Prove $u$ is a unit if and only if $N(u) = 1$?

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The norm $N:\mathbb{Z}[\sqrt[3]{2}] \rightarrow \mathbb{N}$ defined by $N(a+b\sqrt[3]{2} + c\sqrt[3]{4}) = |a^3 + 2b^3 + 4c^3 - 6abc|$ is multiplicative. (Already proven). Show that $\alpha \in \mathbb{Z}[\sqrt[3]{2}]$ is a unit if and only if $N(\alpha) = 1$.

So far proved it one direction, but am struggling with the other.

Proof $\rightarrow$ Let $\alpha$ be a unit, so by defintion $\exists \beta$ such that $\alpha\beta = 1$. We can then use the norm, knowing that $N(\alpha\beta) = |(1)^3 + 2(0)^3 + 4(0)^3 - 6(1)(0)(0)| = 1$. Since the norm is multiplicative, $N(\alpha\beta) = N(\alpha)N(\beta) = 1$, and since the results of the norms have to be positive integers, we know $N(\alpha)=1$.

Proof $\leftarrow$ Let $N(\alpha)$ = 1. Then for $\alpha = a+b\sqrt[3]{2} + c\sqrt[3]{4}$, $|a^3 + 2b^3 + 4c^3 - 6abc|=1$

Any help on where to go?

6

There are 6 best solutions below

3
On

The fact that $\;N(\alpha)=\pm1\;$ means that the minimal polynomial of $\;\alpha\;$ over the rationals is of the form

$$p(x)=x^n+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+\ldots+a_1x\pm1\;,\;\;a_k\in\Bbb Z$$

Taking the reciprocal of the above polynomial we get a polynomial that vanishes at $\;\frac1\alpha\;$ (this much is always true whenever $\;\alpha\neq0\;$ and we're working over a field), thus $\;\frac1\alpha\;$ is a root of

$$f(x)=\pm x^n+a_1x^{n-1}+\ldots+a_{n-1}x+1$$

and thus $\;\frac1\alpha\;$ is an algebraic integer.

0
On

$R=\Bbb Z[\sqrt[3]2]$ is a free Abelian group of rank $3$, that is isomorphic as an Abelian group to $\Bbb Z^3$. A convenient basis for this is $1$, $\sqrt[3]2$ and $\sqrt[3]4$.

If $\alpha\in R$, multiplication by $\alpha$ determines an endomorphism of $R$; a group homomorphism from $R$ to $R$. We can represent this by a matrix by considering its action on one's favourite basis (say, $1$, $\sqrt[3]2$, $\sqrt[3]4$). Then $N(\alpha)=|\det A|$. (You can prove this by the explicit formula you already have).

If $N(\alpha)=1$, then $\det A=\pm1$. An endomorphism of $\Bbb Z^3$ with determinant $1$ is an automorphism, so a bijection. In terms of $A$ then multiplication by $\alpha$ is a bijection. Therefore, there is $\beta\in R$ with $\alpha\beta=1$.

0
On

Hint: if you embed $\mathbb{Z}[\sqrt[3]{2}]$ into $\mathbb{Z}[\sqrt[3]{2}, \omega]$ where $\omega := e^{2 \pi i / 3}$, then $$N(a + b \sqrt[3]{2} + c \sqrt[3]{4}) = \left| (a + b \sqrt[3]{2} + c \sqrt[3]{4}) (a + b \omega \sqrt[3]{2} + c \omega^2 \sqrt[3]{4}) (a + b \omega^2 \sqrt[3]{2} + c \omega \sqrt[3]{4}) \right|.$$ (This expression is heavily inspired by the definition of norm in Galois theory, of which your definition is close to being a special case.)

Now, multiply the last two factors on the right hand side, and you should get an expression for $\pm$ of the inverse of $a + b \sqrt[3]{2} + c \sqrt[3]{4}$ which lies in $\mathbb{Z}[\sqrt[3]{2}]$. (With the sign being determined by the sign of $a^3 + 2 b^3 + 4 c^3 - 6abc$.)

0
On

As mentioned by DonAntonio, the minimal polynomial of $\alpha$ is of the form $$p(x)=x^n+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+\cdots+a_1x\pm1,\quad a_k\in\Bbb Z$$ Then $p(\alpha)=0$ implies $$ \alpha (\alpha^{n-1}+\cdots+a_2\alpha+a_1) = \pm 1 $$ and so the inverse of $\alpha$ is $\alpha^{n-1}+\cdots+a_2\alpha+a_1 \in \mathbb Z[\alpha] \subseteq \mathbb{Z}[\sqrt[3]{2}]$.

