Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2022 / ii / Paper 2 / 20H / b / Solution

The Dedekind factorization theorem says that, when a rational prime $p$ does not divide the index of an order $\mathbb{Z}[\theta ]\subseteq {\mathcal{O}}_K$, a factorizationof the minimal polynomial modulo $p$ gives

Let $K=\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{d})$ with square-free $d$, and let $p$ be odd. The resulting splitting of rational primes in a quadratic field is:

Finally suppose $d>0$ and
$\alpha =A/C+(B/C)\sqrt{d}$ has norm $-1$, with integers
$A,B,C$ chosen coprime. ThenIf an odd $p\equiv 3(\mathrm{mod}4)$ ramified, then $p\mid d$. Reduction modulo $p$ gives
$A^2\equiv -C^2(\mathrm{mod}p)$. Since $-1$ is not a square modulo such a prime, $p\mid A,C$. Dividing the equation's divisibility shows $p\mid B$ as well (use that square-free $d$ has $p$-adic valuation one), contradicting coprimality. Hence no prime $p\equiv 3(\mathrm{mod}4)$ ramifies.

Solved by gpt-5.6-sol high.