Alphabeta Math
TheoremStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: Literature-sourcedSession-authored (Fable 5 assisted)precheck passaudited 2026-08-11
How statement and proof provenance work

The first chip identifies the source of the statement or construction; the second identifies the source of its local proof or verification.

  • Literature-sourced: the exact statement appears in a cited source; only wording and notation differ.
  • AI-adapted: a semantically identical restatement of literature-sourced material, modulo indexing, notation, and boundary cases adopted by the library.
  • AI-generated: a genuinely novel statement formulated by AI, with no source for the claim itself.

These labels describe origin, not correctness: citations and verification chips remain separate evidence.

Gauss lemma: primitive factorisations over Q\mathbb Q can be cleared to primitive factorisations over Z\mathbb Z

Statement

Let fZ[x]f\in\mathbb Z[x] be primitive. If f=ghf=gh in Q[x]\mathbb Q[x] with both gg and hh of positive degree, then there are primitive G,HZ[x]G,H\in\mathbb Z[x] of positive degree such that f=±GHf=\pm GH.

Consequently, a primitive polynomial of positive degree is irreducible in Z[x]\mathbb Z[x] if and only if it is irreducible in Q[x]\mathbb Q[x].

Facts & Assumptions

Given: A primitive integer polynomial ff and a factorization f=ghf=gh in Q[x]\mathbb Q[x].

[L1]

Products of primitive integer polynomials are primitive, and contents multiply (The product of primitive integer polynomials is primitive, and contents multiply).

[L2]

Every rational number has an integer numerator and a nonzero integer denominator (The rationals as equivalence classes of pairs of integers).

[L3]

The rational numbers form a field, and the integers embed in them preserving addition and multiplication (The rationals form a field, The integers embed in the rationals).

[L4]

Products of nonzero integers are nonzero, and nonzero integers cancel in products (The integers have no zero divisors; multiplicative cancellation).

[L5]

Irreducibility means that a nonzero nonunit has no factorization into two nonunits (Irreducible and prime elements of an integral domain).

Proof

technique · direct
1.1

By [L2], choose an integer numerator and nonzero integer denominator for each of the finitely many coefficients of gg and hh. Their denominator products are nonzero by [L4] and are common denominators, so [L3] and division by the positive contents of the cleared polynomials give g=rGg=rG and h=sHh=sH with r,sQ×r,s\in\mathbb Q^\times and primitive G,HZ[x]G,H\in\mathbb Z[x] of the same positive degrees as g,hg,h.

givenL1L2L3L4construct
2.1

The equality f=rsGHf=rsGH, after writing rs=a/brs=a/b in lowest terms with b>0b>0, gives bf=aGHbf=aGH; [L1] makes both ff and GHGH primitive, so content multiplicativity gives b=ab=|a| and therefore a/b=±1a/b=\pm1; hence f=±GHf=\pm GH.

step 1.1L1L2L3algebra
3.1

Any integer factorization of a primitive polynomial into two nonunits has both factors of positive degree: a nonunit constant factor would have content greater than 11, contradicting [L1]. Conversely, steps 1.1 and 2.1 turn every rational positive-degree factorization into an integer one. By [L5], irreducibility over the two rings is therefore equivalent for primitive positive-degree polynomials.

step 1.1step 2.1L1L5

Depends on

Used by

Dependency tree · next 3 levels

Direct dependencies and their dependencies through the next three levels: 68 results over 14 levels. An arrow runs from a result to what uses it, and this result sits at the bottom with a heavier outline. Click the chart to enlarge it.

Sources