# Find the degree and a basis for $\mathbb{Q}( \sqrt2, \sqrt3)$ over $\mathbb{Q}( \sqrt2 +\sqrt 3)$

Similar questions were asked here before but I still can't find exactly what I want.

I want to find the degree and a basis for $\mathbb{Q}( \sqrt2, \sqrt3)$ over $\mathbb{Q}( \sqrt2 +\sqrt 3)$

I've read that $\mathbb{Q}( \sqrt2, \sqrt3)$ is equivalent to $\mathbb{Q}( \sqrt2 +\sqrt 3)$ but we haven't seen it in the lectures so I don't know if I can use it. I would not even know how t use it actually. But that means finding the degree of $\mathbb{Q}( \sqrt2, \sqrt3)$ over $\mathbb{Q}( \sqrt2,\sqrt 3)$ but there is no irreducible polynomial in $\mathbb{Q}( \sqrt2,\sqrt 3)$ that is not in $\mathbb{Q}( \sqrt2,\sqrt 3)$ if that makes sense.

Using the degree formula I get :

$[\mathbb{Q}( \sqrt2, \sqrt3)$ : $\mathbb{Q}( \sqrt2 +\sqrt 3)$] = $[\mathbb{Q}( \sqrt2, \sqrt 3 )$:$\mathbb{Q}( \sqrt2 +\sqrt 3)(\sqrt2)$]=$[\mathbb{Q}( \sqrt2, \sqrt 3 )(\sqrt2)$:$\mathbb{Q}( \sqrt2 +\sqrt 3)$]

But $\sqrt2 \in \mathbb{Q}( \sqrt2 +\sqrt 3)$ so I don't think that works.

Any ideas ? Thanks !

If you want to show that the two field are equal, it is the same to show that they are included in each other.

But by definition of $\Bbb Q(\sqrt2,\sqrt3)$,
$\Bbb Q(\sqrt2,\sqrt3) \subset \Bbb Q(\sqrt2 + \sqrt3) \iff \sqrt 2 \in \Bbb Q(\sqrt2 + \sqrt3)$ and $\sqrt 3 \in \Bbb Q(\sqrt2 + \sqrt3)$

And by definition of $\Bbb Q(\sqrt2 + \sqrt3)$,
$\Bbb Q(\sqrt2 + \sqrt3) \subset \Bbb Q(\sqrt2, \sqrt3) \iff \sqrt 2 + \sqrt 3 \in \Bbb Q(\sqrt2, \sqrt3)$

So you only need to find explicit expressions showing that

• $\sqrt 2 \in \Bbb Q(\sqrt2 + \sqrt3)$ (apparently you know of this one)
• $\sqrt 3 \in \Bbb Q(\sqrt2 + \sqrt3)$ (it shouldn't be more difficult than the above one)
• $\sqrt 2 + \sqrt 3 \in \Bbb Q(\sqrt2, \sqrt3)$ (well this one is pretty easy anyway)

Once you know that they are equal, then the degree is $1$ and a basis is $\{1\}$.

• Thanks, the exercice is then more about proving the equality than looking for the degree and basis ! This question was helpful as well : math.stackexchange.com/questions/93463/…
– ALM
Dec 9, 2013 at 16:36