[Math] Proving a polynomial is irreducible over a finite field

abstract-algebrafinite-fieldsirreducible-polynomialspolynomialsproof-verification

Question: $\mathbb{F}_5=\{0,1,2,3,4,5\}$ be the field with $5$ elements, let $\mathbb{F}_5[X]$ be the polynomial ring over $\mathbb{F}_5$. Let $m(X) = X^2+X+1$. Prove that $m(X)$ is irreducible over $\mathbb{F}_5$.

Proof.

Suppose $m(X)$ is reducible then there exist $r(X),q(X)$ where $\deg r(X)=\deg q(X)= 1$

So by the quadratic formula we have

$$m(X)= \left(X-\left(\frac{-1+3i}{2}\right)\right)\left(X-\left(\frac{-1-3i}{2}\right)\right)$$

However $$\frac{-1+3i}{2},\frac{-1-3i}{2}\notin \mathbb{F}_5.$$

Therefore $m(X)$ is irreducible.

Would this be correct?

Best Answer

A quadratic polynomial with integer coefficients is irreducible over a finite field $\mathbb{F}_p$ iff it has no root in $\mathbb{F}_p$, i.e. iff its discriminant is not a square in $\mathbb{F}_p$. Since the discriminant of $x^2+x+1$ is $-3$ and $-3\equiv 2$ is not a square $\!\!\pmod{5}$ (the set of squares is made by the residue classes $0,1,4$ only), it follows that $x^2+x+1$ is irreducible over $\mathbb{F}_5$.

Notice that the complex roots of $x^2+x+1=\Phi_3(x)$ are $\frac{1\pm\sqrt{-3}}{2}$ and not what you wrote.

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