Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-commutative-algebra-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2023/3/b/solution

Write . Every element of the extension of an ideal is a fraction with and : a finite sum of such fractions has a common denominator and numerator still in the ideal . If , then , so
Conversely, let be a nilpotent element of the localization at a prime ideal . For some , . The vanishing criterion in a module localization supplies with . It follows that
so . Since ,
This proves that the nilradical commutes with localization:
The multiplication by is necessary: the numerator of a nilpotent element in a localization need not itself be nilpotent in .

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