Problem (as in Ireland and Rosen): Prove that every cubic form in 2 variables in Z/2Z has a nontrivial root.

Solution: This is false. Consider x3 + x2 y + y 3 which clearly has no non-trivial zero. Possible Revision: Prove that every cubic form in 3 variables in Z/2Z has a nontrivial root. Solution: This is also false. Consider x3 + y 3 + z 3 + x2 y + y 2 z + z 2 x + xyz. In modulo 2, this is equivalent to x + y + z + xy + yz + zx + xyz = (x + 1)(y + 1)(z + 1) 1 and this is equal to zero if and only if x, y, z are all 0.