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For affine varieties $X,Y$ over an algebraically closed field $k$, their product in a category is affine, with coordinate ring $A{\otimes }_{k}B$, where $A=k[X]$ and $B=k[Y]$. Presenting $A=k[x]/J$ and $B=k[y]/L$ identifies this ring with $k[x,y]/(J,L)$. If both varieties are irreducible, this is an integral domain: express a nonzero tensor $F$ using linearly independent second factors. The points $x$ where its specialization $F_x$ is nonzero form a nonempty open subset of $X$. For two nonzero tensors $F,G$, choose $x$ in the intersection of these open subsets; then $F_x{G}_x\ne 0$ in the domain $B$. The Hilbert Nullstellensatz identifies $(J,L)$ with the defining ideal of $X\times Y$. The universal property follows from the universal property of the tensor product of modules as a tensor product of commutative algebras.

The Noether normalization lemma is valid over every field $k$, including finite fields: a nonzero finitely generated algebra $C$ contains elements $y_1,\dots ,y_d$ with algebraic independence over $k$ such that $C$ is finite as a module over the polynomial ring $k[y_1,\dots ,y_d]$. We prove it without an infinite-field hypothesis.

Write $C=k[a_1,\dots ,a_n]$ and induct on $n$. If the generators have algebraic independence, they already give a polynomial ring and the assertion is immediate. Otherwise choose a nonzero relation $F(a_1,\dots ,a_n)=0$. Choose an integer $M$ larger than every exponent in the monomials of $F$, and setIn $F(Y_1+T^M,Y_2+T^{M^2},\dots ,Y_{n-1}+T^{M^{n-1}},T)$, the largest power of $T$ has a nonzero coefficient in $k$. Indeed, a monomial with exponents $(e_1,\dots ,e_n)$ contributes top weight $e_n+{\sum }_{i<n}{e}_i{M}^i$. These weights are distinct by uniqueness of base-$M$ expansion, so only one monomial contributes the highest power. After rescaling, the substituted relation is monic in $T$.

Consequently $a_n$ is an integral element over $C^{\prime }=k[b_1,\dots ,b_{n-1}]$, and $C=C^{\prime }[a_n]$ is finite over $C^{\prime }$. Apply the induction hypothesis to $C^{\prime }$ and compose the finite module extensions. This proves Noether normalization by weighted substitutions. The induction reaches $n=0$, where $C=k$. For an integral domain $C$, taking fraction fields makes the resulting extension finite algebraic, so $d$ is the transcendence degree of $\mathrm{Frac}(C)/k$. More generally $d=\dim C$: integral extensions preserve Krull dimension, and a polynomial algebra in $d$ variables has Krull dimension $d$.

A useful bridge to the Hilbert Nullstellensatz is the Zariski lemma. If a field $E$ is a finitely generated algebra over $k$, normalization makes it finite and integral over a polynomial ring $P=k[y_1,\dots ,y_d]$. A subring over which a field is integral is a field: for nonzero $a\in P$, an integral equation for $a^{-1}\in E$, multiplied by $a^{r-1}$, expresses $a^{-1}$ as an element of $P$. Therefore $P$ must be a field. A polynomial ring in a positive number of variables is not a field, since a variable has no polynomial inverse. Hence $d=0$ and $E/k$ is a finite field extension. This proves the Zariski lemma.

Now let $k$ be an algebraically closed field. The Weak Hilbert Nullstellensatz says that every maximal ideal of $k[X_1,\dots ,X_n]$ is uniquely of the formTo prove it, the residue field $k[X]/\mathfrak{m}$ is a field generated as a $k$-algebra by the images of the variables. The Zariski lemma makes it finite algebraic over $k$, and algebraic closedness makes it $k$. Thus each $X_i$ has an image $a_i\in k$. The evaluation map has kernel the displayed ideal: subtracting the constant value of a polynomial expresses its difference as a combination of $X_i-a_i$. That kernel is maximal and contained in $\mathfrak{m}$, so equality holds. Conversely every evaluation kernel is maximal because its quotient is $k$. Uniqueness follows from the variable images. Every proper ideal is contained in a maximal ideal, so it has a common zero; equivalently, an ideal with no common zero is the whole ring.

