[Math] Minimal polynomial for $\zeta+\zeta^5$ for a primitive seventh root of unity $\zeta$

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Minimal polynomial for $\zeta+\zeta^5$ for a primitive seventh root of unity $\zeta$

I have asked a similar problem Minimal Polynomial of $\zeta+\zeta^{-1}$ and i tried to repeat similar idea

Consider $\alpha=\zeta+\zeta^5$ and consider $\sigma \in Gal(\mathbb{Q}(\zeta)/\mathbb{Q})$ defined as $\sigma(\zeta)=\zeta^2$

so, we consider conjugates of $\alpha$ under $\sigma$

  • $\alpha=\zeta+\zeta^5$
  • $\sigma(\alpha)=\sigma(\zeta+\zeta^5)=\zeta^2+\zeta^3$
  • $\sigma^2(\alpha)=\sigma(\zeta^2+\zeta^3)=\zeta^4+\zeta^6$
  • $\sigma^3(\alpha)=\alpha$

So i would consider $(x-\alpha)(x-\sigma(\alpha))(x-\sigma^2(\alpha))$

This is giving me $x^3+x^2+(2+\zeta+\zeta^2+\zeta^4)x-1$

I do not know how to make coefficient of $x$ as real..

Please help me to fill this gap..

Best Answer

Because $7$ is prime, we know that, $Aut(\mathbb{Q}[\zeta_7]/\mathbb{Q}) \cong \mathbb{Z}_7^\times \cong \mathbb{Z}_6$.

From here, we wish to find a generator for that automorphism group. Note that $\mathbb{Q}[\zeta_7]$ is the splitting field for the irreducible polynomial $f(x) = x^6 + x^5 + \cdots + x + 1$ whose roots are the $6$ nontrivial $7$th roots of unity. Now, it is a theorem that the automorphism group acts transitively on the roots of the polynomial $\iff$ that polynomial is irreducible. Therefore, we know there must exist an automorphism within this group such that $\zeta \mapsto \zeta^n$ for any $n \in \{1, 2, ..., 5\}$. The easiest way I know how to do this is through experimentation.

Once you've found your generator, $\phi$, then your automorphism group is simply $\{id, \phi, \phi^2, ..., \phi^5\}$.

The motivation behind all this work was that you need to let your entire automorphism group act on $\zeta + \zeta_5$ to generate the minimal polynomial. If we denote $\{\alpha_1, \alpha_2, ..., \alpha_k \}$ as the orbit of $\zeta + \zeta^5$ under this action, then the minimal polynomial will be be $m(x) = \displaystyle \prod_{i=1}^k\Big(x-\alpha_i\Big)$.

The moral of the story is that you had the right idea, but the previous sentence is where you went astray.


Edit: It is not necessary to actually find the generator, but it is necessary to let the entire automorphism group act on $\zeta + \zeta^5$. Note that there will be an automorphism that maps $\zeta \mapsto \zeta^k$ for all $k$ by the reasoning above, and each one must (obviously) be unique. Thus, the $6$ of them are:

  • $\zeta \mapsto \zeta$
  • $\zeta \mapsto \zeta^2$
  • $\zeta \mapsto \zeta^3$

etc.

To conclude, if possible, I would recommend you find a copy of Artin and read Chapter 14, Section 4, Proposition 4.4. I think that would get to the crux of where you went wrong initially. You can find a .pdf version of this text here: http://www.drchristiansalas.org.uk/MathsandPhysics/AbstractAlgebra/ArtinAlgebra.pdf