Which Coefficient Ring Makes f=x^2+1 Irreducible?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the irreducibility of the polynomial f=x^2+1 over various coefficient rings, specifically Z, R, C, and Z mod 2. Participants explore definitions of irreducibility and provide reasoning for their evaluations of the polynomial's status in each context.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested, Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant defines irreducibility in terms of being a non-unit and the existence of factorizations, but questions the correctness of their own definition.
  • Another participant suggests a revised definition of irreducibility for integral domains, emphasizing that if a polynomial can be expressed as a product of two non-unit polynomials, at least one must be a unit.
  • A third participant provides specific evaluations of f=x^2+1, stating it is irreducible over Z and R, but reducible over C and Z mod 2, citing specific factorizations in those cases.
  • A later reply indicates that the original poster has resolved their query independently.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the definition of irreducibility and its implications. There is no consensus on the initial definition provided, and multiple interpretations of irreducibility are discussed without resolution.

Contextual Notes

Some definitions and conditions regarding irreducibility remain unresolved, particularly concerning the implications of the definitions provided by participants.

Poirot1
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Consider the polynomial f=x^2+1. Regarded as a polynomial over which of the following coefficient rings is this polynomial irreducible?

(i) Z, (ii) R, (iii) C, (iv) Z mod 2. Give Reasons for your answer.

To be irreducible means (i) not a unit and (ii) if f=ab then a|f and b|f. As to the first, I don't think f is a unit in any of these.

Thanks
 
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Poirot said:
Consider the polynomial f=x^2+1. Regarded as a polynomial over which of the following coefficient rings is this polynomial irreducible?

(i) Z, (ii) R, (iii) C, (iv) Z mod 2. Give Reasons for your answer.

To be irreducible means (i) not a unit and (ii) if f=ab then a|f and b|f. As to the first, I don't think f is a unit in any of these.

Thanks


I don't think the way you have defined an irreducible polynomial is correct.
Condition (ii) is wrong.

edit: In fact, condition (ii) contains no information in it.
 
Should your definition of irreducible not be as follows:

For an integral domain $\mathcal{R}$,if $a\in\mathcal{R}$ and a is neither zero nor a unit;
we say that a is irreducible in $\mathcal{R}$ if whenever $a = cd$ for $c,d\in\mathcal{R}$ it follows that either c or d is a unit.
 
A polynomial $p(x)$ is said to be irreducible if don't exist two polynomials $a(x)$ and $b(x)$, both different from $p(x)$, so that $p(x)=a(x)\ b(x)$. In our case is $p(x)=1+x^{2}$ and we have...

(i) if the coefficients of $p(x)$ are in $\mathbb{Z}$, then $p(x)$ is irreducible...

(ii) if the coefficients of $p(x)$ are in $\mathbb{R}$, then $p(x)$ is irreducible...

(iii) if the coefficients of $p(x)$ are in $\mathbb{C}$, then $p(x)$ is not irreducible because is $1+x^{2}= (1-i\ x)\ (1+i\ x)$...

(iv) if the coefficients of $p(x)$ are in $\mathbb{Z}\ \text{mod}\ 2$, then $p(x)$ is not irreducible because is $1+x^{2}= (1+x)\ (1+x)$...

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$
 
I just got it myeslf but thanks anyway.
 

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