integers ποΌππ, where π, π are ordinary integers, and, as usual, πΒ²οΌβ1. In this theory there are four units Β±1, Β±π; the numbers ππ(π+ππ) are said to be associated; πβππ is the conjugate of ποΌππ and we write π(πΒ±π)οΌπΒ²οΌπΒ², the norm of ποΌππ, its conjugate, and associates. The most fundamental proposition in the theory is that the process of residuation (Β§ 24) is applicable; namely, if π, π are any two complex integers and π(π)οΌπ(π), we can always find integers π, π such that ποΌπποΌπ with π(π)β©½1/2π(π). This may be proved analytically, but is obvious if we mark complex integers by points in a plane. Hence immediately follow propositions about resolutions into prime factors, greatest common measure, &c., analogous to those in the ordinary theory; it will only be necessary to indicate special points of difference.
We have 2 οΌ βπ(1+π)Β², so that 2 is associated with a square; a real prime of the form 4ποΌ3 is still a prime but one of the form 4ποΌ1 breaks up into two conjugate prime factors, for example 5 οΌ (1β2π)(1οΌ2π). An integer is even, semi-even, or odd according as it is divisible by (1οΌπ)Β², (1οΌπ) or is prime to (1οΌπ). Among four associated odd integers there is one and only one whichβ‘1 (mod 2οΌ2π); this is said to be primary; the conjugate of a primary number is primary, and the product of any number of primaries is primary. The conditions that ποΌππ may be primary are bβ‘0 (mod 2), ποΌπβ1β‘0 (mod 4). Every complex integer can be uniquely expressed in the form ππ(1οΌπ)πππΌππ½ππΎ . . ., where 0β©½ποΌ4, and π, π, π, . . . are primary primes.
With respect to a complex modulus π, all complex integers may be distributed into π (π) incongruous classes. If ποΌβ(ποΌππ) where π, π are co-primes, we may take as representatives of these classes the residues π₯οΌπ¦π where π₯οΌ0, 1, 2, . . . {(πΒ²οΌπΒ²)ββ1}; π¦οΌ0, 1, 2, . . . (ββ1). Thus when ποΌ0 we may take π₯οΌ0, 1, 2, . . . (ββ1); π¦οΌ0, 1, 2, . . . (ββ1), giving the βΒ² residues of the real number β; while if ποΌππ is prime, 1, 2, 3, . . . (πΒ²οΌπΒ²οΌ1) form a complete set of residues.
The number of residues of π that are prime to π is given by
where the product extends to all prime factors of π. As an analogue to Fermatβs theorem we have, for any integer prime to the modulus,
π₯π(π)β‘1(mod π), π₯π(π)β1β‘1 (mod π)
according as π is composite or prime. There are π{π(π)β1)} primitive roots of the prime π; a primitive root in the real theory for a real prime 4ποΌ1 is also a primitive root in the new theory for each prime factor of (4ποΌ1), but if ποΌ4ποΌ3 be a prime its primitive roots are necessarily complex.
43. If π, π are any two odd primes, we shall define the symbols and by the congruences
,
it being understood that the symbols stand for absolutely least residues. It follows that or β1 according as π is a quadratic residue of π or not; and that only if π is a biquadratic residue of π. If π, π are primary primes, we have two laws of reciprocity, expressed by the equations
,
To these must be added the supplementary formulae
ποΌππ being a primary odd prime. In words, the law of biquadratic reciprocity for two primary odd primes may be expressed by saying that the biquadratic characters of each prime with respect to the other are identical, unless π οΌ π β‘ 3 οΌ 2π (mod 4), in which case they are opposite. The law of biquadratic reciprocity was discovered by Gauss, who does not seem, however, to have obtained a complete proof of it. The first published proof is that of Eisenstein, which is very beautiful and simple, but involves the theory of lemniscate functions. A proof on the lines indicated in Gaussβs posthumous papers has been developed by Busche; this probably admits of simplification. Other demonstrations, for instance Jacobiβs, depend on cyclotomy (see below).