For an ideal $I\subseteq k[X_1,\dots ,X_n]$, let $V(I)$ be its common-zero set and let $I(V(I))$ be all polynomials vanishing on that set. The Strong Hilbert Nullstellensatz statesThe inclusion $\sqrt{I}\subseteq I(V(I))$ follows because a field has no nonzero nilpotent elements. For the other inclusion, take $f$ vanishing on $V(I)$, with $f\ne 0$, and form the Rabinowitsch trick idealIt has no common zero: at a zero of $I$ the second generator has value one. The Weak Hilbert Nullstellensatz in $n+1$ variables gives $J=(1)$. Hence a finite identity has the form $1={\sum }_j{h}_j(X,T)g_j(X)+h(X,T)(1-Tf)$, with $g_j\in I$. Substitute $T=f^{-1}$ in the localization of a ring $k[X{]}_f$. Clearing the finitely many powers of $f$ occurring in denominators gives $f^r\in I$ for some $r$, so $f\in \sqrt{I}$. The case $f=0$ is immediate. This completes all three proofs. The algebraically closed hypothesis belongs to the two forms of the Hilbert Nullstellensatz; it was not needed for the Noether normalization lemma or the Zariski lemma.

Let $A=A(X)=k[x_1,\dots ,x_m]/I(X)$. Polynomial restrictions are regular functions, and a restriction is zero precisely when its class in the coordinate ring is zero. We prove surjectivity.

Using the usual irreducible-variety convention, view a regular function $f$ as an element of the fraction field of $A$. On a neighbourhood of every point it has the form $a/b$, where $a,b\in A$ and $b$ does not vanish at that point. Equality on a nonempty open subset of the irreducible variety is equality of rational functions. DefineThis is an ideal and contains a denominator nonzero at each point. Thus its zero locus is empty. The Hilbert Nullstellensatz implies $J=A$, so $1\in J$ and $f\in A$. ThereforeThe result also holds under a convention allowing reduced reducible affine varieties. One may cover by finitely many principal opens $D(b_i)$, represent $f$ in each localization, and increase powers until the local representatives glue after clearing denominators. Since these opens cover, the ideal generated by those powers is the unit ideal by the Nullstellensatz; a unit linear combination glues their numerators to one element of $A$. Irreducibility is used only for the shorter fraction-field proof, not for the assertion itself.

For a product in a category of prevarieties, the projections $p_X,p_Y$ must induce a bijectionfor every prevariety $T$. If $Z$ and $Z^{\prime }$ both have this property, their projection pairs determine morphisms $Z\to Z^{\prime }$ and $Z^{\prime }\to Z$. Each composite has the same projections as the identity, so uniqueness in the universal property makes both composites identities. This gives the unique isomorphism respecting the projections.

Here the classical convention is that a prevariety is locally an affine variety, with a finite affine cover, and is irreducible; an algebraic variety is a separated prevariety, meaning that its diagonal morphism has closed image. The same separation argument works in the convention that also permits reducible varieties. For separated $X,Y$, under the rearrangement $(X\times Y{)}^2\cong X^2\times Y^2$, the diagonal isIt is closed, proving separation. For completeness, irreducibility in the classical convention follows from the affine calculation below: the products of affine charts are irreducible, and their pairwise intersections are nonempty since nonempty open subsets of each irreducible factor meet. An open cover by irreducible open sets with pairwise nonempty intersections has irreducible union. Thus the product is an algebraic variety.

To establish the coordinate ring of a product of affine varieties, write $A=k[X]=k[x_1,\dots ,x_r]/J$ and $B=k[Y]=k[y_1,\dots ,y_s]/L$. The algebrahas zero set $X\times Y$. To see directly that $(J,L)$ is prime when $X,Y$ are irreducible, take nonzero $F,G\in A{\otimes }_{k}B$. Express $F={\sum }_i{a}_i\otimes b_i$ with the $b_i$ linearly independent over $k$. The set of $x\in X$ for which $F_x={\sum }_i{a}_i(x)b_i$ is nonzero is a nonempty open set: it is the union of the nonvanishing loci of the $a_i$, and at least one $a_i$ is nonzero. The Hilbert Nullstellensatz guarantees that such a function cannot vanish at every point. The analogous set for $G$ is also nonempty; their intersection contains a point $x$ by irreducibility. Since $B$ is an integral domain, $F_x{G}_x\ne 0$, whence $FG\ne 0$. Thus $A{\otimes }_{k}B$ is an integral domain, and the Hilbert Nullstellensatz identifies $(J,L)$ with the defining ideal of its zero set. The resulting affine variety has the universal property: algebra maps from $A{\otimes }_{k}B$ to $\Gamma (T,{\mathcal{O}}_T)$ correspond to pairs of algebra maps from $A,B$, and these correspond to morphisms into $X,Y$. This dictionary holds for arbitrary $T$, since coordinate functions give the morphisms on affine charts and agree on overlaps. Uniqueness of the product now proves

