Are the following rings fields?
1) $\Bbb Q[x] /\langle x^2+1\rangle$
Since a polynomial ring taking values on any field is a E.D, and hence a P.I.D, this is a field iff the ideal is prime or maximal.
Any irreducible in this quotient ring is a maximal ideal, and $x^2+1$ is an irreducible polynomial in the quotient ring, since we don't have algebraic closure, hence the quotient ring is a field.
2) $\Bbb F_2[x] / \langle x^2 +1 \rangle$
Not sure how to show if $x^2+1$ is irreducible here, I have a feeling it isn't but no way to expand on that. Some comments, I do know that $\Bbb F_2$ means I am taking values from $\{0,1\}$ and hence $-1=1 \pmod 2$
3) $\Bbb Q[x] / \langle x^4 + 6x^3 + 9x + 6\rangle$
Here I just need to see if $x^4+6x^3+9x+6$ is irreducible.
What I did was a bit strange:
$$x^4+6x^3+9x+6$$ $$=(x+1)x^3+5x^3+9x+6$$ $$=x^3((x+1)+5)+9x+6$$ $$=x(x^2((x+1)+5)+9)+6$$
Which gives us the root $x=-6$ and hence this will be generated by $(x+6)$, so this is not maximal, hence this quotient ring is not a field. This feels sketchy, since perhaps that root is in $\Bbb Q$ but the other ones aren't.
Is my logic correct in 1)&3), how do I do 2)?
Looks good to me. For 2), remember $(x+1)^2=x^2+2x+1=x^2+1$. In general, in a field of characteristic $p$, you get the so called "freshman's dream" $(x+y)^p=x^p+y^p$.
Edit: For 3) I think -6 is not a root in the polynomial you typed, there was an error somewhere. I think this polynomial is actually irreducible too over $\mathbb{Q}$. It apparently factors like this over $\mathbb{C}$: $$(x+0.560333) (x+6.20842) (x-(0.384378+1.25578 i)) (x-(0.384378-1.25578 i))$$
As noted in the comments, if you know Eisenstein's criterion, you are set with $p=3$ to show it is irreducible. Without that, you might have more work.