2 Splitting Fields and Galois Groups

drum and bass acoustic rock, appalachian folk flamenco, dark coptic

Listen on 93

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Polynomial wandering through the field tonight
Seeking roots that multiply and hide
But in this basic ground it can't divide
Into perfect linear pieces, smooth and bright

The splitting field's the smallest place to go
Where every factor breaks down nice and clean
No more complexity left to be seen
Just linear terms in one neat perfect row

[Chorus]
Split it down, split it clean
Find the field where roots convene
Galois group will map the way
Automorphisms come to play
Fix the base, but twist the rest
Symmetries that pass the test
Split it down, split it clean
Mathematics unforeseen

[Verse 2]
Take Q with square root two adjoined
The Galois group has just two moves
Identity that nothing proves
And sigma flipping signs combined

Square root two becomes its twin
Negative square root two instead
While rationals stay safe in bed
The cyclic group of two begins

[Chorus]
Split it down, split it clean
Find the field where roots convene
Galois group will map the way
Automorphisms come to play
Fix the base, but twist the rest
Symmetries that pass the test
Split it down, split it clean
Mathematics unforeseen

[Bridge]
Primitive roots of unity dance
Zeta sub n spins around
Two pi i over n compound
Euler's units get their chance

Group of units mod n takes the stage
Every coprime gets to move
While the base field can't improve
Galois theory writes each page

[Verse 3]
Field automorphisms guard the tower
Keeping base points locked in place
While extensions shift through space
Revealing algebra's hidden power

Smallest field that holds them all
Where polynomials surrender whole
Each root finds its destined role
Linear factors standing tall

[Outro]
When the splitting's finally done
Galois groups reveal the code
Symmetries along the road
Field extensions, one by one

← 1 The Setup | 3 The Fundamental Theorem of Galois Theory →