Problem involving irreducible element -Ring theory

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the properties of irreducible elements in ring theory, specifically within the context of the Euclidean algorithm in the ring of integers adjoined with square roots of negative numbers, such as ##\mathbb{Z}[\sqrt{-2}]##. Participants analyze the norm of elements like ##ϒ = a + c\sqrt{b}##, concluding that the norm is defined as ##N(ϒ) = a^2 - c^2b##. The argument fails for ##n = -3##, as demonstrated by substituting values into the inequality derived from the norm, leading to a contradiction.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of ring theory concepts, particularly norms and irreducible elements.
  • Familiarity with the Euclidean algorithm in the context of integers and their extensions.
  • Knowledge of quadratic fields, specifically ##\mathbb{Z}[\sqrt{-2}]##.
  • Ability to manipulate inequalities and understand their implications in mathematical proofs.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the properties of norms in quadratic fields, focusing on examples like ##\mathbb{Z}[\sqrt{-2}]##.
  • Learn about the Euclidean algorithm's application in different rings, particularly in algebraic number theory.
  • Investigate irreducible elements and their significance in ring theory.
  • Explore the implications of contradictions in mathematical proofs, particularly in the context of norms and inequalities.
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for mathematicians, algebraists, and students studying ring theory and number theory, particularly those interested in the properties of irreducible elements and the Euclidean algorithm in algebraic structures.

chwala
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Homework Statement
see attached...
Relevant Equations
Ring theory
Hey guys, i need insight on the highlighted part...the steps before this are quite clear:

1678958831525.png


where is the ##\dfrac{3}{4}M ## coming from? and how to show the argument does not work for ##n=-3##? i should be able to check on this ...later.

and why is the Norm of say;

##ϒ =a+c\sqrt b##

taken as

##N(ϒ)=a^2-c^2b##

and not

##N(ϒ)=a^2+c^2b##?
cheers
 
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In \mathbb{Q}[X : X^2 \in \mathbb{Q}] \supset \mathbb{Z}[X] we have (a + bX)(a - bX) = a^2 - b^2X^2 \in \mathbb{Q}. If this is zero, then we have either a + bX = 0 or a - bX = 0 and in either case a = b = 0. Hence for a + bX \neq 0 we have <br /> (a +bX)^{-1} = \frac{a - bX}{a^2 - b^2X^2}. Note that if X^2 = - N &lt; 0, as in your case, then <br /> a^2 - b^2 X^2 = a^2 + Nb^2.
 
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chwala said:
Homework Statement:: see attached...
Relevant Equations:: Ring theory

Hey guys, i need insight on the highlighted part...the steps before this are quite clear:

View attachment 323675

where is the ##\dfrac{3}{4}M ## coming from? and how to show the argument does not work for ##n=-3##? i should be able to check on this ...later.

and why is the Norm of say;

##ϒ =a+c\sqrt b##

taken as

##N(ϒ)=a^2-c^2b##

and not

##N(ϒ)=a^2+c^2b##?
cheers
...
I am trying to follow this with a practical example...i still have doubts on the highlighted, let us consider; the gcd ##(7,4)## with ##n=-2## for example, then we shall have (using Euclid algorithm),

##7=1⋅4+3##

...
##\dfrac{7}{4}= \dfrac{7(l-m\sqrt{-2})}{l^2+2m^2}=\dfrac{7l}{l^2+2m^2}-\dfrac{m\sqrt{-2}}{l^2+2m^2}##

that is by following the attached literature... then

##\dfrac{t}{M}=\dfrac{7l}{l^2+2m^2}##

and

##\dfrac{s\sqrt{n}}{M}=\dfrac{m\sqrt{-2}}{l^2+2m^2}##

...let ##X, Y## be the closest integers to the two ratios on the right...not quite understanding this statement...do they mean ##X## an integer value i.e close to ##\dfrac{7l}{l^2+2m^2}## and ##Y## an integer value close to ##\dfrac{m\sqrt{-2}}{l^2+2m^2}##?
 
chwala said:
...
I am trying to follow this with a practical example...i still have doubts on the highlighted, let us consider; the gcd ##(7,4)## with ##n=-2## for example, then we shall have (using Euclid algorithm),

##7=1⋅4+3##

...
##\dfrac{7}{4}= \dfrac{7(l-m\sqrt{-2})}{l^2+2m^2}=\dfrac{7l}{l^2+2m^2}-\dfrac{m\sqrt{-2}}{l^2+2m^2}##

that is by following the attached literature... then

##\dfrac{t}{M}=\dfrac{7l}{l^2+2m^2}##

and

##\dfrac{s\sqrt{n}}{M}=\dfrac{m\sqrt{-2}}{l^2+2m^2}##

...let ##X, Y## be the closest integers to the two ratios on the right...not quite understanding this statement...do they mean ##X## an integer value i.e close to ##\dfrac{7l}{l^2+2m^2}## and ##Y## an integer value close to ##\dfrac{m\sqrt{-2}}{l^2+2m^2}##?
I think i now understand this part;

