Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2010/iii/paper-16/2/i/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2010 iii Paper 16 2 i Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
A finite morphism is a finite type morphism. It is also a separated morphism: on an affine scheme chart , its diagonal morphism is represented by the surjective multiplication ring homomorphism , and is therefore a closed immersion by Question 1.
We prove the lifting condition in the valuative criterion for properness. Choose an affine open subset of containing the image of the closed point of . Every point of is a generalization of its closed point, so the whole map factors through this affine open subset. Its inverse image under the finite morphism is , with a finitely generated -module. Every is integral over : apply the determinant trick to multiplication by on a finite set of module generators to obtain a monic polynomial which annihilates all generators and hence annihilates .
In the given valuative square, we have compatible ring homomorphisms and . The image in of each satisfies a monic polynomial over . To see directly why it belongs to , suppose . The defining property of a valuation ring gives , and it lies in the maximal ideal since it cannot be a unit. A monic equation for , multiplied by , would then express as a sum of elements in that maximal ideal, a contradiction. This proves that valuation rings are integrally closed and that factors through . The factorization is unique because is injective. Thus the lift exists uniquely, proving
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