Let $K$ be a field with characteristic $p>0$ and set $q=p^{n}$ for $n \in \mathbb{N}^*$. Prove $(a+b)^{q}=a^{q}+b^{q}\ \forall a,b \in K$.

abstract-algebrafield-theory

Let $K$ be a field with characteristic $p>0$ and set $q=p^{n}$ for $n \in \mathbb{N}^*$. Prove $(a+b)^{q}=a^{q}+b^{q}\ \forall a,b \in K$.

I can prove using the coefficient theorem that $(a+b)^{p}=a^{p}+b^{q}$, by saying that $p\mid {p\choose i}$ for $0\leq i \leq p-1$. The problem is we have to prove it for $q$ that is not a prime number, which doesn't allow the same reasoning.

Best Answer

Let $q=np$ for $n\in \mathbb{Z}^+$ and consider the expression $$(a+b)^{np}=\sum_{k=0}^{np}{np \choose k} a^{np-k}b^k$$ and again notice that if $p\mid {np \choose k}$ for $k\in \lbrace 1,2,3,\dots, np-1\rbrace$ then the claim follows, but it is false in general.

Let $n=2$ and $p=3$. Then $3$ doesn't divide ${6 \choose 3}=20$.

Probably you want write $q=p^n$ for $\mathbb{Z}^+$ in which case the assertion is true, and the proof consist of give a easy generalization for $$p\mid {p^n \choose k}$$ for $k\in \lbrace 1,2,\dots, p^n-1\rbrace$ which can be done by Lucas Theorem.

Related Question