# Primitive element of the extension $\mathbb Q(\sqrt{2},\sqrt{3})$ over $\mathbb Q$ [duplicate]

The title says it. I want to find an element $\alpha$ such that

$\mathbb Q(\alpha)=\mathbb Q(\sqrt{2},\sqrt{3})$.

I tried something like $\sqrt{2}+\sqrt{3}$ but that didn't help...

## marked as duplicate by Dietrich Burde, user26857 abstract-algebra StackExchange.ready(function() { if (StackExchange.options.isMobile) return; $('.dupe-hammer-message-hover:not(.hover-bound)').each(function() { var$hover = $(this).addClass('hover-bound'),$msg = $hover.siblings('.dupe-hammer-message');$hover.hover( function() { $hover.showInfoMessage('', { messageElement:$msg.clone().show(), transient: false, position: { my: 'bottom left', at: 'top center', offsetTop: -7 }, dismissable: false, relativeToBody: true }); }, function() { StackExchange.helpers.removeMessages(); } ); }); }); Feb 22 '16 at 14:36

• $\sqrt2 +\sqrt3$ will work – sqtrat Feb 22 '16 at 13:04
• But I cannot see how I can show that $\sqrt{2}$ is in $\mathbb Q(\alpha)$ – Marc Feb 22 '16 at 13:05
• Look at $\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2} + \sqrt{3}}$. – Daniel Fischer Feb 22 '16 at 13:11
Consider the field $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt2 +\sqrt3)$. Then, all powers of $\alpha = \sqrt2+\sqrt3$ must be in $\mathbb{Q}(\alpha)$. Thus, $\frac{\alpha^{2}-5}{2} = \sqrt 6$ as well and thus $\sqrt6 \cdot \alpha = 2\sqrt 3 + 3\sqrt2$ as well. Hence $\sqrt 6 \alpha -2 \alpha = \sqrt 2 \in \mathbb{Q}(\alpha)$. Similarly $\sqrt 3 \in \mathbb{Q}(\alpha)$ and it follows that $\mathbb{Q}(\alpha) \subset \mathbb{Q}(\sqrt2,\sqrt3)$. It is easy to show that $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt2,\sqrt 3) \subset \mathbb{Q}(\alpha).$
A hint: The proof (I know) that such an element exists gives also way determining this element (and for "small" extension this can be carried out by hand). However, let us write $$\alpha = \sqrt{2} + \sqrt{3}$$ and compute all powers $\alpha^j$ for $j=0,1,2,3$. They can be written in terms of $\sqrt{2}, \sqrt{3}$ and $\sqrt{2} \sqrt{3} = \sqrt{6}$. I am confident that you will now see how to write $\sqrt{2}$ and $\sqrt{3}$ in terms of $\alpha$. In particular you should e.g. get that $\sqrt{2} = \frac{\alpha^3-9\alpha}2.$