English

An elementary proof of the theorem on the imaginary quadratic fields with class number 1

Number Theory 2024-01-17 v1

Abstract

Let DD be a square-free integer other than 1. Let KK be the quadratic field Q(D){\mathbb Q}(\sqrt D). Let δ{1,2}\delta \in \{1,2\} with δ=2\delta=2 if D1(mod4)D\equiv 1 \pmod 4. To each prime ideal P\mathcal P in KK that splits in K/QK/\mathbb Q we associate a binary quadratic form fPf_{\mathcal P} and show that when KK is imaginary then P\mathcal P is principal if and only if fPf_{\mathcal P} represents δ2\delta^2, and when KK is real then P\mathcal P is principal if and only if fPf_{\mathcal P} represents ±δ2\pm \delta^2. As an application of this result we obtain an elementary proof of the well-known theorem on the imaginary quadratic fields with class number 1. The proof reveals some new information regarding necessary conditions for an imaginary quadratic field to have class number 1 when D1(mod4)D\equiv 1 \pmod 4.

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Cite

@article{arxiv.2401.07192,
  title  = {An elementary proof of the theorem on the imaginary quadratic fields with class number 1},
  author = {James E. Carter},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2401.07192},
  year   = {2024}
}

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22 pages