For the final part put $T=A{\otimes }_{k}A$ and $\mu (x\otimes y)=xy$. Restriction to the diagonal morphism is $\mu$, so $I=\ker \mu$. Write $\delta (a)=1\otimes a-a\otimes 1$. The elements $\delta (a)$ generate $I$: quotienting by them identifies the two copies of $A$ and gives precisely the multiplication quotient $T/I\cong A$. The map $D(a)=[\delta (a)]$ is $k$-linear, vanishes on $k$, and takes values in $I/I^2$. Sinceit obeys $D(ab)=aD(b)+bD(a)$ for the stated first-factor action. Hence it is a derivation of an algebra. The universal property of the Module of Kähler differentials supplies an $A$-linear map $\theta :{\Omega }_{A/k}^1\to I/I^2$ with $\theta (da)=D(a)$.

Define the $k$-linear map $q:T\to {\Omega }_{A/k}^1$ by $q(x\otimes y)=xdy$. It is $A$-linear for the first-factor action and, by the Leibniz rule, satisfiesTherefore $q(I^2)=0$ and restriction induces $\psi :I/I^2\to {\Omega }_{A/k}^1$. We have $\psi \theta (da)=da$, so $\psi \theta$ is the identity because the $da$ generate the Module of Kähler differentials. Conversely, if $z={\sum }_i{x}_i\otimes y_i\in I$, then ${\sum }_i{x}_i{y}_i=0$ andThus the conormal module of the diagonal gives

Suppose first that the affine variety $V$ is irreducible. If $fg\in I(V)$, thenBoth pieces are Zariski closed in $V$. Irreducibility forces one to equal $V$, so either $f\in I(V)$ or $g\in I(V)$. Thus $I(V)$ is a prime ideal.

Conversely, suppose that $I(V)$ is prime and that $V=A\cup B$ with $A,B$ closed in $V$. If both were proper, the Hilbert Nullstellensatz would giveChoose $f\in I(A)\setminus I(V)$ and $g\in I(B)\setminus I(V)$. Their product vanishes on $A\cup B=V$, so $fg\in I(V)$, contradicting primality. Hence one piece equals $V$. This proves the criterion of irreducibility and prime vanishing ideal:

For the semicubical parabolaconsiderCertainly $(y^2-x^3)\subseteq \ker \theta$. Divide any polynomial by the monic polynomial $y^2-x^3$ as a polynomial in $y$; its remainder is $a(x)y+b(x)$. If this remainder lies in $\ker \theta$, thenThe first summand contains only odd powers of $t$ and the second only even powers, so both vanish and $a=b=0$. ThereforeThe latter is a subring of the integral domain $k[t]$, hence is a domain. Thus $(y^2-x^3)$ is prime and

An affine variety of dimension $d$ is smooth at $p$ when its Zariski tangent space has dimension $d$; equivalently, the Jacobian criterion requires the Jacobian of its defining ideal to have rank $n-d$. For this plane curve, put $F(x,y)=y^2-x^3$. Its gradient isAt $(0,0)\in C$ the gradient vanishes, so the tangent space is all of $k^2$ and has dimension two rather than the curve dimension one. Hence the result on the coordinate ring and singularity of the semicubical parabola gives

The weak Hilbert Nullstellensatz says that if a field is a finitely generated algebra over $k$, then it is a finite algebraic extension of $k$. Since every maximal ideal is prime, the nilradical $\mathcal{N}(R)$ is contained in the Jacobson radical $J(R)$.

Conversely, let $f$ be nonnilpotent. Then $R_f\ne 0$, and it is a finitely generated $k$-algebra, so it has a maximal ideal $\mathfrak{n}$. Its contraction $\mathfrak{p}$ to $R$ avoids $f$. Moreover,is a finitely generated $k$-domain inside a finite algebraic extension of $k$, hence is itself a field. Thus $\mathfrak{p}$ is maximal and does not contain $f$. Therefore $f\notin J(R)$, proving

For an algebraically closed field $k$, the strong Hilbert Nullstellensatz says that every ideal $J\subseteq k[x_1,\dots ,x_n]$ satisfiesIts weak form says that $V(J)=\varnothing$ exactly when $J=(1)$. Now let $S=\mathbb{C}[x_0,\dots ,x_n]$ and let $I\subseteq S$ be a homogeneous ideal. The affine zero set of $I$ is the affine cone over $V_{+}(I)$ together with the origin. Hence, when the projective zero set is empty, eitheror the affine zero set is exactly the origin. In the latter case the Hilbert Nullstellensatz givesthe irrelevant ideal of projective space. Equivalently, some power $(x_0,\dots ,x_n{)}^N$ is contained in $I$. These are precisely the alternatives in the Projective Nullstellensatz.

