Generators of Galois group of ## X^n - \theta ##

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the Galois group of the polynomial ## f(x) = x^n - \theta ##, focusing on its generators and structure. Participants explore the relationships between the roots, the splitting field, and the properties of the Galois group, including its order and subgroup structure. The conversation includes technical reasoning related to Galois theory and cyclotomic fields.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes defining morphisms ##\sigma(t) = t, \sigma(\omega) = \omega^2## and ##\tau(t) = t\omega, \tau(\omega) = \omega## to generate the Galois group.
  • Another participant notes that the order of the Galois group divides the degree of the extension, which is ##p(p-1)##, and questions what specific numbers must divide the order of the Galois group.
  • A participant suggests that knowing the degree of the extension implies the Galois group should have an order equal to that degree, leading to a subgroup of order ##p## and another of order ##p-1##, and discusses their intersection being the identity.
  • There is a challenge regarding the cyclic nature of the subgroups, with a participant questioning whether the direct product of two cyclic groups would maintain the relations previously described.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the structure of the Galois group and the implications of subgroup orders. There is no consensus on how to fully characterize the group or its generators, indicating ongoing debate and exploration of the topic.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference the degree of the extension and the properties of cyclic groups, but there are unresolved assumptions regarding the relationships between the elements and the structure of the Galois group.

kmitza
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TL;DR
If we have a polynomial ##x^p - \theta## for some prime p. Then we can show that it's Galois group has order p(p-1) then I want to prove what the group looks like described by generators and relations between them
As the summary says we have ## f(x) = x^n - \theta \in \mathbb{Q}[x] ##. We will call the pth primitive root ## \omega ## and we denote ##[\mathbb{Q}(\omega) : \mathbb{Q}] = j##. We want to show that the Galois group is generated by ##\sigma, \tau## such that
$$ \sigma^j = \tau^p = 1, \sigma^k\tau = \tau\sigma$$.

I know that the splitting field of ## f ## is going to be ##Q(t,\omega)## and that the degree of this extension is going to be ##[Q(t,\omega): :Q(\omega)][Q(\omega : Q)] ## where ## t^p = \theta ##, further as minimal polynomial of ## \omega ## is going to be ## p^{th} ## cyclotomic I have the second multiple being (p-1) and I can prove that the whole extension will have degree p(p-1). Now my idea is to define the morphisms as:
$$\sigma(t) = t, \sigma(\omega) = \omega^2$$ and $$\tau(t) = t\omega, \tau(\omega) = \omega$$
I can show that order of these two groups are p-1 and p but I don't know how to show that they generate my group.
I suspect that I am meant to construct the group as a semidirect product of ##<\tau>## and ##<\omega>## but I can't figure it out completely.
 
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The order of the Galois group divides the degree of the extension, which you say you know is p(p-1). Do you know any numbers that must divide the order of the galois group?

Knowing the order of the Galois group helps a lot in figuring out what it is, because you can often rule out relationships existing between elements that you wouldn't have immediately guessed.
 
Last edited:
Office_Shredder said:
The order of the Galois group divides the degree of the extension, which you say you know is p(p-1). Do you know any numbers that must divide the order of the galois group?

Knowing the order of the Galois group helps a lot in figuring out what it is, because you can often rule out relationships existing between elements that you wouldn't have immediately guessed.
Maybe I am mistaken but if I know the degree of the extension and I know it is Galois, don't I know that group is going to be of the order exactly the same as the degree? So I know that the order of the whole Galois group is p(p-1)? Now I know that I have a subgroup of order p which is immediately cyclic and I have a subgroup of order p-1 generated by ## \sigma ## and as the two groups are of coprime order their intersection is the identity? Now from here I don't know what to do
 
You say the subgroup of order p-1 is generated by a single element ##\sigma##, so that it's also cyclic?
Edit: Because if you're correct, and both are cyclic, so is their direct product, and then you won't have the relations you described.
 

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