# Alternative proof of Wedderburn's little theorem

I have this exercise where I'm proving: "Every finite division ring is a field". I need only a part (c) of it:

(a) show that a subalgebra of a finite dimensional central division algebra is a finite dimensional division algebra. (DONE)

(b) show that if $D$ is a finite dimensional central division algebra and $K\neq Z(D)$ is any subfield, then $D$ is generated as an $Z(D)$-algebra by $\bigcup_{d\in D^*}d^{-1}Kd$. (DONE)

(c) Conclude, without using the Noether-Skolem theorem, that a finite division ring is a field. (NEEDED...)

Thanks, G.

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Write using LateX: it's very hard to guess what you meant by "d^-1Kd", for example – DonAntonio Jan 13 at 22:40
have'nt had the chance to learn how to. i meant was Union over all invertible elements "d" in D, of "the inverse of d" * "K" * "d" – cruvadom Jan 13 at 22:42
Go to the FAQ section for directions on LaTeX. – DonAntonio Jan 13 at 22:46
Thanks YACP, for the LaTeX – cruvadom Jan 13 at 22:49
Excuse me, but what does it mean to add $G$ in the end? Regards. – awllower Feb 27 at 16:18

It amounts to the same thing as showing that the Brauer group of any finite field is trivial, for then the finite division rings are all matrix rings. Since they are division rings, this implies that they are fields. Now, by a theorem in the theory of central simple algebras, $\mathbb {Br}(K/\kappa)$, for a finite Galois extension of a finite field $\kappa$, is isomorphic with $H^2(Gal(K/\kappa),K^\times)$. But finite extensions of finite fields are cyclic, so this is a cohomology group of a finite cyclic group. Since such cohomology is periodic of period $2$, we find that it is just the norm residue group $\kappa^\times/N_{\mathbb K\mid \kappa}\mathbb K^\times$. Since it is well-known that norms of finite field extensions are surjective, this tells us that the relative Brauer groups are trivial. As Brauer groups are colimits of relative ones, this finishes the proof.