[Math] Prove a Galois group is cyclic

abstract-algebraextension-fieldgalois-theory

Assume that $K$ is a finite normal extension of a field F with Galois group $G:=G(K/F)$. Assume that $K$ has exactly 2 distinct subfields $E_1$ and $E_2$ such that $F\subsetneq E_1$ and $E_2 \subsetneq K$, and assume $E_1$ and $E_2$ are both normal extensions of $F$. Prove $G$ is cyclic.

How am going to proceed? I think some sylow theorems might help. But I don't know how to start.

Any help would be appreciated.

Best Answer

Be sure you can follow the following providing justifications:

First of all, what can be $\;n:=\;$ the extension's degree? Clearly $\;n\;$ can't be a prime number (why?), and it can't also be that $\;n\;$ has more than two proper non-trivial divisors. Thus, we either have $\;n=pq\;$ , for two different primes $\;p,q\;$ , or else $\;n=p^3\;$ for some prime $\;p\;$ .

In the first first case $\;n=pq\;$: if the extension isn't cyclic then the Galois Group isn't even abelian and is thus the non-trivial semidirect product of two cyclic groups of order $\;p,\,q\;$. This case is possible only if $\;p<q\;$ and $\;p\,\mid\,(q-1)\;$ , say $\;q-1=kp\;$ , which would then give us $\;q>1\;$ different subgroups of order $\;p\;$, a contradiction. Thus, $\;|G|=pq\;$ is the cyclic group of order $\;pq\;$ and indeed has one single subgroup of order $\;p,\,q\;$, and both subgroups correspond with normal extensions of $\;F\;$ since the whole extension is abelian and thus the subgps. are abelian, too.

If $\;[K:F]=|G=\text{Gal}\,(K/F)|=p^3\;$ , the group $\;G\;$ has two subgroups of orders $\;p,\,p^2\;$ . If $\;G\;$ isn't cyclic then it must have at least one subgroup more of at least one of the two orders $\;p,\,p^2\;$, which cannot be true by assumption...