What is the ring structure of $\Bbb Z[x]/(p, x^2 + 3)$ for certain primes $p$?

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  • Thread starter Euge
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    2015
In summary, a ring structure is a mathematical concept that describes the operations and properties of a set of elements, similar to a group structure but with the added property of multiplication. The prime number, denoted by $p$, is significant in determining the structure of the ring. The polynomial $x^2 + 3$ acts as a "modulus" in the ring, affecting the behavior of addition and multiplication. The choice of prime $p$ can greatly affect the elements and properties of the ring. Possible applications of studying the ring structure of $\Bbb Z[x]/(p, x^2 + 3)$ for certain primes $p$ include number theory, cryptography, and understanding the behavior of polynomials in physics and engineering
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Euge
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Here is this week's POTW:

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Classify the primes $p$ for which the ring $\Bbb Z[x]/(p, x^2 + 3)$ is a field, and for those primes, find the number of elements in the ring.
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This week's problem was answered correctly by Opalg. Here is his solution:

I think of the elements of $\Bbb{Z}[x]/(p,x^2+3)$ as being expressions of the form $ax+b$, where $a$ and $b$ are in $\Bbb{Z}_p$ (or $\Bbb{Z}/p\Bbb{Z}$ if you prefer that cumbersome notation), and multiplication is subject to the condition $x^2 = -3$.

Since $\Bbb{Z}[x]/(p,x^2+3)$ is already a commutative ring, the only extra condition needed for it to be a field is that every nonzero element should have an inverse. So let $ax+b \in \Bbb{Z}[x]/(p,x^2+3)$, with $a$, $b$ not both zero. Note that if $a=0$ then this element certainly has an inverse, namely the element $b^{-1} \in \Bbb{Z}_p$. So assume that $a \ne0$.

The condition for $ax+b$ to have an inverse $cx+d$ is $1 = (ax+b)(cx+d) = (ad+bc)x + (-3ac + bd)$, giving the equations $ad+bc =0$ and $-3ac+bd = 1$. Solve these for $c$ and $d$ (in an elementary way as simultaneous equations) to get $c = -a(3a^2+b^2)^{-1}$, $d = b(3a^2+b^2)^{-1}$. The only thing that can go wrong there is if $3a^2+b^2$ is zero and so does not have an inverse.

Therefore the condition we are looking for is that $3a^2+b^2 \ne0$ or equivalently $\bigl( ba^{-1}\bigr)^2 \ne -3$. In other words, $-3$ should not be a quadratic residue mod $p$. In terms of Legendre symbols, this says that $$-1 = \Bigl(\frac{-3}p\Bigr) = \Bigl(\frac{-1}p\Bigr) \Bigl(\frac{3}p\Bigr).$$ I went to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legendre_symbol to find that $$ \Bigl(\frac{-1}p\Bigr) = \begin{cases} 1&\text{if }\ p\equiv 1 \pmod 4, \\-1&\text{if }\ p\equiv 3 \pmod 4, \end{cases} \qquad \Bigl(\frac{3}p\Bigr) = \begin{cases} 1&\text{if }\ p\equiv 1 \text{ or }11 \pmod {12}, \\-1&\text{if }\ p\equiv 5 \text{ or }7 \pmod {12}. \end{cases}$$ Thus there are two possible cases:
Case 1. $p \equiv 1\pmod4$ and $p\equiv 5 \text{ or }7 \pmod {12}$. That gives $p\equiv 5 \pmod{12}$.

Case 2. $p \equiv 3\pmod4$ and $p\equiv 1 \text{ or }11 \pmod {12}$. That gives $p\equiv 11 \pmod{12}$.

Finally, those cases combine to give the answer $\boxed{p\equiv5 \pmod6}$.

The number of elements in that ring will always be $p^2.$
 

FAQ: What is the ring structure of $\Bbb Z[x]/(p, x^2 + 3)$ for certain primes $p$?

1. What is a ring structure?

A ring structure is a mathematical concept that describes the operations and properties of a set of elements, typically denoted by a symbol such as + or ×. It is similar to a group structure, but with the added property of multiplication. In a ring, the operations of addition and multiplication follow specific rules, such as commutativity and associativity.

2. What is the significance of the prime number in the ring structure of $\Bbb Z[x]/(p, x^2 + 3)$?

The prime number, denoted by $p$, is important because it determines the structure of the ring. In this case, the ring is constructed by taking the set of polynomials with integer coefficients and dividing it by the ideal generated by $p$ and $x^2 + 3$. The choice of the prime number $p$ will affect the elements and properties of the resulting ring.

3. How does the polynomial $x^2 + 3$ affect the ring structure of $\Bbb Z[x]/(p, x^2 + 3)$?

The polynomial $x^2 + 3$ acts as a "modulus" in the ring, determining which elements are considered equivalent or congruent. In this case, any polynomial that is a multiple of $x^2 + 3$ will be equivalent to 0 in the ring. This affects the behavior of addition and multiplication, as well as the possible elements and properties of the ring.

4. How does the choice of prime $p$ affect the elements in the ring structure of $\Bbb Z[x]/(p, x^2 + 3)$?

The choice of prime $p$ can greatly affect the elements in the ring structure. For example, if $p$ is a prime number that can be written as $4k+3$ for some integer $k$, then the polynomial $x^2 + 3$ will be irreducible in the ring. This means that there will be no non-trivial factors of $x^2 + 3$ in the ring, resulting in a different set of possible elements compared to a ring where $p$ is a prime that can be written as $4k+1$.

5. What are some possible applications of studying the ring structure of $\Bbb Z[x]/(p, x^2 + 3)$ for certain primes $p$?

Studying the ring structure of $\Bbb Z[x]/(p, x^2 + 3)$ for certain primes $p$ can have applications in various areas of mathematics and science. For example, this ring structure can be used in number theory to study the properties of prime numbers and their behavior in different rings. It can also be used in cryptography to develop secure algorithms for encryption and decryption. Additionally, understanding the ring structure can provide insights into the behavior of polynomials and their roots, which can have applications in fields such as physics and engineering.

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