Chapter 30: Problem 4
Give a basis for the indicated vector space over the field. $$ Q(\sqrt{2}) \text { over } Q $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The basis for the vector space \\( Q(\sqrt{2}) \\\) over \\( Q \\\) is \\( \{1, \sqrt{2}\} \\\).
Step by step solution
01
Understanding the Problem
We need to find a basis for the extension field \( Q(\sqrt{2}) \) over the base field \( Q \). This involves finding the smallest set of elements in \( Q(\sqrt{2}) \) such that any element in \( Q(\sqrt{2}) \) can be expressed as a linear combination of these elements with coefficients from \( Q \).
02
Identifying Elements of the Extension Field
Recall that if \( \alpha = \sqrt{2} \), then \( Q(\sqrt{2}) = \{ a + b\sqrt{2} \mid a, b \in Q \} \). Elements of this field have the form \( a + b\sqrt{2} \), where \( a \) and \( b \) are rational numbers.
03
Choosing the Basis
A basis for \( Q(\sqrt{2}) \) over \( Q \) must allow for every element \( a + b\sqrt{2} \) to be expressed as a linear combination. The simplest basis is \( \{1, \sqrt{2}\} \), since any element \( a + b\sqrt{2} \) can indeed be written as \( a\cdot1 + b\cdot\sqrt{2} \).
04
Verifying Linear Independence
To verify that \( \{1, \sqrt{2}\} \) is a basis, we check for linear independence. Suppose \( c_1\cdot1 + c_2\cdot\sqrt{2} = 0 \) for rational \( c_1 \) and \( c_2 \). This implies \( c_1 + c_2\sqrt{2} = 0 \). Equating the rational and irrational parts gives \( c_1 = 0 \) and \( c_2 = 0 \), confirming that the set is linearly independent.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Field Extension
A field extension is essentially a bigger field that contains a smaller field. In this exercise, the field extension is denoted as \( Q(\sqrt{2}) \). Here, \( Q \) represents the set of all rational numbers, and by adding \( \sqrt{2} \), we create a new field that includes everything from \( Q \) as well as additional elements formed using \( \sqrt{2} \).
- The idea is to extend our existing field \( Q \) by adjoining \( \sqrt{2} \), an element not originally in \( Q \).
- This expanded field consists of all numbers that can be expressed in the form \( a + b\sqrt{2} \), where \( a \) and \( b \) are rational numbers.
- Field extensions like \( Q(\sqrt{2}) \) help in solving equations that couldn't be solved within the original field \( Q \).
Linear Combination
In the context of field extensions and vector spaces, a linear combination is a way to build new vectors from a set of known vectors using certain coefficients. For any given set of elements such as \( \{1, \sqrt{2}\} \), elements of the field \( Q(\sqrt{2}) \) can be written as linear combinations of these basis elements.
- A linear combination of \( \{1, \sqrt{2}\} \) involves multiplying each by some rational coefficients and then adding the results.
- In this case, an arbitrary element from \( Q(\sqrt{2}) \) is \( a + b\sqrt{2} \) for rational \( a \) and \( b \).
- Thus, it can be expressed as \( a \cdot 1 + b \cdot \sqrt{2} \), showcasing the idea of linear combinations.
Rational Numbers
Rational numbers, denoted by \( Q \), are those numbers that can be expressed as a fraction where both the numerator and denominator are integers, and the denominator is not zero. This includes integers, fractions, and finite decimals.
- Rational numbers form the base field over which we are extending in this exercise.
- They are crucial because they serve as the coefficients in linear combinations of our basis \( \{1, \sqrt{2}\} \).
- Any element \( a + b\sqrt{2} \) in our field extension involves rational numbers \( a \) and \( b \).
Linear Independence
Linear independence is a property that determines whether a set of vectors (or elements) can be uniquely expressed without relying on the others. In simpler terms, none of the vectors in a linearly independent set can be written as a linear combination of the others.
- For our exercise, we check the linear independence of the set \( \{1, \sqrt{2}\} \).
- This means we want to ensure that if \( c_1 \cdot 1 + c_2 \cdot \sqrt{2} = 0 \), then both rational coefficients \( c_1 \) and \( c_2 \) must be zero.
- The rational and irrational parts lead to equations that confirm \( c_1 = 0 \) and \( c_2 = 0 \), proving that no element is a combination of others.