Prove that if $u\in \mathbb{Z}[\sqrt{2}]$ (Euclidean domain) is unit, then $v(u)=1$.

abstract-algebraeuclidean-domainproof-verification

Prove that if $u\in \mathbb{Z}[\sqrt{2}]$ (Euclidean domain) is unit, then $v(u)=1$.

Can someone let me know if this proof is okay?

Let $\alpha$ be unit. Then there exists an element $\beta \in \mathbb{Z}[\sqrt{2}]$ such that $\alpha \beta = 1$. Since $\mathbb{Z}[\sqrt{2}]$ is Euclidean, then $1=v(\alpha \beta)\geq v(\alpha)$. Since $\alpha$ is non-zero, it must be that $v(\alpha)=1$.

Best Answer

Note that if $u =a+b\sqrt{2} \in \Bbb{Z}[\sqrt{2}]$ then the norm of $u$ is defined as $$v(u)=\vert \vert u \vert \vert=\vert a^2-2b^2 \vert$$

The half of the battle is already done by you. For the other part, note that $1=v(1)$ is always the minimum ,since $$v(1) \leq v(1 \cdot u) =v(u)$$

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