Algebra II

Assignment 2

Due Wednesday, February 14

Let d ∈ Z be a square-free integer, i.e. an integer such that n2 does not divide d, for every
integer n > 1. We consider the ring
√ √
Z[ d] = {a + b d : a.b ∈ Z}.
√ √ √
For every α = a + b d ∈ Z[ d],√we denote by α = a − b d the conjugate of α. We define the
norm of α as the function N : Z[ d] → Z given by

N(α) = αα = a2 − db2 .

It is√straightforward to see that the norm is multiplicative, i.e. N(αβ) = N(α)N(β), for every α, β ∈
Z[ d].
√
1. Prove that α ∈ Z[ d] is a unit if and only if N(α) = ±1.

2. Prove that if N(α) = ±p, where p ∈ N is prime, then α is irreducible.

√
3. Prove that factoring terminates in Z[ d].
√
4. Prove
√ than an element x ∈ Z[ 5] such that N(x) = 4 is irreducible. Use this to prove that
Z[ 5] is not a U.F.D. by considering the factorizations
√ √
4 = 2 · 2 = (3 + 5)(3 − 5).
√
5. Prove that Z[ 2] is a Euclidean domain, with size function σ(α) = |N(α)|.
√
6. From the last point, it follows that Z[ 2] is a U.F.D.. Why does
√ √ √ √
2 · 2 = 2 = (2 + 2)(2 − 2)

not violate unique factoring?

√ √
7. Factor 4 + 7 2 in Z[ 2].