Rings and Ideals Notes
Commutative Algebra Notes: Rings and Ideals
1.1
Let $x$ be a nilpotent element of a ring $A$. Show that $1 + x$ is a unit of $A$. Deduce that the sum of a nilpotent element and a unit is a unit.
The nilradical is a subset of the Jacobson radical, and by (1.9), for any $x \in \mathbb{R}$ we have $1 + x = 1 − (−x)$ a unit. Now if $x$ is nilpotent and u a unit, then $u^{−1}x$ is nilpotent as well and $u + x = u(1 + u^{−1}x)$ is invertible.
1.2
Let $A$ be a ring and let $A[x]$ be the ring of polynomials in an indeterminate $x$, with coefficients in $A$. Let $f = a_0+a_1x+\cdots+a_nx^n \in A[x]$. Prove that:
1.2.1
$f(x)$ is a unit in $A[x] \iff a_0$ is a unit in $A$ and $a_1,\cdots,a_n$ are nilpotent.
$\Leftarrow$: From the question we could know that $a_0$ is the unit in $A[x]$ and $a_1,\cdots,a_n$ are nilpotent. Hence $a_1x,\cdots,a_nx^n$ is the nilpotent in $A[x]$. From Exercise $1$,
\[f = a_0+a_1x+\cdots+a_nx^n \in A[x]\]is invertible in $A[x]$.
$\Rightarrow$: Assume
\[f = a_0+a_1x+\cdots+a_nx^n \in A[x]\]is invertible in $A[x]$. The inverse is:
\[g = b_0+b_1x+\cdots+b_mx^m \in A[x]\]Then according to $fg=1$, we could know:
\[1=a_0b_0+(a_1b_0+a_0b_1)x+\cdots+(a_{n-1}b_m+a_nb_{m-1})x^{m+n-1}+a_nb_mx^{m+n}\]Hence,
\[\begin{cases} 1=a_0b_0\\ 0=a_1b_0+a_0b_1\\ \cdots\\ 0=a_{n-1}b_m+a_nb_{m-1}\\ 0=a_nb_m \end{cases}\]Then we will prove $a_n^{r+1}b_{m-r}=0$, $\forall 0 \leq r \leq m$, we use Mathematical Induction.
It is obvious that $r = 0$ was established. Hence, we assume we have:
\[a_n^rb_{m-r+1}+a_{n-1}b_{m-r+1}+\cdots+a_{n-r}b_m=0\]Mutiply $a_n^r$ on both sides and combine with the induction assumption, we will have $a_n^{r+1}b_{m-r}=0$. Hence, $a_n^{r+1}b_{m-r}=0$, $\forall 0 \leq r \leq m$, $a_n^{m+1}b_0=0$. From $a_0b_0=1$, we could know that $b_0$ is unit. Hence, $a_n^{m+1}=0$. It means that $a_n$ is nilpotent, and $-a_nx^n$ is also nilpotent.
Then use Mathematical Induction on $n$. It is obvious that $n=0$ is established. When $n \geq 1$, $f(x)$ is invertible and $-a_nx^n$ is nilpotent. Hence, we can know from Exercise 1 that:
\[f-a_nx^n=a_0+a_1x+\cdots+a_{n-1}x^{n-1} \in A[x]\]is invertible. From the induction assumption, $a_0$ is invertible and $a_1,\cdots,a_{n-1}$ are nilpotents, $a_0$ is revertible and $a_1,\cdots,a_{n-1},a_n$ are nilpotents.
$Q.E.D.$
1.2.2
$f$ is nilpotent $\iff$ $a_0,a_1,\cdots,a_n$ are nilpotent.
$\Leftarrow$: $a_0,a_1,\cdots,a_n$ are nilpotent, then $a_0,a_1x,\cdots,a_nx^n \in A[x]$ are nilpotent. Hence, there exist an $N$ which is big enough that $a_0^N=(a_1x)^N=\cdots=(a_nx^n)^N=0$, hence
\[(a_0+a_1x+\cdots+a_nx^n)^{(n+1)N}=0\]This proves that the sum of the nilpotent is also nilpotent.
$\Rightarrow$: It is trivial when $n=0$, assume it is established for $n-1$. Then if $f=a-0+a_1x+\cdots+a_nx^n$ is nilpotent, there exist $N$, s.t.
\[(a_0+a_1x+\cdots+a_nx^n)^N=0\]After expansion, we will find $(a_nx^n)^N=0$($a_n$ and $-a_nx^n$ are nilpotent). From the former part, we will find that
\[a_0+a_1x+\cdots+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}=f-a_nx^n\]is nilpotent. From the assumption we could know that $a_0,\cdots,a_{n-1}$ are nilpotent, hence all the parameters are nilpotent.
