Algebra Prelim Written Exam Autumn 2010

Questions are equally weighted. Give essential explanations and justifications: a large
part of each question is demonstration that you understand the context and understand
which issues are primary. Do not choose assumptions or contexts making the problems
silly. Coherent writing is essential: your paper should not be a puzzle for the grader.
Write your codename, not actual name, on each booklet. No notes, books, calculators,
computers, cell phones, wireless, bluetooth, or other communication devices may be used
during the exam.

[1] Let H be a subgroup of index 2 in a finite group G. Show that H is normal.

[2] Let G be the group of invertible 2-by-2 matrices over the field Fp with p elements,
where p is prime. Find a p-Sylow subgroup of G.

[3] Prove that the polynomial x5 + y 5 + z 5 is irreducible in C[x, y, z].

[4] For distinct elements a1 , . . . , an of a field k, show that there exist A, . . . , An such
that
1 A1 An
= + ... +
(x a1 ) . . . (x an ) x a1 x an

[5] Let X, Y be n-by-n complex matrices such that XY = Y X. Suppose that there are
n-by-n invertible matrices A, B such that AXA1 and BY B 1 are diagonal. Show that
there is an n-by-n invertible matrix C so that CXC 1 and CY C 1 are diagonal.

[6] Describe all intermediate fields between Q and Q(9 ), where 9 is a primitive ninth
root of unity.

[7] Show that in F2 [x], where F2 is the field with 2 elements, (x31 1)/(x 1) is the
product of six irreducible quintic factors.