1679797199396.png
It basically means;##|\frac{t}{M} - X|≤\frac{1}{2}##

and
##|\frac{s\sqrt {n}}{M} - Y|≤\frac{1}{2}##

i.e

##-\frac{1}{2}≤\frac{t}{M} - X≤\frac{1}{2}##

and##-\frac{1}{2}≤\frac{s\sqrt{n}}{M} - Y≤\frac{1}{2}##

it is true that, (on adding them)

##0≤\frac{t}{M}+\frac{s\sqrt{n}}{M}- X-Y≤1##
 
chwala said:
Homework Statement:: see attached...
Relevant Equations:: Ring theory

Hey guys, i need insight on the highlighted part...the steps before this are quite clear:

View attachment 323675

where is the ##\dfrac{3}{4}M ## coming from? and how to show the argument does not work for ##n=-3##? i should be able to check on this ...later.cheers
The proof uses an arbitrary value for the integer, ##n##, through the point where

##\displaystyle N(r) \le M( (1/2)^2-(n)(1/2)^2)## .

Then substituting ##\displaystyle n=-2## one sees that ##\displaystyle M( (1/2)^2-(-2)(1/2)^2)=\dfrac{3}{4}M<N(b)## .

What do you get for ##n=-3## ?
 
Last edited:
chwala said:
...
I am trying to follow this with a practical example...i still have doubts on the highlighted, let us consider; the gcd ##(7,4)## with ##n=-2## for example, then we shall have (using Euclid algorithm),

##7=1⋅4+3##

...
##\dfrac{7}{4}= \dfrac{7(l-m\sqrt{-2})}{l^2+2m^2}=\dfrac{7l}{l^2+2m^2}-\dfrac{m\sqrt{-2}}{l^2+2m^2}##

that is by following the attached literature... then

##\dfrac{t}{M}=\dfrac{7l}{l^2+2m^2}##

and

##\dfrac{s\sqrt{n}}{M}=\dfrac{m\sqrt{-2}}{l^2+2m^2}##

...let ##X, Y## be the closest integers to the two ratios on the right...not quite understanding this statement...do they mean ##X## an integer value i.e close to ##\dfrac{7l}{l^2+2m^2}## and ##Y## an integer value close to ##\dfrac{m\sqrt{-2}}{l^2+2m^2}##?
This is not a particularly good example of two elements in ##\displaystyle \mathbb{Z} [\sqrt{-2\,} \,] ## .

Writing them as elements of ##\displaystyle \mathbb{Z} [\sqrt{-2\,} \,] ## , we have ##\displaystyle 7= 7+0\sqrt{-2\,}## , and ##\displaystyle 4= 4+0\sqrt{-2\,}##

So, we have ##l=4\,,\ m=0\,,\ \text{ and } M=16## .

This gives ##\displaystyle \dfrac{t}{M}=\dfrac{7l}{M}=\dfrac{28}{16}\, ,## which reduces to ##\displaystyle \dfrac 7 4 = 1.75## . And for ##\displaystyle \dfrac{s\sqrt{-2\,}}{M}## we have ##\displaystyle \dfrac{m\sqrt{-2\,}}{M}=0 ## .

Being the integer closest to ##1.75##, we have ##X=2## . It should be apparent that ##Y=0## . This gives ##\displaystyle q= X+Y\sqrt{-2\,}=2+0\,\sqrt{-2\,}=2##

Therefore, ##\displaystyle \ r = a-q\,b = 7-2\cdot 4 =-1##.

This is very similar to the standard version of Euclidean Division, except that here the remainder falls in the interval ##\displaystyle [-b/2 \,, \ b/2]\, ##. (The author should clean that up to make one of the ends of the interval be open.)

The Euclidean Algorithm goes further than this. The next step: Promote ##b## to take the role of ##a## and ##r## to take the role of ##b##, i.e. - divide ##4## by ##-1## find a quotient and a remainder.. If the remainder is zero, you are nearly (or half) done. If the new ##r\ne 0##, promote ##(b,\ r)## to ##(a,\ b)## and repeat . . . until some ##r=0## . The previous value of ##r## is the ##\gcd (a,\ b)## .

The final step in the Euclidean Algorithm has you backtrack through your previous steps to express the gdc as ##\displaystyle \gcd (a,\ b)=ua+vb ## for some ##u## and ##v##.
 
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SammyS said:
This is not a particularly good example of two elements in ##\displaystyle \mathbb{Z} [\sqrt{-2\,} \,] ## .