0
On

For $K$ a number field the norm $N(\alpha)$ of an element $\alpha$ of $K$ is the determinant of the $\mathbb{Q}$-linear map $m_{\alpha} :x \mapsto \alpha x$. Assume that $\alpha$ is inside the ring of integers $\mathcal{O}$ of $K$. In a $\mathbb{Z}$ basis of $\mathcal{O}$ the map $m_{\alpha}$ has a matrix with integral coefficients. Therefore $\alpha$ satisfies an equation of the form $$\alpha^n - a_1 \alpha^{n-1} + \cdots + (-1)^n a_n= 0$$ with $a_i \in\mathbb{Z}$. Note that $a_n= N(\alpha)$. Assume now that $N(\alpha)=\pm 1$. Then we can write $$\alpha( \alpha^{n-1} - a_1 \alpha^{n-2} + \cdots) = \pm 1$$ Therefore the inverse $\alpha^{-1}$ is in $\mathbb{Z}[\alpha]$ and so an integer.

1
On

The part I like is this: the polynomial $ \; x^3 + 2 y^3 + 4 z^3 - 6xyz \; \;$ integrally represents every prime $p \equiv 2 \pmod 3,$ as well as every prime $q \equiv 1$ whenever we can write $q = u^2 + 27 v^2$ with integers.

On the other hand, if we have a prime $r = 4 u^2 + 2uv + 7 v^2,$ not only is $r$ not integrally represented, but $x^3 + 2 y^3 + 4 z^3 - 6xyz$ is not divisible by $r$ unless $x,y,z$ are all divisible by $r.$ One aspect of this is that the exponent of such a prime, in a represented number, is divisible by 3. I deliberately stopped the list at $343 = 7^3.$

Maybe I should add that it was an educated guess that we could take $x,y,z \geq 0.$ i am not entirely sure, but that is what I did for this output.


