PlanetMath (more info)
 Math for the people, by the people. Sponsor PlanetMath
Encyclopedia | Requests | Forums | Docs | Wiki | Random | RSS  
Login
create new user
name:
pass:
forget your password?
Main Menu
Owner confidence rating: Very high Entry average rating: No information on entry rating
[parent] conjugate fields (Definition)

If $\vartheta_1,\,\vartheta_2,\,\ldots,\,\vartheta_n$ , are the algebraic conjugates of the algebraic number $\vartheta_1$ then the algebraic number fields $\mathbb{Q}(\vartheta_1),\,\mathbb{Q}(\vartheta_2),\,\ldots,\,\mathbb{Q}(\vartheta_n)$ , are the conjugate fields of $\mathbb{Q}(\vartheta_1)$

Notice that the conjugate fields of $\mathbb{Q}(\vartheta_1)$ are always isomorphic but not necessarily distinct.

All conjugate fields are equal, i.e. $\mathbb{Q}(\vartheta_1)= \mathbb{Q}(\vartheta_2)=\ldots=\mathbb{Q}(\vartheta_n)$ or equivalently $\vartheta_1,\ldots,\vartheta_n$ belong to $\mathbb{Q}(\vartheta_1)$ if and only if the extension $\mathbb{Q}(\vartheta_1)/\mathbb{Q}$ is a Galois extension of fields. The reason for this is that if $\vartheta_1$ is an algebraic number and $m(x)$ is the minimal polynomial of $\vartheta_1$ then the roots of $m(x)$ are precisely the algebraic conjugates of $\vartheta_1$

For example, let $\vartheta_1 = \sqrt{2}$ Then its only conjugate is $\vartheta_2=-\sqrt{2}$ and $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{2})$ is Galois and contains both $\vartheta_1$ and $\vartheta_2$ Similarly, let $p$ be a prime and let $\vartheta_1=\zeta$ be a primitive $p$ root of unity. Then the algebraic conjugates of $\zeta$ are $\zeta^2,\ldots,\zeta^{p-1}$ and so all conjugate fields are equal to $\mathbb{Q}(\zeta)$ and the extension $\mathbb{Q}(\zeta)/\mathbb{Q}$ is Galois. It is a cyclotomic extension of $\mathbb{Q}$

Now let $\vartheta_1=\sqrt[3]{2}$ and let $\zeta$ be a primitive $3$ root of unity (i.e. $\zeta$ is a root of $x^2+x+1$ so we can pick $\zeta=\frac{-1+\sqrt{-3}}{2}$ . Then the conjugates of $\vartheta_1$ are $\vartheta_1$ $\vartheta_2=\zeta\sqrt[3]{2}$ and $\vartheta_3=\zeta^2\sqrt[3]{2}$ The three conjugate fields $\mathbb{Q}(\vartheta_1)$ $\mathbb{Q}(\vartheta_2)$ and $\mathbb{Q}(\vartheta_3)$ are distinct in this case. The Galois closure of each of these fields is $\mathbb{Q}(\zeta,\sqrt[3]{2})$




Anyone with an account can edit this entry. Please help improve it!

"conjugate fields" is owned by pahio. [ full author list (3) ]
(view preamble | get metadata)

View style:

See Also: properties of $\mathbb{Q}(\vartheta)$-conjugates


This object's parent.
Log in to rate this entry.
(view current ratings)

Cross-references: Galois closure, root of unity, primitive, cyclotomic extension, prime, contains, roots, minimal polynomial, fields, Galois extension, extension, isomorphic, algebraic number fields, algebraic number, algebraic conjugates
There are 2 references to this entry.

This is version 7 of conjugate fields, born on 2007-05-30, modified 2008-02-21.
Object id is 9487, canonical name is ConjugateFields.
Accessed 1048 times total.

Classification:
AMS MSC11R04 (Number theory :: Algebraic number theory: global fields :: Algebraic numbers; rings of algebraic integers)
 12F05 (Field theory and polynomials :: Field extensions :: Algebraic extensions)

Pending Errata and Addenda
None.
Discussion
Style: Expand: Order:
forum policy

No messages.

Interact
post | correct | update request | add derivation | add example | add (any)