44. Algebraic Numbers.βThe first extension of Gaussβs complex theory was made by E. E. Kummer, who considered complex numbers represented by rational integral functions of any roots of unity, thus including the ordinary theory and Gaussβs as special cases. He was soon faced by the difficulty that, in some cases, the law that an integer can be uniquely expressed as the product of prime factors appeared to break down. To see how this happens take the equation πΒ²οΌποΌ6οΌ0, the roots of which are expressible as rational integral functions of 23rd roots of unity, and let π be either of the roots. If we define πποΌπ to be an integer, when π, π are natural numbers, the product of any number of such integers is uniquely expressible in the form πποΌπ. Conversely every integer can be expressed as the product of a finite number of indecomposable integers ποΌππ, that is, integers which cannot be further resolved into factors of the same type. But this resolution is not necessarily unique: for instance 6οΌ2.3οΌοΌπ(ποΌ1), where 2, 3, π, ποΌ1 are all indecomposable and essentially distinct. To see the way in which Kummer surmounted the difficulty consider the congruence
π’Β²οΌπ’οΌ6β‘0(mod π)
where π is any prime, except 23. If οΌ23π±π this has two distinct roots π’β, π’β; and we say that πποΌπ is divisible by the ideal prime factor of π corresponding to π’β, if ππ’βοΌπβ‘0 (mod π). For instance,
if ποΌ2 we may put π’βοΌ0, π’βοΌ1 and there will be two ideal factors of 2, say πβ and πβ such that πποΌπβ‘0 (mod πβ) if πβ‘0 (mod 2) and πποΌπβ‘0 (mod πβ) if ποΌπβ‘0 (mod 2). If both these congruences are satisfied, πβ‘πβ‘0 (mod 2) and πποΌπ is divisible by 2 in the ordinary sense. Moreover (πποΌπ)(πποΌπ)οΌ(πποΌπποΌππ)ποΌ(πποΌ6ππ) and if this product is divisible by πβ, ππβ‘0 (mod 2), whence either πποΌπ or πποΌπ is divisible by πβ; while if the product is divisible by πβ we have πποΌπποΌπποΌ7πποΌ0 (mod 2) which is equivalent to (ποΌπ)(ποΌπ)β‘0 (mod 2), so that again either πποΌπ or πποΌπ is divisible by πβ. Hence we may properly speak of πβ and πβ as prime divisors. Similarly the congruence π’Β²οΌπ’οΌ6β‘0 (mod 3) defines two ideal prime factors of 3, and πποΌπ is divisible by one or the other of these according as πβ‘0 (mod 3) or 2ποΌπβ‘0 (mod 3); we will call these prime factors πβ, πβ. With this notation we have (neglecting unit factors)
2οΌπβπβ, 3οΌπβπβ, ποΌπβπβ, 1οΌποΌπβπβ
Real primes of which οΌ23 is a non-quadratic residue are also primes
in the field (π); and the prime factors of any number πποΌπ, as well as the degree of their multiplicity, may be found by factorizing (6πΒ²οΌπποΌπΒ²), the norm of (πποΌπ). Finally every integer divisible by πβ is expressible in the form Β±2πΒ±(1+π)π where π, π are natural numbers (or zero); it is convenient to denote this fact by writing πβοΌ[2, 1οΌπ], and calling the aggregate 2ποΌ(1οΌπ)π a compound modulus with the base 2, 1οΌπ. This generalized idea of a modulus is very important and far-reaching; an aggregate is a modulus when, if πΌ, π½ are any two of its elements, πΌοΌπ½ and πΌοΌπ½ also belong to it. For arithmetical purposes those moduli are most useful which can be put into the form [πΌβ , πΌβ,β¦πΌπ] which means the aggregate of all the quantities π₯βπΌβοΌπ₯βπΌβοΌβ¦οΌπ₯ππΌπ obtained by assigning to (π₯β,π₯β,β¦π₯π),
independently, the values 01Β±1, Β±2, &c. Compound moduli may be multiplied together, or raised to powers, by rules which will be plain from the following example. We have
πβΒ²οΌ[4, 2(1+π), (1+π)Β²]οΌ[4, 2οΌ2π,οΌ5οΌπ]οΌ[4, 12,οΌ5οΌπ]
οΌ[4,οΌ5οΌπ]οΌ[4, 3οΌπ]
hence
πβΒ³οΌπβΒ².πβοΌ[4, 3οΌπ]Γ[2, 1οΌπ]οΌ[8, 4οΌ4π, 6οΌ2π, 3οΌ4ποΌπΒ²]
οΌ[8, 4οΌ4π, 6οΌ2π, οΌ3οΌ3π]οΌ(ποΌ1)[ποΌ2, ποΌ6, 3]οΌ(ποΌ1)[1, π]
Hence every integer divisible by πβΒ³ is divisible by the actual integer (ποΌ1) and conversely; so that in a certain sense we may regard πβ as a cube root. Similarly the cube of any other ideal prime is of the
form (ππ+π)[1, π]. According to a principle which will be explained further on, all primes here considered may be arranged in three classes; one is that of the real primes, the others each contain ideal primes only. As we shall see presently all these results are intimately connected with the fact that for the determinant οΌ23 there are three primitive classes, represented by (1, 1, 6) (2, 1, 3), (2, οΌ1, 3) respectively.
45. Kummerβs definition of ideal primes sufficed for his particular purpose, and completely restored the validity of the fundamental theorems about factors and divisibility. His complex integers were more general than any previously considered and suggested a definition of an algebraic integer in general, which is as follows: if πβ,πβ,β¦ππ are ordinary integers (i.e. elements of N, Β§ 7), and π satisfies an equation of the form
ποΌπβπποΌ1οΌπβπποΌ2οΌ . . . +πποΌ1ποΌπποΌ0
π is said to be an algebraic integer. We may suppose this equation irreducible; π is then said to be of the πth order. The π roots
π, πβ², πβ³,. . .π(ποΌ1) are all different, and are said to be conjugate.
If the equation began with πβππ instead of ππ, π would still be an algebraic number; every algebraic number can be put into the form π βπ, where π is a natural number and π an algebraic integer.
Associated with π we have a field (or corpus) Ξ©οΌπ±(π) consisting of all rational functions of π with real rational coefficients; and in like manner we have the conjugate fields Ξ©β²οΌπ±(πβ²), &c. The aggregate of integers contained in Ξ© is denoted by ΞΏ.
Every element of Ξ© can be put into the form
ποΌπβοΌπβποΌ . . . οΌππ β1ππβ1
where πβ, πβ,β¦ππβ1 are real and rational. If these coefficients are
all integral, π is an integer; but the converse is not necessarily true. It is possible, however, to find a set of integers πβ, πβ,β¦ππ, belonging
to Ξ©, such that every integer in Ξ© can be uniquely expressed in the form
ποΌββπβοΌββπβοΌ . . . οΌ βπππ