     1      x: 1   y: 0   z: 0 n : 1 =   1 
     2      x: 0   y: 1   z: 0 n : 2 =  2
     3      x: 1   y: 1   z: 0 n : 3 =  3
     4      x: 0   y: 0   z: 1 n : 4 =  2^2
     5      x: 1   y: 0   z: 1 n : 5 =  5
     6      x: 0   y: 1   z: 1 n : 6 =  2 3
     8      x: 2   y: 0   z: 0 n : 8 =  2^3
     9      x: 1   y: 2   z: 1 n : 9 =  3^2
    10      x: 2   y: 1   z: 0 n : 10 =  2 5
    11      x: 3   y: 2   z: 1 n : 11 =  11
    12      x: 2   y: 0   z: 1 n : 12 =  2^2 3
    15      x: 3   y: 1   z: 1 n : 15 =  3 5
    16      x: 0   y: 2   z: 0 n : 16 =  2^4
    17      x: 1   y: 2   z: 0 n : 17 =  17
    18      x: 2   y: 1   z: 2 n : 18 =  2 3^2
    20      x: 0   y: 2   z: 1 n : 20 =  2^2 5
    22      x: 2   y: 3   z: 2 n : 22 =  2 11
    23      x: 1   y: 1   z: 2 n : 23 =  23
    24      x: 2   y: 2   z: 0 n : 24 =  2^3 3
    25      x: 1   y: 2   z: 2 n : 25 =  5^2
    27      x: 3   y: 0   z: 0 n : 27 =  3^3
    29      x: 3   y: 1   z: 0 n : 29 =  29
    30      x: 2   y: 3   z: 1 n : 30 =  2 3 5
    31      x: 3   y: 0   z: 1 n : 31 =  31
    32      x: 0   y: 0   z: 2 n : 32 =  2^5
    33      x: 1   y: 0   z: 2 n : 33 =  3 11
    34      x: 0   y: 1   z: 2 n : 34 =  2 17
    36      x: 4   y: 2   z: 1 n : 36 =  2^2 3^2
    40      x: 2   y: 0   z: 2 n : 40 =  2^3 5
    41      x: 1   y: 3   z: 1 n : 41 =  41
    43      x: 3   y: 2   z: 0 n : 43 =  43
    44      x: 4   y: 2   z: 3 n : 44 =  2^2 11
    45      x: 5   y: 4   z: 2 n : 45 =  3^2 5
    46      x: 4   y: 1   z: 1 n : 46 =  2 23
    47      x: 3   y: 4   z: 3 n : 47 =  47
    48      x: 0   y: 2   z: 2 n : 48 =  2^4 3
    50      x: 4   y: 1   z: 2 n : 50 =  2 5^2
    51      x: 1   y: 3   z: 2 n : 51 =  3 17
    53      x: 5   y: 2   z: 2 n : 53 =  53
    54      x: 0   y: 3   z: 0 n : 54 =  2 3^3
    55      x: 1   y: 3   z: 0 n : 55 =  5 11
    58      x: 0   y: 3   z: 1 n : 58 =  2 29
    59      x: 3   y: 0   z: 2 n : 59 =  59
    60      x: 2   y: 2   z: 3 n : 60 =  2^2 3 5
    62      x: 2   y: 3   z: 0 n : 62 =  2 31
    64      x: 4   y: 0   z: 0 n : 64 =  2^6
    66      x: 4   y: 1   z: 0 n : 66 =  2 3 11
    68      x: 4   y: 0   z: 1 n : 68 =  2^2 17
    69      x: 5   y: 2   z: 3 n : 69 =  3 23
    71      x: 7   y: 5   z: 3 n : 71 =  71
    72      x: 2   y: 4   z: 2 n : 72 =  2^3 3^2
    75      x: 5   y: 3   z: 4 n : 75 =  3 5^2
    80      x: 4   y: 2   z: 0 n : 80 =  2^4 5
    81      x: 3   y: 3   z: 0 n : 81 =  3^4
    82      x: 2   y: 1   z: 3 n : 82 =  2 41
    83      x: 3   y: 1   z: 3 n : 83 =  83
    85      x: 5   y: 2   z: 1 n : 85 =  5 17
    86      x: 0   y: 3   z: 2 n : 86 =  2 43
    87      x: 3   y: 4   z: 1 n : 87 =  3 29
    88      x: 6   y: 4   z: 2 n : 88 =  2^3 11
    89      x: 1   y: 2   z: 3 n : 89 =  89
    90      x: 4   y: 5   z: 4 n : 90 =  2 3^2 5
    92      x: 2   y: 4   z: 1 n : 92 =  2^2 23
    93      x: 1   y: 1   z: 3 n : 93 =  3 31
    94      x: 6   y: 3   z: 4 n : 94 =  2 47
    96      x: 4   y: 0   z: 2 n : 96 =  2^5 3
    99      x: 5   y: 1   z: 2 n : 99 =  3^2 11
   100      x: 2   y: 4   z: 3 n : 100 =  2^2 5^2
   101      x: 5   y: 1   z: 1 n : 101 =  101
   102      x: 4   y: 1   z: 3 n : 102 =  2 3 17
   106      x: 4   y: 5   z: 2 n : 106 =  2 53
   107      x: 5   y: 5   z: 2 n : 107 =  107
