# Integral basis for a number field

I need some help in solving the following problem:

Suppose $K$ is a number field and $K=\mathbb{Q}(\theta)$ where $\theta\in\mathfrak{O}_K$, the ring of integers of $K$. Now among the elements in $\mathfrak{O}_K$ of the form $$\frac{1}{d}(a_0+\cdots+a_i\theta^i)$$($0\ne a_i$; $a_0,\ldots a_i\in\mathbb{Z})$, where $d$ is the discriminant of $K$, pick one with the minimum value of $|a_i|$ and call it $x_i$. Do this for $i=1,\ldots ,n=\dim_{\mathbb{Q}}K$. I need to show that $\lbrace x_1,\ldots ,x_n\rbrace$ is an integral basis for $K$.

Here are my thoughts: If we can show that the discriminant of $\lbrace x_1,\ldots ,x_n\rbrace$, which can be shown to be a $\mathbb{Q}$-basis, is less than or equal to $d$ then we are done; I tried to show this but have not succeed. I have to somehow use the fact that $|a_i|$ is the minimum which I am unable to see how. Any help will be appreciated.

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It seems to me that something is wrong. Consider the case $\theta=8i$, $K=\mathbb{Q}[i]$. We know that $d=4$, so the algebraic integer $i=\theta/8$ cannot be written in the prescribed form. I suspect that the polynomial discriminant of the minimal polynomial of $\theta$ has to enter the game here in some role? – Jyrki Lahtonen May 22 '13 at 19:03
@JyrkiLahtonen The problem is badly worded in Ian Stewart's Algebraic Number Theory, but I believe that $d$ is meant to be the discriminant with respect to $1,\theta,\dots,\theta^{n-1}$ as you said. – Warren Moore May 23 '13 at 0:37

Can you show that $|\Delta(x_1,\dots,x_n)|$ is minimal amongst all integers? If so, suppose that this isn't an integral basis, so that there is some $\alpha\in\mathfrak{O}_K$ such that $\alpha=b_1x_1+\cdots+b_nx_n$, for $b_1,\dots,b_n\in\mathbb{Q}$, but at least one is not in $\mathbb{Z}$, say $b_1\notin\mathbb{Z}$. Then $b_1=b+r$, where $b\in\mathbb{Z}$, and $0<r<1$, and we can construct a new set of integers, $y_1=\alpha-bx_1$, and $y_i=x_i$, for $i=2,\dots,n$. Can you then show that $|\Delta(y_1,\dots,y_n)|<|\Delta(x_1,\dots,x_n)|$?
Let $G=\mathbb{Z}x_1+\cdots+\mathbb{Z}x_n\subseteq\mathfrak{O}$. Clearly $x_1,\dots,x_n$ span $K/\mathbb{Q}$, so we can write $\alpha=b_1x_1+\cdots+b_nx_n$, for some $b_1,\dots,b_n\in\mathbb{Q}$. Write each $b_i=c_i+r_i$, where $c_i\in\mathbb{Z}$, and $0\le r_i<1$. Then $$\alpha-\underbrace{c_1x_1+\cdots+c_nx_n}_{\in~G}=r_1x_1+\cdots+r_nx_n$$ Now look at the coefficients of the powers of $\theta$, and don't forget that $[\mathfrak{O}_K/\mathbb{Z}[\theta]]$ divides $d$.
Can you give some hint how to show that $|\Delta (x_1,\ldots ,x_n)|$ is minimal? The rest actually I knew :) I can compute this in terms of $\Delta ({1,\theta ,\ldots ,\theta^{n-1}})$ but I dont think that will help because we don't know any thing abot the latter. – pritam May 22 '13 at 17:45