Showing that $\mathbb Q(\sqrt{17})$ has class number 1

Let $K=\mathbb Q(\sqrt{d})$ with $d=17$. The Minkowski-Bound is $\frac{1}{2}\sqrt{17}<\frac{1}{2}\frac{9}{2}=2.25<3$.
The ideal $(2)$ splits, since $d\equiv 1$ mod $8$. So we get $(2)=(2,\frac{1+\sqrt{d}}{2})(2,\frac{1-\sqrt{d}}{2})$ and $(2,\frac{1\pm\sqrt{d}}{2})$ are two ideals of norm $2$.

Now if we can show that $(2,\frac{1\pm\sqrt{d}}{2})$ are principal ideals, then we know that every ideal class contains a principal ideal, which shows that the class number is $1$.

But how can we show that $(2,\frac{1\pm\sqrt{d}}{2})$ are principal?

Solution 1:

Hint: $$ \left(\frac{3+\sqrt{17}}2\right)\left(\frac{3-\sqrt{17}}2\right)=\frac{9-17}4=-2. $$

Solution 2:

We show that $$\left\langle 2,\frac{1+\sqrt{17}}{2}\right\rangle = \left\langle \frac{5+\sqrt{17}}{2}\right\rangle.$$ Since, $$\frac{5+\sqrt{17}}{2}=2+\frac{1+\sqrt{17}}{2},$$ we have $$\frac{5+\sqrt{17}}{2}\in\left\langle 2,\frac{1+\sqrt{17}}{2}\right\rangle,$$ thus $$\left\langle 2,\frac{1+\sqrt{17}}{2}\right\rangle \subseteq \left\langle \frac{5+\sqrt{17}}{2}\right\rangle.$$ Now these two ideals have the same Norm--namely, $2$. Therefore, $$\left\langle 2,\frac{1+\sqrt{17}}{2}\right\rangle = \left\langle \frac{5+\sqrt{17}}{2}\right\rangle.$$ The proof of the principality of $\frac{5+\sqrt{17}}{2}$ is similar.