Proof that the Gaussian integers form a Euclidean domain
Builds on Gaussian integerNorm of a Gaussian integerEuclidean domainIntegral domain
Proof
For a complex number , write . Recall , and for a Gaussian integer , where is the norm.
- Since , is a positive integer. So with rational numbers and .
- Choose integers and with and , for example the nearest integers to and .
- Put and . Both are Gaussian integers, since is closed under sums and products. And .
- We have .
- So .
- Since , this gives . This proves the division statement.
- The ring is a subring of the field . A product of nonzero complex numbers is nonzero, so is an integral domain.
- The norm takes nonzero Gaussian integers to positive integers, so it is a function .
- By steps 3 and 6, for all and there are , with and or . So with the norm is a Euclidean domain.
Idea
Divide by as complex numbers and round the quotient to the nearest lattice point . The rounding error is a complex number of absolute value at most . So the remainder has norm at most half the norm of .
Reading path
To understand this page from the ground up, read these 9 pages in order. The foundations come first.
Show the path as a graph
- no evidence level
- Gaussian integer definition
- Group concept
- Norm of a Gaussian integer definition
- Ring definition
- Commutative ring definition
- Zero divisor definition
- Integral domain definition
- Euclidean domain definition
- Proof that the Gaussian integers form a Euclidean domain proof
Where this leads
1 page builds on this one.
Further reading
- Web https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaussian_integer, Euclidean division
About this page
| Tag | BGTREPJS1V |
|---|---|
| URI | m2://BGTREPJS1V |
| Kind | proof |
| Writing | W0 stub |
| MSC | 11R11 |
| Proves | The Gaussian integers form a Euclidean domain |
| Uses | Gaussian integer, Norm of a Gaussian integer, Euclidean domain, Integral domain |
| Changed | 4 November 2026 |
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