TITLE: Prove that $N(\gamma) = 1$ if, and only if, $\gamma$ is a unit in the ring $\mathbb{Z}[\sqrt{n}]$
QUESTION [5 upvotes]: Prove that $N(\gamma) = 1$ if, and only if, $\gamma$ is a unit in the ring $\mathbb{Z}[\sqrt{n}]$
Where $N$ is the norm function that maps $\gamma = a+b\sqrt{n} \mapsto \left | a^2-nb^2 \right |$
I have managed to prove $N(\gamma) = 1 \Rightarrow \gamma$ is a unit (i think), but cannot prove $\gamma$ is a unit $\Rightarrow N( \gamma ) = 1$
Any help would be appreciated, cheers

REPLY [4 votes]: If $\,\gamma\in\mathbb{Z}[\sqrt{n}]\,$ is a unit, then $\exists\beta\in\mathbb{Z}[\sqrt{n}]\,\,s.t.\,\,\gamma\beta=1\,\Longrightarrow 1=N(1)=N(\gamma\beta)=N(\gamma)N(\beta)$ ...

REPLY [3 votes]: Hint: The Brahmagupta Identity 
$$(a^2-nb^2)(c^2-nd^2)=(ac+nbd)^2-n(ad+bc)^2$$
is easy to verify, and useful. It implies that the norm of a product is the product of the norms.

REPLY [3 votes]: Thanks for the hints. I have come up with a proof that only uses the facts that 
$$
N(\alpha\beta) = N(\alpha)N(\beta)
$$
and
$$
N(1) = 1
$$
Let $\gamma$ be a unit. Then $\gamma\beta = 1$ for some $\beta\in\mathbb{Z}[\sqrt{n}]$
$N(1) = N(\gamma\beta) = N(\gamma)N(\beta) = 1$
As both $N(\gamma)$ and $N(\beta)$ are integers, they must both equal 1, hence
$N(\gamma) = N(\beta) = 1$
See anything wrong with this proof?

REPLY [2 votes]: Hint $\rm\ \ unit\ \alpha\iff \alpha\:|\: 1\iff \alpha\alpha'\:|\:1 \iff unit\ \alpha\alpha',\ $ since $\rm\:\alpha\:|\:1\iff\alpha'\:|\:1' = 1$