TITLE: Intersection of field extensions
QUESTION [8 upvotes]: Let $F$ be a field and $K$ a field extension of $F$. Suppose $a,b\in K$ are algebraic over $F$ with degrees $m$ and $n$, where $m,n$ are relatively prime. Then $F(a) \cap F(b) = F$.
I see that the intersection on the LHS must contain $F$, but I don't see why $F$ contains the LHS.

REPLY [9 votes]: Hint: $[F(a):F]=[F(a):F(a)\cap F(b)][F(a)\cap F(b):F]$
$[F(b):F]=[F(a):F(a)\cap F(b)][F(a)\cap F(b):F]$
Thus $[F(a)\cap F(b):F]$ divides $[F(a):F]$ and $[F(b):F]$ so $[F(a)\cap F(b):F]=1$ since $[F(a):F]$ and $[F(b):F]$ are relatively prime.