I've already found that the irreducible polynomial of α over Q is x4−16x2+4. I've also found that Q(√3+√5)=Q(√3,√5) and that Q(√3,√5,√10)=Q(√2,√3,√5). Since [Q(√10):Q]=2 and [Q(√3,√5):Q]=4, [Q(√2,√3,√5):Q(√3,√5)] must be either 1 or 2.
I know it's 2 but I'm having a hard time proving that Q(√3,√5)≠Q(√2,√3,√5). I'm trying to show that √2∉Q(√3,√5) but I'm not having much luck.
The solution in the link below uses a theorem of Galois theory we haven't covered yet so I don't feel comfortable using it. Here is what we have covered that I suspect is relevant but haven't figured out how to use yet:
Let K and K′ be extensions of the same field F. An isomorphism φ:K→K′ that restricts to the identity on F is an isomorphism of field extensions.
Let F be a field and α and β be elements of field extensions K/F and L/F. Suppose α an β are algebraic over F. There is an isomorphism of fields σ:F(α)→F(β) that is the identity on F and that sends α⇝ if and only if the irreducible polynomials for \alpha and \beta over F are equal.
Let \varphi:K\to K^\prime be an isomorphism of field extensions of F, and let f be a polynomial with coefficients in F. Let \alpha be a root of f in K, and let \alpha^\prime=\varphi(\alpha) be its image in K^\prime. Then \alpha^\prime is also a root of f.
If I start by assuming that \mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{3},\sqrt{5})=\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{2},\sqrt{3},\sqrt{5}) then I suspect the three statements above will lead to a contradiction somewhere. I just don't have a good firm grasp of how to put them into practice yet.
Any help is appreciated. Thanks,
Answer
Suppose by contradiction that
\sqrt{2}=a+b\sqrt{3}+c\sqrt{5}+d \sqrt{15} \,.
Squaring both sides and using the fact that 1, \sqrt{3}, \sqrt{5}, \sqrt{15} are linearly independent over Q you get
2=a^2+3b^2+5c^2+15d^2 \,.
ab+5cd =0 \,.
ac+3bd=0 \,.
ad+bc=0 \,.
From the last two equations we get
3bd^2=-acd=bc^2 \,.
Since 3d^2=c^2 has no rational roots we get that b=0.
It follows that
2=a^2+5c^2+15d^2 \,.
5cd =0 \,.
ac=0 \,.
ad=0 \,.
From the last two equations it follows that two of a,c,d must be 0, and then you get from the first equation that x^2 \in \{ 2, \frac{2}{5}, \frac{2}{15} \} where x is the nonzero one... Contradiction with x \in Q.
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