$Q.E.D.$
1.2.3
$f$ is a zero-divisor $\iff$ there exists $a \neq 0$ in $A$ such that $af=0$.
$\Leftarrow$: trivial.
$\Rightarrow$: if $f=a_0+a_1x+\cdots+a_nx^n$ is a zero-divisor, then there exists a non-zero polynomial with the lowest degree $g=b_0+b_1x+\cdots+b_mx^m$, s.t. $fg=0$, which means that
\[(a_0+a_1x+\cdots+a_nx^n)(b_0+b_1x+\cdots+b_mx^m)=0\]Hence, $a_nb_m=0$, then $a_ng=0$. Or, $deg(a_ng)<m,(a_ng)f=0$. This is conflict with that $g$ has the lowest degree. Hence,
\[0=fg=(a_0+a_1x+\cdots+a_{n-1}x^{n-1})g\]Similarly, we will have $a_{n-1}b_m=0$ and $a_{n-1}g=0$. Or $deg(a_{n-1}g)<m$,$(a_{n-1}g)f=0$. And then, we will have:
\[a_{n-r}g=0,\forall 0 \leq r \leq n\]Because $g$ is not $0$, so there exists a $b_i \neq 0$, then
\[a_{n-r}b_i = 0, \forall 0 \leq r \leq n\]This means that $b_if=0$.
$Q.E.D.$
1.2.4
$f$ is said to be primitive if $(a_0, a_1, \cdots , a_n) = (1)$. Prove that if $f, g \in A[x]$, then $fg$ is primitive $\iff$ $f$ and $g$ are primitive.
Assume $f = a_0 +a_1x+ \cdots +a_nx^n, g = b_0+b_1x+\cdots+b_mx^m$. Then,
\[fg = a_0b_0+(a_0b_1+a_1b_0)x+ \cdots +a_nb_mx^{n+m}\]$\Rightarrow$: if $fg$ is primitive, according to the definition,
\[(a_0b_0,a_0b_1+a_1b_0,\cdots,a_nb_m)=(1)\]Obviously, we will have,
\[a_0b_0,a_0b_1 + a_1b_0, \cdots , a_nb_m \in (a_0, a_1,\cdots, a_n)\] \[a_0b_0, a_0b_1 + a_1b_0, \cdots , a_nb_m \in (b_0, b_1, \cdots, b_n)\]hence,
\[(a_0b_0, a_0b_1 + a_1b_0, \cdots , a_nb_m)\subseteq (a_0, a_1, \cdots, a_n)\] \[(a_0b_0, a_0b_1 + a_1b_0, \cdots , a_nb_m)\subseteq (b_0, b_1, \cdots, b_n)\]Hence, there’s only one circumstance.
\[(a_0,a_1,\cdots,a_n) = (b_0,b_1,\cdots,b_n)=(1)\]According to the definition, $f$ and $g$ are primitive.
$\Leftarrow$: if $f$ and $g$ are primitive, which means
\[(a_0,a_1,\cdots,a_n) = (b_0,b_1,\cdots,b_n)=(1)\]Assume $f$ and $g$ are not primitive, then
\[(a_0b_0,a_0b_1+a_1b_0,...,a_nb_m) = I \subsetneq (1)\]From $1.4$ we will know that there exists a maximal ideal $I \subseteq I_{max}$, consider the polynomial ring $(A/I_{max})[x]$ on field $A/I_{max}$. Consider the coresponding polynomial,
\[F = (a_0 + I_{max}) + (a_1 + I_{max})x + \cdots + (a_n + I_max)x_n\] \[G = (b_0 + I_{max}) + (b_1 + I_{max})x + \cdots + (b_m + I_max)x_m\]This is because,
\[(a_0b_0, a_0b_1 + a_1b_0, \cdots , a_nb_m) \subseteq I_{max}\]Hence,
\[FG = (a_0b_0 + I_{max}) + (a_0b_1 + a_1b_0 + I_{max})x + \cdots + (a_nb_m + I_{max})x^{n+m} = 0\]$F=0$ or $G=0$ because $(A/I_{max})[x]$ is integral domain. This means that $a_i \in I_{max}$, $\forall 0 \leq i \leq n$ or $b_i \in I_{max}$, $\forall 0 \leq i \leq m$. This conflicts with $(a_0, a_1, \cdots , a_n) = (b_0, b_1, \cdots , b_n) = (1)$.
1.3
Generalize the results of Exercise $1.2$ to a polynomial ring $A[x_1, \cdots , x_r]$ in several indeterminates.