Irreducible polynomial/Splitting field

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the polynomial $f(x)=x^4+16$ in the context of irreducibility, splitting fields, and field extensions. Participants explore how to factor the polynomial over the complex numbers, determine its irreducibility over the rationals, and find the splitting field and the degree of the extension.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes a factorization of $f(x)$ into first degree polynomials in $\mathbb{C}[x]$ and questions the correctness of their approach.
  • Another participant agrees with the initial analysis and suggests a method to compute the degree of the extension $[\mathbb{Q}(e^{\pi i/6}, e^{\pi i/4}): \mathbb{Q}]$ by considering the irreducibility of $e^{\pi i/6}$ over $\mathbb{Q}(e^{\pi i/4})$.
  • Further, a participant notes that $e^{\pi i/6}$ is a root of $x^6+1$ and expresses uncertainty about finding the irreducibility of this root over $\mathbb{Q}(e^{\pi i/4})$.
  • Another participant suggests factoring $x^6+1$ and emphasizes that the coefficients of the polynomials will be in $\mathbb{Q}(e^{\pi i/4})$, indicating the complexity of the task.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the steps to take regarding the factorization and the approach to find the splitting field, but there remains uncertainty about the irreducibility of certain elements and the specific calculations involved.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved aspects regarding the assumptions needed for the irreducibility of $e^{\pi i/6}$ over $\mathbb{Q}(e^{\pi i/4})$, and the calculations for the degree of the extension are not fully detailed.

mathmari
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Hey! :o

Let $f(x)=x^4+16 \in \mathbb{Q}[x]$.
  1. Split $f(x)$ into a product of first degree polynomials in $\mathbb{C}[x]$.
  2. Show that $f(x)$ is an irreducible polynomial of $\mathbb{Q}[x]$.
  3. Find the splitting field $E$ of $f(x)$ and the degree of the extension $[E:\mathbb{Q}]$.

I have done the following:
  1. $f(x)=(x^2-(4i)^2)(x^2+(4i)^2)=(x-2\sqrt{i})(x+2\sqrt{i})(x-2\sqrt[3]{i})(x+2 \sqrt[3]{i})=(x-2 e^{\pi i/4})(x+2 e^{\pi i /4})((x-2 e^{\pi i/6})(x+2e^{\pi i/6})$

    Is it correct?? (Wondering)
  2. $f(x)$ is irreducible in $\mathbb{Q}$.
    If it were not irreducible, then it could be written as a product of polynomials of $\mathbb{Q}[x]$ as followed:
    • It can be written as a product of four first degree polynomials:
      $f(x)=(x-2\sqrt{i})(x+2\sqrt{i})(x-2\sqrt[3]{i})(x+2 \sqrt[3]{i})$
      But the coefficients are not in $\mathbb{Q}$, So, it cannot be written in that way.
    • It can be written as a product of two second degree polynomials:
      $f(x)=(x^2-(4i)^2)(x^2+(4i)^2)$
      But the coefficients are not in $\mathbb{Q}$, So, it cannot be written in that way.
    • It can be written as a product of a first degree and a third degree polynomial:
      $f(x)=(x-2\sqrt{i})\left [(x+2\sqrt{i})(x^2-16)\right ] \\ =(x-2\sqrt{i}) (x^3-16x+2\sqrt{i} x^2-32\sqrt{i})$
      But the coefficients are not in $\mathbb{Q}$, So, it cannot be written in that way.
    Is it correct?? (Wondering)
  3. The splitting field is $E=\mathbb{Q}(\pm 2 e^{\pi i/4}, \pm 2 e^{\pi i/6})=\mathbb{Q}(e^{\pi i/4}, e^{\pi i/6})$

    Is it correct?? (Wondering)$Irr(e^{\pi i/4}, \mathbb{Q})=x^4+1$

    $[\mathbb{Q}(e^{\pi i/4}):\mathbb{Q}]=4$

    How can I continue to find $[\mathbb{Q}(e^{\pi i/4}, e^{\pi i/6}): \mathbb{Q}]$?? (Wondering)
 
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Hi,

I think is everything OK.

Remember that $[\Bbb{Q}(e^{\pi i/6},e^{\pi i / 4}) \ : \ \Bbb{Q}]=[\Bbb{Q}(e^{\pi i / 4}) (e^{\pi i/6})\ : \ \Bbb{Q}(e^{\pi i /4})][\Bbb{Q}(e^{\pi i / 4}) \ : \ \Bbb{Q}]$

So you have to compute $Irr(e^{\pi i / 6},\Bbb{Q}(e^{\pi i / 4}))$
 
Fallen Angel said:
Remember that $[\Bbb{Q}(e^{\pi i/6},e^{\pi i / 4}) \ : \ \Bbb{Q}]=[\Bbb{Q}(e^{\pi i / 4}) (e^{\pi i/6})\ : \ \Bbb{Q}(e^{\pi i /4})][\Bbb{Q}(e^{\pi i / 4}) \ : \ \Bbb{Q}]$

So you have to compute $Irr(e^{\pi i / 6},\Bbb{Q}(e^{\pi i / 4}))$

$e^{\pi i / 6}$ is a root of $x^6+1$, right?? (Wondering)

But how could I find $Irr(e^{\pi i / 6},\Bbb{Q}(e^{\pi i / 4}))$ ?? (Wondering)
 
Try to factor $x^{6}+1$.

Is the same idea when you factor it over $\Bbb{Q}$, but this time the coefficients of your polynomials are in $\Bbb{Q}(e^{ \pi i/ 4})=\{a+be^{ \pi i/4} \ : \ a,b\in \Bbb{Q}\}$.

This carries a lot of work, but I have no a better idea. :(
 

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