Field Extension
ABSTRACT
In mathematics, particularly in algebra, a field extension is a pair of
fields such that the operations of E are those of F restricted
to E. In this case, F is an extension field of E and E is
a subfield of F. For example, under the usual notions of addition and
multiplication, the complex numbers are an extension field of the
real numbers; the real numbers are a subfield of the complex numbers.
Field extensions are fundamental in algebraic number theory, and in the
study of polynomial roots through Galois theory, and are widely used in
algebraic geometry.
CONTENTS
BASIC DEFINATIONS
• KRONECKER THEOREM
DEGREE OF EXTENSION
• SPILITTING FIELD
• ALGEBRIC EXTENSION
• NORMAL EXTENSION AND GALOIS EXTENSION
• REFERENCES
FIELD EXTENSION
• DEFINATION
• If F is a subfield of a field E then e is called an extension field of f or simply an extension
of f we denote this extension as
• E
• F
• Example since R is subfield of C hence C is extension on field of R
• C R
•
• R Q
Theorem 1 (Kronecker). if F is a field and f(x) ∈ F[x] is a nonconstant
polynomial, then there exist an extension field E of F and an α ∈ E with
f(α) = 0.
• Proof. If the degree of f is 1, then f(x) is linear and we can choose E =
F. If the degree of f is greater than 1, write f(x) = p(x)g(x), where p(x) is
irreducible. The quotient ring E = F[x]/⟨p(x)⟩ is a field. The natural map
ϕ(a): F → E defined by ϕ(a) = a+⟨p(x)⟩, is an isomorphism from F to
the subfield F ′ = {a+⟨p(x)⟩: a ∈ F } of E.
Degree of an Extension
Let E be an extension field of a field F. We say that E has degree n
over F and write [E:F] = n if E has dimension n as a vector space
over F. If [E:F] is finite, E is called a finite extension of F; otherwise,
we say that E is an infinite extension of F.
examples
1 -The complex numbers are a field extension over the real number with
degree [C:R] = 2, and when we take over rational numbers it is infinite
extension
2 – degree of extension of [Q(√2, √3):Q(√2)] = 2.
Splitting Field
Let E be an extension field of F and let f (x) [ F[x]. We say that f (x) splits in E if f (x)
can be factored as a product of linear factors in E[x]. We call E a splitting field for f (x)
over F if f (x) splits in E but in no proper subfield of E.
EXAMPLE Consider the polynomial f (x) = + 1 € Q[x]. Since , + 1= ) , we see that f(x) splits in C, but a splitting field
over Q is Q(i) = {r + si | r, s € Q}. A splitting field for +1 over R is C. Likewise, € Q[x] splits in R, but a splitting field over
Q is Q() = {r+ s ) | r, s Q}.
Let E be the extension field of F and let f (x) € F[x] with the degree at least 1. we say that f (x)
splits in E if there are elements a € F. and a1,a2,a3….an €E such that f (x) =a(x - a1)(x - a2)
…. (x - an)
We call E a splitting field for f (x) over F if E=F(a1,a2,a3.....an)
THEOREM EXISTENCE OF SPLITTING FIELDS
Let F be a field and let f(x) be a nonconstant element of F[x]. Then there
exists a splitting field E for f (x) over F.
Proff : We proceed by induction on deg f (x). If deg f (x) = 1, then f (x) is linear.
Now suppose that the statement is true for all fields and all polynomials of
degree less than that of f (x). Theorem , there is an extension E of F in which
f(x) has a zero, say, a1. Then we may write f (x) = (x - a1)g(x), where g(x)
belongs to E[x]. Since deg g(x) < deg f (x), by induction, there is a field K that
contains E and all the zeros of g(x), say, a2, . . . , an. Clearly, then, a splitting
field for f (x) over F is F(a1, a2, . . . , an).
THEOREM Let F be a field and let p(x) [ F[x] be irreducible over F. If a is a zero of p(x) in some extension E of F, then
F is isomorphic to F[x] / p(x). Furthermore, if deg p(x)5n, then every member of F(a) can be uniquely expressed in the
form
Cn-1a cn-2an22 1 ? ? ? 1 c1a + c0, where c0, c1, . . . , cn-1 € F.
Proof Consider the function from F[x] to F(a) given by f( f (x)) = f (a). Clearly, f is a ring
homomorphism. We claim that
Ker <p(x)>. Since p(a) = 0, we have <p(x)>. On the other hand , we know by Theorem that
<p(x)> is a
maximal ideal in F[x]. So, because Ker F[x] [it does not contain
the constant polynomial f (x) = 1], we have Ker = <p(x)>. At this
point it follows from the First Isomorphism Theorem for Rings and its
Corollary that (F[x]) is a subfield of F(a). Noting
that (F[x]) contains both F and a and recalling that F(a) is the smallest
such field, we have F[x]/<p(x)> (F[x]) = F(a). The final assertion of the theorem follows
from the fact that every
element of F[x]/<p(x)> can be expressed uniquely in the form Cn-1x(n-1)+…..+ p(x), where
c0, . . . , Cn-1 F and the
natural isomorphism from F[x]/p(x) to F(a) carries ckx(k)+< p(x)> to cka(k)
THEOREM [K:F] = [K:E][E:F].
Let K be a finite extension field of the field E and let E be a finite extension field of the field F. Then K is a finite extension
field of F and [K:F] 5 [K:E][E:F].
.
Algebraic Extension
Let E be an extension field of field F and let ‘a’ belongs to E we call ‘a’ algebraic over F if ‘a’ is the
zero of some non zero polynomial in f(x) . For example, √2 is algebraic over the rational numbers,
because it is a root of x^2-2
An Extension E of F is called an algebraic extension of F if every element of E is algebraic over F
Ex C over R is algebraic extension
If an element x of E is algebraic over F, the monic polynomial of lowest degree that
has x as a root is called the minimal polynomial of x. This minimal polynomial is irreducible
over F.
An element s of E is algebraic over F, if and only if the simple extension F(s) /F is a finite
extension. In this case the degree of the extension equals the degree of the minimal
polynomial, and a basis of the F-vector space F(s) consists of {1,s,s(square),s(cube),,,,,
s(raised to d-1)} where d is the degree of the minimal polynomial.
Normal Extension And Galois Extension
• An algebraic extension E/F is called normal if every
irreducible polynomial in F[X] that has a root in E completely
factors into linear factors over E.
• C over R is a normal extension but R over Q is not normal
extension.
• Given any field extension E/F, we can consider
its automorphism group Aut(E/F), consisting of all field
automorphisms α: F→ F with α(x) = x for all x in F. When the
extension is Galois this automorphism group is called the
Galois group of the extension. Extensions whose Galois group
is abelian are called abelian extensions.
REFERENCES
1 Contemporary Abstract Algebra by Joseph A. Gallian
2 https://mathworld.wolfram.com/ExtensionField.html
