The Hilbert symbol $(a, b)_F \in \{\pm 1\}$ for units of a field $F$: takes the value $1$ if $ax^2 + by^2 = 1$ has a solution in $F$, and $-1$ otherwise. This is Definition 10.1 of the textbook (in its general form for a field $F$).
Instances For
$(a, b)_F = 1$ iff the equation $ax^2 + by^2 = 1$ is solvable in $F$.
$(a, b)_F = -1$ iff the equation $ax^2 + by^2 = 1$ is unsolvable in $F$.
The Hilbert symbol always takes the value $\pm 1$.
$(a, b)_F^2 = 1$ since the Hilbert symbol is $\pm 1$.
The Hilbert symbol is never zero.
The real Hilbert symbol $(a, b)_\infty$, defined as the Hilbert symbol over $\mathbb{R}$.
Instances For
The real Hilbert symbol takes values in $\{\pm 1\}$.
The real Hilbert symbol is never zero.
If $a > 0$, then $ax^2 + by^2 = 1$ is solvable over $\mathbb{R}$ (take $x = 1/\sqrt{a}$, $y = 0$).
If $b > 0$, then $ax^2 + by^2 = 1$ is solvable over $\mathbb{R}$ (take $x = 0$, $y = 1/\sqrt{b}$).
If both $a < 0$ and $b < 0$, then $ax^2 + by^2 \le 0 < 1$, so the equation $ax^2 + by^2 = 1$ has no real solution.
(Textbook Theorem 10.4, real case) The real Hilbert symbol satisfies $(a, b)_\infty = -1$ if and only if both $a$ and $b$ are negative.
Solvability of $ax^2 + by^2 = 1$ implies non-trivial representation of zero by $z^2 - ax^2 - by^2$ (take $z = 1$).
If $z^2 - ax^2 - by^2$ represents zero non-trivially, then $ax^2 + by^2 = 1$ is solvable.
(Textbook Lemma 10.2, parts (1) ↔ (2)) Solvability of $ax^2 + by^2 = 1$ over $F$ is equivalent to non-trivial representation of zero by $z^2 - ax^2 - by^2$ over $F$.
If $a$ is a norm from $F(\sqrt{b})$, i.e., $z^2 - by^2 = a$ has a solution, then $z^2 - ax^2 - by^2$ represents zero non-trivially (take $x = 1$).
If $z^2 - ax^2 - by^2$ represents zero non-trivially, then $a$ is a norm from the quadratic extension $F(\sqrt{b})$.
(Textbook Lemma 10.2, parts (2) ↔ (3)) Non-trivial representation of zero by $z^2 - ax^2 - by^2$ over $F$ is equivalent to $a$ being a norm from $F(\sqrt{b})$.
Constructs a primitive $p$-adic integer solution when $x$ has maximum norm (rescaling by dividing through by $x$).
Over $\mathbb{Q}_p$, non-trivial representation of zero by $z^2 - ax^2 - by^2$ implies the existence of a primitive $p$-adic integer solution.
A primitive $p$-adic integer solution immediately gives non-trivial representation of zero over $\mathbb{Q}_p$.
(Textbook Corollary 10.3, part 1) For any unit $c \in F^\times$, $(-c, c)_F = 1$, since $(-c) \cdot ((c^{-1}-1)/2)^2 + c \cdot ((1+c^{-1})/2)^2 = 1$.
The set of norms from $F(\sqrt{c})$ is closed under multiplication.
If both $ax^2 + cy^2 = 1$ and $bx^2 + cy^2 = 1$ are solvable, then so is $(ab)x^2 + cy^2 = 1$. This is the multiplicativity in the first argument when the symbol equals $1$.
If $ax^2 + cy^2 = 1$ is solvable, then so is $a^{-1}x^2 + cy^2 = 1$ (using the substitution $x \mapsto ax$).
Bilinearity in the first argument when $(a, c)_F = 1$: in that case, $(a, c)_F \cdot (b, c)_F = (ab, c)_F$.
(Textbook Corollary 10.3, part 2) For any unit $c \in F^\times$, $(c, c)_F = (-1, c)_F$.
The image of unitZpToQp u in $\mathbb{Q}_p$ agrees with the inclusion of $u$.
(Helper, key step of Lemma 10.5) For odd prime $p$ and $p$-adic integer units $u, v \in \mathbb{Z}_p^\times$, there exist $x_0, y_0 \in \mathbb{Z}_p$ and a unit $z_0 \in \mathbb{Z}_p^\times$ such that $z_0^2 = u x_0^2 + v y_0^2$. The proof uses Chevalley–Warning to find a solution modulo $p$, then Hensel's lemma to lift it.