About this course: A very beautiful classical theory on field extensions of a certain type (Galois extensions) initiated by Galois in the 19th century. Explains, in particular, why it is not possible to solve an equation of degree 5 or more in the same way as we solve quadratic or cubic equations. You will learn to compute Galois groups and (before that) study the properties of various field extensions. We first shall survey the basic notions and properties of field extensions: algebraic, transcendental, finite field extensions, degree of an extension, algebraic closure, decomposition field of a polynomial. Then we shall do a bit of commutative algebra (finite algebras over a field, base change via tensor product) and apply this to study the notion of separability in some detail. After that we shall discuss Galois extensions and Galois correspondence and give many examples (cyclotomic extensions, finite fields, Kummer extensions, Artin-Schreier extensions, etc.). We shall address the question of solvability of equations by radicals (Abel theorem). We shall also try to explain the relation to representations and to topological coverings. Finally, we shall briefly discuss extensions of rings (integral elemets, norms, traces, etc.) and explain how to use the reduction modulo primes to compute Galois groups. PREREQUISITES A first course in general algebra — groups, rings, fields, modules, ideals. Some knowledge of commutative algebra (prime and maximal ideals — first few pages of any book in commutative algebra) is welcome. For exercises we also shall need some elementary facts about groups and their actions on sets, groups of permutations and, marginally, the statement of Sylow's theorems. ASSESSMENTS A weekly test and two more serious exams in the middle and in the end of the course. For the final result, tests count approximately 30%, first (shorter) exam 30%, final exam 40%. There will be two non-graded exercise lists (in replacement of the non-existent exercise classes...)
Created by: Higher School of Economics
Taught by: Ekaterina Amerik, Professor
Department of Mathematics
| Level | Advanced |
| Commitment | 9 weeks of study, 4-8 hours/week |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Introduction
This is just a two-minutes advertisement and a short reference list.
1 video, 2 readings
- Video: Introduction to Galois Theory
- Reading: Introduction/Manual
- Reading: References
Week 1
We introduce the basic notions such as a field extension, algebraic element, minimal polynomial, finite extension, and study their very basic properties such as the multiplicativity of degree in towers.
6 videos
- Video: 1.1 Field extensions: examples
- Video: 1.2 Algebraic elements. Minimal polynomial.
- Video: 1.3 Algebraic elements. Algebraic extensions.
- Video: 1.4 Finite extensions. Algebraicity and finiteness.
- Video: 1.5 Algebraicity in towers. An example.
- Video: 1.6. A digression: Gauss lemma, Eisenstein criterion.
Graded: Quiz 1
WEEK 2
Week 2
We introduce the notion of a stem field and a splitting field (of a polynomial). Using Zorn's lemma, we construct the algebraic closure of a field and deduce its unicity (up to an isomorphism) from the theorem on extension of homomorphisms.
5 videos
- Video: 2.1 Stem field. Some irreducibility criteria.
- Video: 2.2 Splitting field.
- Video: 2.3 An example. Algebraic closure.
- Video: 2.4 Algebraic closure (continued).
- Video: 2.5 Extension of homomorphisms. Uniqueness of algebraic closure.
Graded: QUIZ 2
WEEK 3
Week 3
We recall the construction and basic properties of finite fields. We prove that the multiplicative group of a finite field is cyclic, and that the automorphism group of a finite field is cyclic generated by the Frobenius map. We introduce the notions of separable (resp. purely inseparable) elements, extensions, degree. We briefly discuss perfect fields. This week, the first ungraded assignment (in order to practice the subject a little bit) is given.
6 videos, 1 reading
- Video: 3.1 An example (of extension). Finite fields.
- Video: 3.2 Properties of finite fields.
- Video: 3.3 Multiplicative group and automorphism group of a finite field.
- Video: 3.4 Separable elements.
- Video: 3.5. Separable degree, separable extensions.
- Video: 3.6 Perfect fields.
- Reading: Ungraded assignment 1
Graded: QUIZ 3
WEEK 4
Week 4
This is a digression on commutative algebra. We introduce and study the notion of tensor product of modules over a ring. We prove a structure theorem for finite algebras over a field (a version of the well-known "Chinese remainder theorem").
6 videos
- Video: 4.1 Definition of tensor product
- Video: 4.2 Tensor product of modules
- Video: 4.3 Base change
- Video: 4.4 Examples. Tensor product of algebras.
- Video: 4.5 Relatively prime ideals. Chinese remainder theorem.
- Video: 4.6 Structure of finite algebras over a field. Examples.
