Introduction. Throughout the paper K(x) is a simple transcendental extension of a field K; v is a valuation of K and w is an extension of v to K(x). Also koÍk and GoÍG denote respectively the residue fields and the value groups of the valuations v and w. A well-known theorem conjectured by Nagata asserts that either k is an algebraic extension of feo or k is a simple transcendental extension of a finite extension of ko (cf [4] or [6] or [1, Corollary 2.3]). We prove here an analogous result for the value groups viz. either G/ Go is a torsion group or there exists a subgroup G1 of G containing Go with [G1: Go] > ∞ such that G is the direct sum of G1 and an infinite cyclic group. Incidentally we obtain a description of the valuation w as well as of its residue field in the second case. Thus a characterization of all those extensions w of v to K(x), for which w(K(x)\{0})/Go is not a torsion group, is given. Corresponding to such a valuation w, we define three numbers N, S and T which satisfy the inequality N ≥= ST. This is analogous to the fundamental inequality established by Ohm (cf. [5, 1.2]) for residually transcendental extensions of v to K(x). We also investigate the conditions under which N = ST

The structure of Kronecker class of an extension K: k of algebraic number fields of degree |K: k| ≤ 8 is investigated. For such classes it is shown that the width and socle number are equal and are at most 2, and for those of width 2 the Galois group is given. Further, if |K: k | is 3 or 4, or if 5 ≤ |K: k| ≤ 8 and K: k is Galois, then the groups corresponding to all “second minimal” fields in K are determined.

Let K:= Q(α) be an algebraic number field which is given by specifying the minimal polynomial f(X) for α over Q. We describe a procedure for finding the subfields L of K by constructing pairs (w(X), g(X)) of polynomials over Q such that L= Q(w(α)) and g(X) is the minimal polynomial for w(α). The construction uses local information obtained from the Frobenius-Chebotarev theorem about the Galois group Gal(f), and computations over p-adic extensions of Q.

In this paper we continue our investigations of a construction method for subnear-rings of M(G) proposed by H. Wielandt. For a meromorphic product H, H ⊂ Gk, G finite, we obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for M(G, k, H) to be a near-field.

Let K be an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero, and S a nonempty subset of K such that S Q = Ø and card S < card K, where Q is the field of rational numbers. By Zorn's Lemma, there exist subfields F of K which are maximal with respect to the property of being disjoint from S. This paper examines such subfields and investigates the Galois group Gal K/F along with the lattice of intermediate subfields.