On Galois Groups of Prime Degree Polynomials with Complex Roots

Oz Ben-Shimol

Published 2007-09-18Version 1

Let $f$ be an irreducible polynomial of prime degree $p\geq 5$ over $\QQ$, with precisely $k$ pairs of complex roots. Using a result of Jens H\"{o}chsmann (1999), we show that if $p\geq 4k+1$ then $\Gal(f/\QQ)$ is isomorphic to $A_{p}$ or $S_{p}$. This improves the algorithm for computing the Galois group of an irreducible polynomial of prime degree, introduced by A. Bialostocki and T.Shaska. If such a polynomial $f$ is solvable by radicals then its Galois group is a Frobenius group of degree p. Conversely, any Frobenius group of degree p and of even order, can be realized as the Galois group of an irreducible polynomial of degree $p$ over $\QQ$ having complex roots.