Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-rings-and-modules-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2023/1/b/ii/solution

Every multiple of is a multiple of each , giving one inclusion. For the reverse inclusion, a principal ideal domain is a unique factorization domain, so each irreducible element is a prime element.
Let . The case is immediate. Otherwise, write . Since and the prime element cannot divide the non-associate irreducible element , it divides . Write , and repeat. At stage , the prime element divides none of , so it divides the remaining factor. Hence , proving

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