Graded: QUIZ 4
WEEK 5
Week 5
We apply the discussion from the last lecture to the case of field extensions. We show that the separable extensions remain reduced after a base change: the inseparability is responsible for eventual nilpotents. As our next subject, we introduce normal and Galois extensions and prove Artin's theorem on invariants. This week, the first graded assignment is given.
6 videos
- Video: 5.1 Structure of finite K-algebras, examples (cont'd)
- Video: 5.2 Separability and base change
- Video: 5.3 Separability and base change (cont'd). Primitive element theorem.
- Video: 5.4 Examples. Normal extensions.
- Video: 5.5 Galois extensions.
- Video: 5.6 Artin's theorem.
Graded: Graded assignment 1
Graded: QUIZ 5
WEEK 6
Week 6
We state and prove the main theorem of these lectures: the Galois correspondence. Then we start doing examples (low degree, discriminant, finite fields, roots of unity).
6 videos
- Video: 6.1 Some further remarks on normal extension. Fixed field.
- Video: 6.2 The Galois correspondence
- Video: 6.3 Galois correspondence (cont'd). First examples (polynomials of degree 2 and 3.
- Video: 6.4 Discriminant. Degree 3 (cont'd). Finite fields.
- Video: 6.5 An infinite degree example. Roots of unity: cyclotomic polynomials
- Video: 6.6 Irreducibility of cyclotomic polynomial.The Galois group.
Graded: QUIZ 6
WEEK 7
Week 7
We continue to study the examples: cyclotomic extensions (roots of unity), cyclic extensions (Kummer and Artin-Schreier extensions). We introduce the notion of the composite extension and make remarks on its Galois group (when it is Galois), in the case when the composed extensions are in some sense independent and one or both of them is Galois. The notion of independence is also given a precise sense ("linearly disjoint extensions"). This week, an ungraded assignment is given.
7 videos, 1 reading
- Video: 7.1 Cyclotomic extensions (cont'd). Examples over Q.
- Video: 7.2. Kummer extensions.
- Video: 7.3. Artin-Schreier extensions.
- Video: 7.4. Composite extensions. Properties.
- Video: 7.5. Linearly disjoint extensions. Examples.
- Video: 7.6. Linearly disjoint extensions in the Galois case.
- Video: 7.7 On the Galois group of the composite.
- Reading: Ungraded assignment 2
WEEK 8
Week 8
We finally arrive to the source of Galois theory, the question which motivated Galois himself: which equation are solvable by radicals and which are not? We explain Galois' result: an equation is solvable by radicals if and only if its Galois group is solvable in the sense of group theory. In particular we see that the "general" equation of degree at least 5 is not solvable by radicals. We briefly discuss the relations to representation theory and to topological coverings.
6 videos
- Video: 8.1. Extensions solvable by radicals. Solvable groups. Example.
- Video: 8.2. Properties of solvable groups. Symmetric group.
- Video: 8.3.Galois theorem on solvability by radicals.
- Video: 8.4.Examples of equations not solvable by radicals."General equation".
- Video: 8.5. Galois action as a representation. Normal base theorem.
- Video: 8.6. Normal base theorem (cont'd). Relation with coverings.
Graded: QUIZ 8
WEEK 9
Week 9.
We build a tool for finding elements in Galois groups, learning to use the reduction modulo p. For this, we have to talk a little bit about integral ring extensions and also about norms and traces.This week, the final graded assignment is given.
6 videos
- Video: 9.1 Integral elements over a ring.
- Video: 9.2. Integral extensions, integral closure, ring of integers of a number field.
- Video: 9.3. Norm and trace.
- Video: 9.4. Norm and trace (cont'd). Ring of integers is a free module.
- Video: 9.5. Reduction modulo a prime.
- Video: 9.6. Reduction modulo a prime and finding elements in Galois groups.
Graded: Graded assignment 2 (final exam)
Graded: QUIZ 9
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Ratings and Reviews
The course is really well done, with good and clear videos and sets of weekly exercises. A bit concise and require a good knowledge of basic Algebra and some expansion with chapter books/notes during the lectures to fix concepts and see more examples. A set of slides could have been useful but there's a recap available from a student in the course that does a relatively good job for this. For me Week 4 and part of Week 5 (tensor products and related stuff) were really hard to follow without a previous knowledge of the matter, and I expanded it reading some suggested chapter books and internet notes (particularly useful those by Keith Conrad at U.Conn. on tensor product). I will move to five stars if some more time will be dedicated to explain tensor products and apps and make handouts.
Very interesting course where I got a lot
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MF
Difficult class, but well worth the effort!