Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2017/ib/paper-2/2e/b/ii/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 ib Paper 2 2E b ii Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-05
For the same pair, . Since is a unique factorization domain, Gauss lemma for polynomials proves that is a unique factorization domain.
To prove that is not a principal ideal domain, consider the ideal . A generator would divide 2 and . Divisibility of 2 forces to be a nonzero constant integer; divisibility of then forces that integer to divide its coefficient 1, so . This would make . But evaluation at followed by reduction modulo 2 maps every element of to zero and maps 1 to one. Hence , a contradiction. This is the integer polynomial ring is not a principal ideal domain example, with both clauses satisfied by a single inclusion.
New to topics? Read the docs here!