Some algebra of Newton polynomials (Q1288328)

For each positive integer \(k\), let \(N_k\) be the Newton symmetric polynomial in two variables \(x^k+y^k\). Let \(S\) be the subfield of \({\mathbb{Q}}(x,y)\) consisting of the symmetric rational functions. For \(a\neq b\), the authors determine the degree \([S:{\mathbb{Q}}(N_a,N_b)]\). The general case is an easy consequence of Theorem 1.2 of the paper: If \(a<b\) are relative prime, then \([S:{\mathbb{Q}}(N_a,N_b)]={ab\over 2}\) if \(ab\) is even, and \({a(b-1)\over 2}\) if \(ab\) is odd. It is also conjectured that \({\mathbb{Q}}(N_a,N_b,N_c)=S\) for all distinct positive integers \(a,b,c\) such that \((a,b,c)=1\), and this conjecture is proved for some infinite families of triplets \(a,b,c\).