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I'm doing some exercises in the cyclotomic extension $\mathbb{Q}_7$. I have $\omega=e^{i2\pi /7}$, and I know $\omega+\omega^6=\omega+\omega^{-1}=2\cos(2\pi/7)$. My book says that then $\omega$ is a solution to a quadratic over $\mathbb{Q}(\cos 2\pi /7)$, but I don't see why. I only see a polynomial of degree 6. Where's the quadratic?

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    Well, perhaps if you multiplied both sides of $\omega + \omega^{-$1$} = 2 \cos \left( \frac{2\pi}{7} \right)$ by $\omega$...2011-07-14

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Andrea's answer tells you the quadratic equation that $\omega$ satisfies over $\mathbb{Q}(\omega+\omega^{-1})$. I will attempt to explain why this quadratic exists, via some hints (in the form of questions). These assume you're familiar with Galois theory.

  • What is the degree $[\mathbb{Q}(\omega):\mathbb{Q}]$?

  • What is the subgroup $H\subseteq \text{Gal}(\mathbb{Q}(\omega)/\mathbb{Q})$ that fixes $\omega+\omega^{-1}=\omega+\overline{\omega}$?

  • What is the fixed field of $H$, i.e. $F=\mathbb{Q}(\omega)^H$?

  • What is the degree $[\mathbb{Q}(\omega):F]$?

  • What does that mean $\deg(\text{Irr}(\omega,F))$ is?
    (note that $\text{Irr}(\alpha,K)$ is one notation for the minimal polynomial of some $\alpha$ over a field $K$).

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Let $y=(1/2)\left(x+\frac{1}{x}\right).$ If $x=\omega$, then $y=\cos\left(2\pi/7\right)$. Thus $\omega$ is a solution of the equation $(1/2)\left(x+\frac{1}{x}\right)= \cos\left(2\pi/7\right).$ With some manipulation (multiply through by $x$, rearrange), this equation can be written equivalently as a quadratic equation in $x$, with coefficients in $\mathbb{Q}(\cos(2\pi/7))$.

Comment: There is nothing particularly special about $7$, insofar as this calculation goes. But there is a connection to a problem that (probably) goes back to Archimedes, namely the problem of doing a straightedge and compass construction of the regular heptagon. The problem comes down to constructing $\cos(2\pi/7)$. It is easy to see that $\omega$ is a solution of the equation $x^6+x^5+x^4+x^3+x^2+x+1=0.$ This may be rewritten as $x^3+x^2+x+1+x^{-1}+x^{-2}+x^{-3}=0.$ Let $y=(1/2)(x+x^{-1})$.

So $x+x^{-1}=2y$. Square. We get $x^2+2+x^{-2}=4y^2$, and therefore $x^2+x^{-2}=4y^2-2$.

Cube $x+x^{-1}$. We get $x^3+3x+3x^{-1}+x^{-3}$, so $x^3+x^{-3}=8y^3-6y$.

So $\cos(2\pi/7)$ is a root of the equation $8y^3 +4y^2-4y-1=0$. Now an algebraic argument much like the proof that the $60^\circ$ angle is not trisectable shows that $\cos(2\pi/7)$ is not constructible.

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    Thank you! Odd, I remember seeing that and fixing it. Maybe did not save. Did mean the $60^\circ$ angle, but the word is trisectable.2011-07-19
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Here it is: $\omega^2=\omega(\omega+\omega^{-1})-1.$