mathfrak{P}}$ and residue characteristic $\ell$, the different exponent and tame ramification theorem saysThe equivalence uses the separability of finite residue-field extensions. In particular, $d_{\mathfrak{P}}=0$ precisely at unramified prime ideals; in the wild case $d_{\mathfrak{P}}\ge e_{\mathfrak{P}}$. This theorem does not require a Galois extension. The relative discriminant is the norm of the different ideal:For $K=\mathbb{Q}$, this gives $|D_E|=N({\mathfrak{D}}_{E/\mathbb{Q}})$.

Now take ${\alpha }^3=m$ and $K=\mathbb{Q}(\alpha )$. For any prime number $q\mid m$, the square-free integer hypothesis makes $X^3-m$ an Eisenstein polynomial at $q$. It is therefore irreducible, and $K$ is a pure cubic number field of degree $3$. Since $\alpha$ is an algebraic integer, $A=\mathbb{Z}[\alpha ]$ is an order in a number field. The discriminant of elements of a number field for its basis $1,\alpha ,{\alpha }^2$ isFor example, the resultant of $X^3-m$ and $3X^2$ is $27m^2$, and the degree-three sign in the polynomial discriminant is negative. If $I=[{\mathcal{O}}_K:A]$, the discriminant-index formula for an integral lattice givesOnly prime numbers dividing $3m$ can therefore divide $I$.

For $q\mid m$, the Eisenstein polynomial gives a totally ramified extension of ${\mathbb{Q}}_q$ of degree $3$. Thus $K$ has a unique prime ideal $\mathfrak{P}$ above $q$, with ramification index $3$ and residue-field degree $1$. Since $q\ne 3$, this is tame ramification, and the different exponent and tame ramification theorem gives $d_{\mathfrak{P}}=2$. Hence $v_q(D_K)=2$. Comparing with $v_q(-27m^2)=2$ in the discriminant-index formula for an integral lattice yields $v_q(I)=0$.

At $3$, use the shifted Eisenstein polynomial of $\beta =\alpha -m$:Because $3\nmid m$, the constant term is divisible by $3$. Moreover,when $3\nmid m$: the factors $m-1$ and $m+1$ cannot both be divisible by $3$. The hypotheses therefore give $v_3(m^3-m)=1$, so the translated polynomial is an Eisenstein polynomial at $3$. The resulting completion is a totally ramified extension of degree $3$, with residue-field degree $1$, and its ramification index is divisible by the residue characteristic. Thus its different exponent is at least $3$.

It follows that $v_3(D_K)\ge 3$. But $v_3(-27m^2)=3$, soforces $v_3(I)=0$ and $v_3(D_K)=3$. No prime number divides $I$. We have proved the integral basis of a nonexceptional pure cubic field:Using local Eisenstein polynomials here only establishes the local ramification indices; it does not assume that $\mathbb{Z}[\alpha ]$ is already the full ring of integers of a number field.

Put $K=\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{-6})$. Its fundamental discriminant is $-24$. The Minkowski bound for ideal classes isso every ideal class contains an integral ideal of norm $1$, $2$ or $3$. The primes above $2$ and $3$ are ramified, their classes have order at most two, andshows that they represent the same class. This class is nontrivial because the norm form $a^2+6b^2$ does not represent $2$. Hence

Now let $H=K(\sqrt{2})=\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{2},\sqrt{-3})$. The discriminant of a biquadratic field is the product of the discriminants of its three quadratic subfields, soThe relative discriminant ${\mathfrak{D}}_{H/K}$ therefore has norm one, proving that $H/K$ is unramified at every finite prime. Since $[H:K]=2=|\mathrm{Cl}(K)|$, the Hilbert class field of Q of square root minus six is

For distinct primes $p,q\equiv 1(\mathrm{mod}4)$, put $E=\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{p},\sqrt{q})$ and $K=\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{pq})$. The algebraic integers $a=(1+\sqrt{p})/2$ and $b=(1+\sqrt{q})/2$ generate an order whose basis has discriminant of elements of a number field $p^2{q}^2$: the trace pairing matrix is, up to basis order, the tensor product of the quadratic trace matrices of determinants $p$ and $q$. If its index in ${\mathcal{O}}_E$ is $j$, the discriminant-index formula for an integral lattice and the relative discriminant tower formula giveBoth $j$ and this ideal norm are positive integers, forcing $j=1$ and ${\mathfrak{d}}_{E/K}={\mathcal{O}}_K$. Thus $E/K$ is unramified at all finite primes. It is also totally real, so no real place ramifies. This quadratic abelian extension is contained in the ordinary Hilbert class field of $K$, and Artin reciprocity gives a quotient of its ideal class group of order two. The extensions $K(\sqrt{p})$ and $K(\sqrt{q})$ are equal to $E$, not two different extensions of $K$.