   108      x: 0   y: 0   z: 3 n : 108 =  2^2 3^3
   109      x: 1   y: 0   z: 3 n : 109 =  109
   110      x: 0   y: 1   z: 3 n : 110 =  2 5 11
   113      x: 1   y: 4   z: 2 n : 113 =  113
   115      x: 3   y: 5   z: 3 n : 115 =  5 23
   116      x: 2   y: 0   z: 3 n : 116 =  2^2 29
   118      x: 4   y: 3   z: 0 n : 118 =  2 59
   120      x: 6   y: 2   z: 2 n : 120 =  2^3 3 5
   121      x: 3   y: 3   z: 4 n : 121 =  11^2
   123      x: 3   y: 4   z: 4 n : 123 =  3 41
   124      x: 0   y: 2   z: 3 n : 124 =  2^2 31
   125      x: 5   y: 0   z: 0 n : 125 =  5^3
   127      x: 5   y: 1   z: 0 n : 127 =  127
   128      x: 0   y: 4   z: 0 n : 128 =  2^7
   129      x: 1   y: 4   z: 0 n : 129 =  3 43
   131      x: 7   y: 4   z: 5 n : 131 =  131
   132      x: 0   y: 4   z: 1 n : 132 =  2^2 3 11
   135      x: 3   y: 0   z: 3 n : 135 =  3^3 5
   136      x: 2   y: 4   z: 0 n : 136 =  2^3 17
   137      x: 5   y: 4   z: 1 n : 137 =  137
   138      x: 6   y: 5   z: 2 n : 138 =  2 3 23
   141      x: 5   y: 2   z: 0 n : 141 =  3 47
   142      x: 6   y: 7   z: 5 n : 142 =  2 71
   144      x: 4   y: 2   z: 4 n : 144 =  2^4 3^2
   145      x: 5   y: 1   z: 3 n : 145 =  5 29
   149      x: 7   y: 3   z: 4 n : 149 =  149
   150      x: 8   y: 5   z: 3 n : 150 =  2 3 5^2
   153      x: 5   y: 4   z: 5 n : 153 =  3^2 17
   155      x: 3   y: 4   z: 0 n : 155 =  5 31
   157      x: 5   y: 0   z: 2 n : 157 =  157
   159      x: 9   y: 7   z: 4 n : 159 =  3 53
   160      x: 0   y: 4   z: 2 n : 160 =  2^5 5
   162      x: 0   y: 3   z: 3 n : 162 =  2 3^4
   164      x: 6   y: 2   z: 1 n : 164 =  2^2 41
   165      x: 1   y: 4   z: 3 n : 165 =  3 5 11
   166      x: 6   y: 3   z: 1 n : 166 =  2 83
   167      x: 7   y: 4   z: 2 n : 167 =  167
   170      x: 2   y: 5   z: 2 n : 170 =  2 5 17
   172      x: 4   y: 0   z: 3 n : 172 =  2^2 43
   173      x: 3   y: 5   z: 4 n : 173 =  173
   174      x: 2   y: 3   z: 4 n : 174 =  2 3 29
   176      x: 4   y: 6   z: 4 n : 176 =  2^4 11
   177      x: 7   y: 3   z: 2 n : 177 =  3 59
   178      x: 6   y: 1   z: 2 n : 178 =  2 89
   179      x: 5   y: 3   z: 0 n : 179 =  179
   180      x: 8   y: 4   z: 5 n : 180 =  2^2 3^2 5
   184      x: 2   y: 2   z: 4 n : 184 =  2^3 23
   186      x: 6   y: 1   z: 1 n : 186 =  2 3 31
   187      x: 7   y: 8   z: 5 n : 187 =  11 17
   188      x: 8   y: 6   z: 3 n : 188 =  2^2 47
   191      x: 3   y: 5   z: 1 n : 191 =  191
   192      x: 4   y: 4   z: 0 n : 192 =  2^6 3
   197      x: 7   y: 5   z: 6 n : 197 =  197
   198      x: 4   y: 5   z: 1 n : 198 =  2 3^2 11
   200      x: 2   y: 4   z: 4 n : 200 =  2^3 5^2
   202      x: 2   y: 5   z: 1 n : 202 =  2 101
   204      x: 6   y: 4   z: 1 n : 204 =  2^2 3 17
   205      x: 7   y: 5   z: 2 n : 205 =  5 41
   207      x: 11   y: 7   z: 5 n : 207 =  3^2 23
   212      x: 4   y: 4   z: 5 n : 212 =  2^2 53
   213      x: 3   y: 1   z: 4 n : 213 =  3 71
   214      x: 4   y: 5   z: 5 n : 214 =  2 107
   215      x: 7   y: 2   z: 3 n : 215 =  5 43
   216      x: 6   y: 0   z: 0 n : 216 =  2^3 3^3
   218      x: 2   y: 1   z: 4 n : 218 =  2 109
   220      x: 6   y: 0   z: 1 n : 220 =  2^2 5 11
   223      x: 1   y: 5   z: 2 n : 223 =  223
   225      x: 1   y: 2   z: 4 n : 225 =  3^2 5^2
   226      x: 4   y: 1   z: 4 n : 226 =  2 113
