Is $p$ irreducible in $\Bbb Z[(-1 + i\sqrt{3})/2]$ if $p \equiv 2\pmod{3}$?

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    2015
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SUMMARY

The prime integer $p$ is irreducible in the ring $\Bbb Z[(-1 + i\sqrt{3})/2]$ if and only if $p \equiv 2 \pmod{3}$. This conclusion is established through the properties of the ring and the behavior of prime integers under modular arithmetic. The discussion highlights the significance of the congruence condition in determining irreducibility within this specific algebraic structure.

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Euge
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Here is this week's POTW:

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Let $p$ be a prime integer. Prove $p$ is irreducible in $\Bbb Z[(-1 + i\sqrt{3})/2]$ if and only if $p \equiv 2\pmod{3}$.
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No one answered this week's problem. You can read my solution below.
Let $d = (-1 + i\sqrt{3})/2$. The isomorphism $$\Bbb Z[d]/p\Bbb Z[d] \approx (\Bbb Z/p\Bbb Z)[x]/\langle x^2 + x + 1 \rangle$$ induced by the ring morphism $f : \Bbb Z[d] \to (\Bbb Z/p\Bbb Z)[x]/\langle x^2 + x + 1\rangle$, $f(a + bd) = [a]_p + _px + \langle x^2 + x + 1\rangle$ shows that $p$ is irreducible in $\Bbb Z[d]$ if and only if $x^2 + x + 1$ is irreducible in $(\Bbb Z/p\Bbb Z)[x]$. Indeed, since $\Bbb Z[d]$ is a PID, $p$ is irreducible in $\Bbb Z[d]$ if and only if $p\Bbb Z[d]$ is maximal in $\Bbb Z[p]$, which occurs if and only if $\Bbb Z[d]/p\Bbb Z[d]$ is a field. The isomorphism above then gives the desired equivalence.

Now it suffices to show that $x^2 + x + 1$ is irreducible in $\Bbb Z/p\Bbb Z[x]$ if and only if $p \equiv 2\pmod{3}$. The result is clear when $p = 2$, and over $\Bbb Z_3$, $x^2 + x + 1 = x^2 - 2x + 1 = (x - 1)^2$ is reducible. Now consider $p > 3$. We show that $x^2 + x + 1$ is reducible in $\Bbb Z/p\Bbb Z[x]$ if and only if $p \equiv 1\pmod{3}$. Due to the factorization $x^3 - 1 = (x - 1)(x^2 + x + 1)$ and the fact that $[1]_p$ is not a zero of $x^2 + x + 1$ when $p > 3$, we have that $x^2 + x + 1$ is reducible over $\Bbb Z/p\Bbb Z$ if and only if it has a zero of $x^3 - 1$ that is not equal to $[1]_p$. But then the zeros of $x^2 + x + 1$ give elements of order $3$ in $(\Bbb Z/p\Bbb Z)^*$, which occurs if and only if $3\, |\, (p - 1)$, i.e., $p \equiv 1\pmod{3}$.
 

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