TheoremComplete

Proof of the Fundamental Theorem of Galois Theory

We prove the bijective correspondence between intermediate fields and subgroups of the Galois group.


Statement

Theorem8.3Fundamental theorem of Galois theory

Let K/FK/F be a finite Galois extension with G=Gal(K/F)G = \mathrm{Gal}(K/F). The maps E↦Gal(K/E)E \mapsto \mathrm{Gal}(K/E) and H↦KHH \mapsto K^H are mutually inverse bijections between intermediate fields and subgroups of GG.


Proof

Proof

Step 1: KGal(K/E)=EK^{\mathrm{Gal}(K/E)} = E for every intermediate field EE.

K/EK/E is Galois (normal and separable are inherited). By Artin's theorem, KGal(K/E)=EK^{\mathrm{Gal}(K/E)} = E.

Step 2: Gal(K/KH)=H\mathrm{Gal}(K/K^H) = H for every subgroup H≤GH \leq G.

By Artin's theorem applied to HH acting on KK: K/KHK/K^H is Galois with Gal(K/KH)=H\mathrm{Gal}(K/K^H) = H and [K:KH]=∣H∣[K:K^H] = |H|.

Step 3: The maps are mutually inverse.

From Steps 1 and 2: E↦Gal(K/E)↦KGal(K/E)=EE \mapsto \mathrm{Gal}(K/E) \mapsto K^{\mathrm{Gal}(K/E)} = E and H↦KH↦Gal(K/KH)=HH \mapsto K^H \mapsto \mathrm{Gal}(K/K^H) = H.

Step 4: Inclusion reversal. E1⊆E2E_1 \subseteq E_2 implies Gal(K/E2)≤Gal(K/E1)\mathrm{Gal}(K/E_2) \leq \mathrm{Gal}(K/E_1) (if σ\sigma fixes E2E_2 pointwise, it fixes E1⊆E2E_1 \subseteq E_2 pointwise).

Step 5: Degree formulas. [K:E]=∣Gal(K/E)∣[K:E] = |\mathrm{Gal}(K/E)| by the Galois property. [E:F]=[K:F]/[K:E]=∣G∣/∣Gal(K/E)∣=[G:Gal(K/E)][E:F] = [K:F]/[K:E] = |G|/|\mathrm{Gal}(K/E)| = [G:\mathrm{Gal}(K/E)].

Step 6: Normal extensions correspond to normal subgroups.

(⇒)(\Rightarrow): Suppose E/FE/F is normal. For any σ∈G\sigma \in G and τ∈Gal(K/E)\tau \in \mathrm{Gal}(K/E): we need στσ−1∈Gal(K/E)\sigma\tau\sigma^{-1} \in \mathrm{Gal}(K/E), i.e., στσ−1(e)=e\sigma\tau\sigma^{-1}(e) = e for all e∈Ee \in E. Since E/FE/F is normal, σ(E)=E\sigma(E) = E (normality means σ\sigma maps EE to itself). So σ−1(e)∈E\sigma^{-1}(e) \in E, then τ(σ−1(e))=σ−1(e)\tau(\sigma^{-1}(e)) = \sigma^{-1}(e), then στσ−1(e)=e\sigma\tau\sigma^{-1}(e) = e. So H=Gal(K/E)H = \mathrm{Gal}(K/E) is normal in GG.

(⇐)(\Leftarrow): Suppose H=Gal(K/E)⊴GH = \mathrm{Gal}(K/E) \trianglelefteq G. For any σ∈G\sigma \in G and α∈E\alpha \in E: for all τ∈H\tau \in H, (σ−1τσ)(α)=α(\sigma^{-1}\tau\sigma)(\alpha) = \alpha (since σ−1τσ∈H\sigma^{-1}\tau\sigma \in H by normality), so τ(σ(α))=σ(α)\tau(\sigma(\alpha)) = \sigma(\alpha). Thus σ(α)∈KH=E\sigma(\alpha) \in K^H = E. So σ(E)⊆E\sigma(E) \subseteq E for all σ∈G\sigma \in G, meaning every FF-embedding of EE into F‾\overline{F} lands in EE, which is the definition of normality.

When H⊴GH \trianglelefteq G: restriction gives a surjection G→Gal(E/F)G \to \mathrm{Gal}(E/F) with kernel HH, so Gal(E/F)≅G/H\mathrm{Gal}(E/F) \cong G/H. ■\blacksquare

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Summary Diagram

RemarkThe Galois correspondence at a glance

K⟷{e}∪∪E⟷H=Gal(K/E)∪∪F⟷G=Gal(K/F)\begin{array}{ccc} K & \longleftrightarrow & \{e\} \\ \cup & & \cup \\ E & \longleftrightarrow & H = \mathrm{Gal}(K/E) \\ \cup & & \cup \\ F & \longleftrightarrow & G = \mathrm{Gal}(K/F) \end{array}

Larger fields correspond to smaller groups, and vice versa. Normal extensions correspond to normal subgroups, and the quotient group gives the Galois group of the intermediate extension.