   227      x: 5   y: 7   z: 4 n : 227 =  227
   229      x: 5   y: 5   z: 1 n : 229 =  229
   230      x: 6   y: 3   z: 5 n : 230 =  2 5 23
   232      x: 6   y: 2   z: 0 n : 232 =  2^3 29
   233      x: 5   y: 0   z: 3 n : 233 =  233
   235      x: 1   y: 1   z: 4 n : 235 =  5 47
   236      x: 0   y: 4   z: 3 n : 236 =  2^2 59
   239      x: 1   y: 3   z: 4 n : 239 =  239
   240      x: 4   y: 6   z: 2 n : 240 =  2^4 3 5
   242      x: 8   y: 3   z: 3 n : 242 =  2 11^2
   243      x: 3   y: 6   z: 3 n : 243 =  3^5
   246      x: 8   y: 3   z: 4 n : 246 =  2 3 41
   248      x: 6   y: 0   z: 2 n : 248 =  2^3 31
   249      x: 9   y: 4   z: 4 n : 249 =  3 83
   250      x: 0   y: 5   z: 0 n : 250 =  2 5^3
   251      x: 1   y: 5   z: 0 n : 251 =  251
   253      x: 5   y: 4   z: 0 n : 253 =  11 23
   254      x: 0   y: 5   z: 1 n : 254 =  2 127
   255      x: 7   y: 7   z: 3 n : 255 =  3 5 17
   256      x: 0   y: 0   z: 4 n : 256 =  2^8
   257      x: 1   y: 0   z: 4 n : 257 =  257
   258      x: 0   y: 1   z: 4 n : 258 =  2 3 43
   261      x: 5   y: 7   z: 5 n : 261 =  3^2 29
   262      x: 10   y: 7   z: 4 n : 262 =  2 131
   263      x: 5   y: 1   z: 4 n : 263 =  263
   264      x: 2   y: 0   z: 4 n : 264 =  2^3 3 11
   265      x: 9   y: 6   z: 7 n : 265 =  5 53
   267      x: 7   y: 3   z: 5 n : 267 =  3 89
   269      x: 1   y: 5   z: 3 n : 269 =  269
   270      x: 6   y: 3   z: 0 n : 270 =  2 3^3 5
   272      x: 0   y: 2   z: 4 n : 272 =  2^4 17
   274      x: 2   y: 5   z: 4 n : 274 =  2 137
   275      x: 3   y: 6   z: 2 n : 275 =  5^2 11
   276      x: 4   y: 6   z: 5 n : 276 =  2^2 3 23
   277      x: 3   y: 5   z: 0 n : 277 =  277
   279      x: 7   y: 2   z: 1 n : 279 =  3^2 31
   281      x: 9   y: 8   z: 4 n : 281 =  281
   282      x: 0   y: 5   z: 2 n : 282 =  2 3 47
   283      x: 3   y: 0   z: 4 n : 283 =  283
   284      x: 10   y: 6   z: 7 n : 284 =  2^2 71
   288      x: 8   y: 4   z: 2 n : 288 =  2^5 3^2
   289      x: 1   y: 4   z: 4 n : 289 =  17^2
   290      x: 6   y: 5   z: 1 n : 290 =  2 5 29
   293      x: 7   y: 1   z: 2 n : 293 =  293
   295      x: 3   y: 4   z: 5 n : 295 =  5 59
   297      x: 9   y: 6   z: 3 n : 297 =  3^3 11
   298      x: 8   y: 7   z: 3 n : 298 =  2 149
   300      x: 6   y: 8   z: 5 n : 300 =  2^2 3 5^2
   303      x: 7   y: 6   z: 2 n : 303 =  3 101
   306      x: 10   y: 5   z: 4 n : 306 =  2 3^2 17
   307      x: 7   y: 1   z: 1 n : 307 =  307
   310      x: 0   y: 3   z: 4 n : 310 =  2 5 31
   311      x: 3   y: 3   z: 5 n : 311 =  311
   314      x: 4   y: 5   z: 0 n : 314 =  2 157
   317      x: 9   y: 4   z: 3 n : 317 =  317
   318      x: 8   y: 9   z: 7 n : 318 =  2 3 53
   319      x: 11   y: 9   z: 5 n : 319 =  11 29
   320      x: 4   y: 0   z: 4 n : 320 =  2^6 5
   321      x: 9   y: 10   z: 7 n : 321 =  3 107
   324      x: 6   y: 0   z: 3 n : 324 =  2^2 3^4
   327      x: 7   y: 1   z: 3 n : 327 =  3 109
   328      x: 2   y: 6   z: 2 n : 328 =  2^3 41
   330      x: 6   y: 1   z: 4 n : 330 =  2 3 5 11
   332      x: 2   y: 6   z: 3 n : 332 =  2^2 83
   334      x: 4   y: 7   z: 4 n : 334 =  2 167
   339      x: 5   y: 5   z: 6 n : 339 =  3 113
   340      x: 4   y: 2   z: 5 n : 340 =  2^2 5 17
   341      x: 5   y: 2   z: 5 n : 341 =  11 31
   343      x: 7   y: 0   z: 0 n : 343 =  7^3