C2 field 2026-10-07
A field is a Ci field with the bound . Function fields of curves over finite fields are examples. The extra-variable construction in surjectivity of reduced norms over C2 fields makes this polynomial-solvability property useful for division algebras.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2012 iii Paper 21 1 5 Solution 2026-10-07
Put , choose a -basis of , and let be its reduced norm polynomial. For , considerThis has degree and variables. The property gives a nontrivial zero . Necessarily : otherwise forces in the division algebra, making the whole coordinate vector zero. Homogeneity now gives . The value zero is achieved by the zero element. HenceThis is the surjectivity of reduced norms over C2 fields, and the proof also gives the multiplicative surjection . The argument works for degree one as well.