MHB What is the Galois group of a prime degree polynomial with two nonreal roots?

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    2015
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The discussion presents a problem regarding the Galois group of an irreducible prime degree polynomial with rational coefficients that has two nonreal roots. Participants are encouraged to solve this problem as part of the Problem of the Week (POTW) initiative. The problem was successfully solved by a member named Deveno, who provided a correct solution. The thread emphasizes the importance of following the guidelines for participating in the POTW. The focus remains on understanding the properties of Galois groups in relation to polynomials with specific root characteristics.
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I realized that I haven't yet given MHB members a Galois problem to solve. ;) So here is this week's POTW:

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Let $f(x)$ be an irreducible prime degree polynomial with rational coefficients, such that only two of its roots are nonreal complex numbers. Determine the Galois group of $f(x)$ over $\Bbb Q$.

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Remember to read the http://www.mathhelpboards.com/showthread.php?772-Problem-of-the-Week-%28POTW%29-Procedure-and-Guidelines to find out how to http://www.mathhelpboards.com/forms.php?do=form&fid=2!
 
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This week's problem was answered correctly by Deveno. Here is his solution.
Let $\alpha$ be any root of $f$, then $\Bbb Q(\alpha)$ has dimension $p$ over $\Bbb Q$. If $E$ is the splitting field of $f$, then:

$|G| = |\text{Gal}(f)| = |\text{Aut}(E/\Bbb Q)| = [E:\Bbb Q] = [E:\Bbb Q(\alpha)][\Bbb Q(\alpha):\Bbb Q]$, so that $p||G|$.

Now we can regard $G = \text{Gal}(f)$ as a subgroup of $S_p$ (by its actions on the $p$ roots of $f$), and since $p||G|$, $G$ contains an element of order $p$ (Cauchy's theorem), which must be a $p$-cycle.

On the other hand, since $f$ has exactly two non-real roots (which must be complex conjugates), complex conjugation is an element of $G = \text{Aut}(E/\Bbb Q)$ which acts on the roots as a transposition.

Since a $p$-cycle and a transposition generate $S_p$, this must be the Galois group of $f$.
 

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