Writing them as elements of ##\displaystyle \mathbb{Z} [\sqrt{-2\,} \,] ## , we have ##\displaystyle 7= 7+0\sqrt{-2\,}## , and ##\displaystyle 4= 4+0\sqrt{-2\,}##

So, we have ##l=4\,,\ m=0\,,\ \text{ and } M=16## .

This gives ##\displaystyle \dfrac{t}{M}=\dfrac{7l}{M}=\dfrac{28}{16}\, ,## which reduces to ##\displaystyle \dfrac 7 4 = 1.75## . And for ##\displaystyle \dfrac{s\sqrt{-2\,}}{M}## we have ##\displaystyle \dfrac{m\sqrt{-2\,}}{M}=0 ## .

Being the integer closest to ##1.75##, we have ##X=2## . It should be apparent that ##Y=0## . This gives ##\displaystyle q= X+Y\sqrt{-2\,}=2+0\,\sqrt{-2\,}=2##

Therefore, ##\displaystyle \ r = a-q\,b = 7-2\cdot 4 =-1##.

This is very similar to the standard version of Euclidean Division, except that here the remainder falls in the interval ##\displaystyle [-b/2 \,, \ b/2]\, ##. (The author should clean that up to make one of the ends of the interval be open.)

The Euclidean Algorithm goes further than this. The next step: Promote ##b## to take the role of ##a## and ##r## to take the role of ##b##, i.e. - divide ##4## by ##-1## find a quotient and a remainder.. If the remainder is zero, you are nearly (or half) done. If the new ##r\ne 0##, promote ##(b,\ r)## to ##(a,\ b)## and repeat . . . until some ##r=0## . The previous value of ##r## is the ##\gcd (a,\ b)## .

The final step in the Euclidean Algorithm has you backtrack through your previous steps to express the gdc as ##\displaystyle \gcd (a,\ b)=ua+vb ## for some ##u## and ##v##.
Thanks @SammyS ...i will go through your remarks later...cheers.
 
SammyS said:
This is not a particularly good example of two elements in ##\displaystyle \mathbb{Z} [\sqrt{-2\,} \,] ## .

Writing them as elements of ##\displaystyle \mathbb{Z} [\sqrt{-2\,} \,] ## , we have ##\displaystyle 7= 7+0\sqrt{-2\,}## , and ##\displaystyle 4= 4+0\sqrt{-2\,}##

So, we have ##l=4\,,\ m=0\,,\ \text{ and } M=16## .

This gives ##\displaystyle \dfrac{t}{M}=\dfrac{7l}{M}=\dfrac{28}{16}\, ,## which reduces to ##\displaystyle \dfrac 7 4 = 1.75## . And for ##\displaystyle \dfrac{s\sqrt{-2\,}}{M}## we have ##\displaystyle \dfrac{m\sqrt{-2\,}}{M}=0 ## .

Being the integer closest to ##1.75##, we have ##X=2## . It should be apparent that ##Y=0## . This gives ##\displaystyle q= X+Y\sqrt{-2\,}=2+0\,\sqrt{-2\,}=2##

Therefore, ##\displaystyle \ r = a-q\,b = 7-2\cdot 4 =-1##.

This is very similar to the standard version of Euclidean Division, except that here the remainder falls in the interval ##\displaystyle [-b/2 \,, \ b/2]\, ##. (The author should clean that up to make one of the ends of the interval be open.)

The Euclidean Algorithm goes further than this. The next step: Promote ##b## to take the role of ##a## and ##r## to take the role of ##b##, i.e. - divide ##4## by ##-1## find a quotient and a remainder.. If the remainder is zero, you are nearly (or half) done. If the new ##r\ne 0##, promote ##(b,\ r)## to ##(a,\ b)## and repeat . . . until some ##r=0## . The previous value of ##r## is the ##\gcd (a,\ b)## .

The final step in the Euclidean Algorithm has you backtrack through your previous steps to express the gdc as ##\displaystyle \gcd (a,\ b)=ua+vb ## for some ##u## and ##v##.
Am trying to substitute your values into the final inequality but it seems it does not satisfy unless i am not getting it correctly, since ##Y=0## then,

From this line,

##M\left[\dfrac{t}{M} - X\right]^2 ≤ M[(0.5)^2-n(0.5)^2] ≤ 0.75M##

given that, ##\dfrac{t}{M}=1.75##, ##M=16##, ##X=2##, ##n=-1## and ##m=0##.

We shall have

##16(1.75-2)^2 ≤16(0.25+0.25) ≤12##

##1≤8≤12##

Looks fine i had made a mistake on the value of ##X##. Next question suppose we had a value for ##m## how would that work out? Cheers.

Note
Author indicated that the argument works for ##n=-1,2,3## but not for ##n=-3##. I have verified this in the following step; When ##n=-3## we shall have,

##1≤16≤12##

which is a contradiction.
 
Last edited:

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