Note that the polynomial $x^3-2$ is irreducible over $\Q$ by Eisenstein’s criterion (with prime $p=2$).
This implies that if $\alpha$ is any root of $x^3-2$, then the degree of the field extension $\Q(\alpha)$ over $\Q$ is $3$:
\[[\Q(\alpha) : \Q]=3. \tag{*}\]
Seeking a contradiction, assume that $x^3-2$ is reducible over $\Q(i)$.
Then $x^3-2$ has a root in $\Q(i)$ as it is a reducible degree $3$ polynomial. So let us call the root $\alpha \in \Q(i)$.
Then $\Q(\alpha)$ is a subfield of $\Q(i)$ and thus we have
\[2=[\Q(i) :\Q]=[\Q(i): \Q(\alpha)][\Q(\alpha):\Q]\geq 3\]
by (*). Hence we have reached a contradiction.
As a result, $x^3-2$ is irreducible over $\Q(i)$.
Application of Field Extension to Linear Combination
Consider the cubic polynomial $f(x)=x^3-x+1$ in $\Q[x]$.
Let $\alpha$ be any real root of $f(x)$.
Then prove that $\sqrt{2}$ can not be written as a linear combination of $1, \alpha, \alpha^2$ with coefficients in $\Q$.
Proof.
We first prove that the polynomial […]
$x^3-\sqrt{2}$ is Irreducible Over the Field $\Q(\sqrt{2})$
Show that the polynomial $x^3-\sqrt{2}$ is irreducible over the field $\Q(\sqrt{2})$.
Hint.
Consider the field extensions $\Q(\sqrt{2})$ and $\Q(\sqrt[6]{2})$.
Proof.
Let $\sqrt[6]{2}$ denote the positive real $6$-th root of of $2$.
Then since $x^6-2$ is […]
Galois Extension $\Q(\sqrt{2+\sqrt{2}})$ of Degree 4 with Cyclic Group
Show that $\Q(\sqrt{2+\sqrt{2}})$ is a cyclic quartic field, that is, it is a Galois extension of degree $4$ with cyclic Galois group.
Proof.
Put $\alpha=\sqrt{2+\sqrt{2}}$. Then we have $\alpha^2=2+\sqrt{2}$. Taking square of $\alpha^2-2=\sqrt{2}$, we obtain […]
The Polynomial $x^p-2$ is Irreducible Over the Cyclotomic Field of $p$-th Root of Unity
Prove that the polynomial $x^p-2$ for a prime number $p$ is irreducible over the field $\Q(\zeta_p)$, where $\zeta_p$ is a primitive $p$th root of unity.
Hint.
Consider the field extension $\Q(\sqrt[p]{2}, \zeta)$, where $\zeta$ is a primitive $p$-th root of […]
Example of an Infinite Algebraic Extension
Find an example of an infinite algebraic extension over the field of rational numbers $\Q$ other than the algebraic closure $\bar{\Q}$ of $\Q$ in $\C$.
Definition (Algebraic Element, Algebraic Extension).
Let $F$ be a field and let $E$ be an extension of […]
Galois Group of the Polynomial $x^p-2$.
Let $p \in \Z$ be a prime number.
Then describe the elements of the Galois group of the polynomial $x^p-2$.
Solution.
The roots of the polynomial $x^p-2$ are
\[ \sqrt[p]{2}\zeta^k, k=0,1, \dots, p-1\]
where $\sqrt[p]{2}$ is a real $p$-th root of $2$ and $\zeta$ […]