Prove that $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{-5})$ has 2 roots of unity

abstract-algebraextension-fieldnumber theoryroots-of-unity

I'm wondering how to prove that $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{-5})$ has 2 roots of unity.

I was thinking something like:

Let $a,b \in \mathbb{Q}$ and $n\in\mathbb{N}$ and then consider $(a+b\sqrt{-5})^n$. If we can show that $(a+b\sqrt{-5})^n$ is not real for any $n>0$ and $b\neq 0$ then we especially have that $(a+b\sqrt{-5})^n\neq 1$ and hence not a root of unity. Therefore we must conclude that $\pm 1$ is the only roots of unity. Maybe we need to use the binomial formula. Or well, I can't follow though with this argument, and maybe one needs a different technique.

(I know there is a general formula stating that for any field $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{d})$, where $d<-4$ is no square, then the field only have 2 roots of unity. The proof of this theorem is more advanced, and my purpose with this question is rather to get familiar with the theory, on a more basic level, at first.)

Best Answer

Note that first of all $\mathcal O_{\mathbb Q(\sqrt{-5})}^\times=\mathbb Z[\sqrt{-5}]^\times$ is very small. If $a+b\sqrt{-5}\in\mathbb Z[\sqrt{-5}]^\times$ then $N_{\mathbb Q(\sqrt{-5})/\mathbb Q}(a+b\sqrt{-5})=a^2+5b^2=\pm1$, which only happens when $a=\pm1$ and $b=0$. Thus $\mathcal O_{\mathbb Q(\sqrt{-5})}^\times=\{\pm1\}$.

P.S. The argument generalizes to $\mathbb Q(\sqrt{-d})$ for $d>4$. When $d\equiv1,2\pmod 4$ the same exact argument applies. When $d\equiv3\pmod 4$, you have $N_{\mathbb Q(\sqrt{-d})}(a+b\frac{1+\sqrt{-d}}2)=a^2+ab+\frac{1+d}4b^2=\pm1$, which you can show only happens when $a=\pm1$ and $b=0$.

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