Numbers of Type Rational a plus b root 2 form Field

Theorem

Real Numbers of Type Rational $a + b \sqrt 2$ form Field

Let $\Q \sqbrk {\sqrt 2}$ denote the set:

$\Q \sqbrk {\sqrt 2} := \set {x \in \R: x = a + b \sqrt 2: a, b \in \Q}$

that is, all numbers of the form $a + b \sqrt 2$ where $a$ and $b$ are rational numbers.

Then the algebraic structure:

$\struct {\Q \sqbrk {\sqrt 2}, +, \times}$

where $+$ and $\times$ are conventional addition and multiplication on real numbers, is a field.

Complex Numbers of Type Rational $a + b \sqrt 2$ form Field

Let $\Q \sqbrk {\sqrt 2}$ denote the set:

$\Q \sqbrk {\sqrt 2} := \set {x \in \C: x = a + b \sqrt 2: a, b \in \Q}$

that is, all numbers of the form $a + b \sqrt 2$ where $a$ and $b$ are rational numbers.

Then the algebraic structure:

$\struct {\Q \sqbrk {\sqrt 2}, +, \times}$

where $+$ and $\times$ are conventional addition and multiplication on real numbers, is a number field.