Are there irreducible polynomials of every degree over every field?
Let $F$ be a field and $n geq 2$. Must there exist an irreducible polynomial of degree $n$ in $F[X]$?
When $F=mathbb{Q}$ the answer is certainly "yes," as you can apply Eisenstein's criterion to $X^n-2$, for example. When $F = mathbb{Z}/pmathbb{Z}$ it is well known that the answer is "yes" (there have been numerous StackExchange posts about that), although it takes more work to get there (and especially to actually construct an example).
What about general $F$?
abstract-algebra polynomials irreducible-polynomials
add a comment |
Let $F$ be a field and $n geq 2$. Must there exist an irreducible polynomial of degree $n$ in $F[X]$?
When $F=mathbb{Q}$ the answer is certainly "yes," as you can apply Eisenstein's criterion to $X^n-2$, for example. When $F = mathbb{Z}/pmathbb{Z}$ it is well known that the answer is "yes" (there have been numerous StackExchange posts about that), although it takes more work to get there (and especially to actually construct an example).
What about general $F$?
abstract-algebra polynomials irreducible-polynomials
4
What about $F=mathbb{R}$ or $F=mathbb{C}$?
– Mindlack
1 hour ago
add a comment |
Let $F$ be a field and $n geq 2$. Must there exist an irreducible polynomial of degree $n$ in $F[X]$?
When $F=mathbb{Q}$ the answer is certainly "yes," as you can apply Eisenstein's criterion to $X^n-2$, for example. When $F = mathbb{Z}/pmathbb{Z}$ it is well known that the answer is "yes" (there have been numerous StackExchange posts about that), although it takes more work to get there (and especially to actually construct an example).
What about general $F$?
abstract-algebra polynomials irreducible-polynomials
Let $F$ be a field and $n geq 2$. Must there exist an irreducible polynomial of degree $n$ in $F[X]$?
When $F=mathbb{Q}$ the answer is certainly "yes," as you can apply Eisenstein's criterion to $X^n-2$, for example. When $F = mathbb{Z}/pmathbb{Z}$ it is well known that the answer is "yes" (there have been numerous StackExchange posts about that), although it takes more work to get there (and especially to actually construct an example).
What about general $F$?
abstract-algebra polynomials irreducible-polynomials
abstract-algebra polynomials irreducible-polynomials
edited 42 mins ago
Bernard
118k639112
118k639112
asked 1 hour ago
Dave GaeblerDave Gaebler
1,350915
1,350915
4
What about $F=mathbb{R}$ or $F=mathbb{C}$?
– Mindlack
1 hour ago
add a comment |
4
What about $F=mathbb{R}$ or $F=mathbb{C}$?
– Mindlack
1 hour ago
4
4
What about $F=mathbb{R}$ or $F=mathbb{C}$?
– Mindlack
1 hour ago
What about $F=mathbb{R}$ or $F=mathbb{C}$?
– Mindlack
1 hour ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
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If $F$ is algebraically closed then every polynomial with coefficients in $F$ splits into a product of linear factors over $F$. So there do not exist any irreducible polynomials of degree $n>1$.
add a comment |
There are no irreducible cubic polynomials over the real numbers. Nor of any odd degree greater than 1. This follows from the intermediate value theorem.
In fact, the fundamental theorem of algebra says that the only irreducible polynomials over the real numbers are those of degree 1 and those of degree 2 with negative discriminant.
Or even degree greater than 2. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreducible_polynomial
– badjohn
23 mins ago
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
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active
oldest
votes
If $F$ is algebraically closed then every polynomial with coefficients in $F$ splits into a product of linear factors over $F$. So there do not exist any irreducible polynomials of degree $n>1$.
add a comment |
If $F$ is algebraically closed then every polynomial with coefficients in $F$ splits into a product of linear factors over $F$. So there do not exist any irreducible polynomials of degree $n>1$.
add a comment |
If $F$ is algebraically closed then every polynomial with coefficients in $F$ splits into a product of linear factors over $F$. So there do not exist any irreducible polynomials of degree $n>1$.
If $F$ is algebraically closed then every polynomial with coefficients in $F$ splits into a product of linear factors over $F$. So there do not exist any irreducible polynomials of degree $n>1$.
answered 1 hour ago
ServaesServaes
22.5k33793
22.5k33793
add a comment |
add a comment |
There are no irreducible cubic polynomials over the real numbers. Nor of any odd degree greater than 1. This follows from the intermediate value theorem.
In fact, the fundamental theorem of algebra says that the only irreducible polynomials over the real numbers are those of degree 1 and those of degree 2 with negative discriminant.
Or even degree greater than 2. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreducible_polynomial
– badjohn
23 mins ago
add a comment |
There are no irreducible cubic polynomials over the real numbers. Nor of any odd degree greater than 1. This follows from the intermediate value theorem.
In fact, the fundamental theorem of algebra says that the only irreducible polynomials over the real numbers are those of degree 1 and those of degree 2 with negative discriminant.
Or even degree greater than 2. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreducible_polynomial
– badjohn
23 mins ago
add a comment |
There are no irreducible cubic polynomials over the real numbers. Nor of any odd degree greater than 1. This follows from the intermediate value theorem.
In fact, the fundamental theorem of algebra says that the only irreducible polynomials over the real numbers are those of degree 1 and those of degree 2 with negative discriminant.
There are no irreducible cubic polynomials over the real numbers. Nor of any odd degree greater than 1. This follows from the intermediate value theorem.
In fact, the fundamental theorem of algebra says that the only irreducible polynomials over the real numbers are those of degree 1 and those of degree 2 with negative discriminant.
edited 14 mins ago
answered 36 mins ago
lhflhf
163k10168388
163k10168388
Or even degree greater than 2. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreducible_polynomial
– badjohn
23 mins ago
add a comment |
Or even degree greater than 2. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreducible_polynomial
– badjohn
23 mins ago
Or even degree greater than 2. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreducible_polynomial
– badjohn
23 mins ago
Or even degree greater than 2. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreducible_polynomial
– badjohn
23 mins ago
add a comment |
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4
What about $F=mathbb{R}$ or $F=mathbb{C}$?
– Mindlack
1 hour ago