Let $V\subseteq {\mathbb{P}}^3$ be a smooth quadric surface. After a projective linear transformation, the Segre embedding identifiesChoose distinct points $p,q\in {\mathbb{P}}^1$. The two fibresare the promised disjoint curves on a smooth quadric surface: each is a smooth projective line, and $C_p\cap C_q=\varnothing$. By the Bézout theorem, any two nonempty curves in the projective plane intersect. An isomorphism of algebraic varieties preserves intersections and takes projective curves to projective curves, so these disjoint curves prove

Next let $W$ be a smooth projective curve and let $f:W⇢Y\subseteq {\mathbb{P}}^N$ be a rational map to a projective variety. At a point $P$ outside its initial domain, writeusing elements of the function field $\mathbb{C}(W)$. The local ring of a smooth algebraic curve at $P$ is a discrete valuation ring. If $m={\min }_i{v}_P(f_i)$, multiplying every coordinate by a function of valuation $-m$ makes all coordinates regular at $P$ and at least one a unit there. They therefore define a morphism near $P$. Repeating this at the finitely many missing points proves the extension of a rational map from a smooth projective curve.

Smoothness is essential. Let $\nu :{\mathbb{P}}^1\to C$ be the normalization of a nodal curve for a rational nodal cubic $C$. The inverse is a rational map $C⇢{\mathbb{P}}^1$ on the smooth locus. If it extended to a morphism $g:C\to {\mathbb{P}}^1$, then $g\circ \nu$ would agree with the identity on a dense Zariski-open subset of ${\mathbb{P}}^1$ and hence everywhere. But the two distinct points $a,b\in {\mathbb{P}}^1$ above the node would satisfya contradiction. This is the failure of rational-map extension on a singular curve.

Finally take the Fermat cubic curveand define the projective hypersurfaceBecause $F$ and $xyz$ have no common irreducible factor, the bihomogeneous polynomial $sF+txyz$ is irreducible, so $Z$ is an algebraic variety. Letbe the second coordinate projection. Every homogeneous cubic in three variables has a projective zero over $\mathbb{C}$, so every fibre is nonempty and $\pi$ is a surjective morphism. Over $p=[1:0]$ the fibre is the Fermat cubic curve, which is smooth and has genusOver $q=[0:1]$ the fibre isthe union of exactly three distinct projective lines, hence exactly three irreducible components. This is the cubic pencil with a triangular member required by the question.

A nonempty topological space is irreducible when it is not the union of two proper closed subsets, equivalently when any two nonempty open subsets intersect.

The Zariski topology on ${\mathbb{A}}^n$ is Noetherian because $k[x_1,\dots ,x_n]$ satisfies the ascending chain condition on ideals. Suppose a closed set $X$ that is not a finite union of irreducible closed sets were minimal among such counterexamples. It is reducible, say $X=X_1\cup X_2$ with both $X_i$ proper closed subsets. Minimality expresses each $X_i$ as a finite union of irreducible closed sets, and combining those decompositions contradicts the choice of $X$. Thus every closed $X$ has a finite irreducible decomposition.

Using $x_3=x_2^2$, the second defining polynomial reduces toConsequentlyEach component is the image of $t\mapsto (\pm t,t,t^2)$ and is isomorphic to ${\mathbb{A}}^1$, hence irreducible. In characteristic two the two displayed components coincide.

Suppose a polynomial $P(x,y)={\sum }_{j=0}^m{p}_j(x)y^j$ vanishes on every $(x,e^x)$. Thenas an entire function. These exponential-polynomial functions are linearly independent: applying $(D-m{)}^{\mathrm{deg}{p}_m+1}$ kills the term with largest exponent, while it acts injectively on $p_j(x)e^{jx}$ for $j<m$; induction on the number of terms finishes the proof. Hence every $p_j$ is zero, so no nonzero polynomial vanishes on the graph. Its Zariski closure is all of ${\mathbb{A}}^2$.

Finally refine an open cover of an affine variety $X$ by distinguished opens $D(f_j)$, choosing one inside an original member around each point. Since these distinguished opens cover,The Hilbert Nullstellensatz implies that the $f_j$ generate the unit ideal. Thusfor finitely many of them, so $D(f_{j_1}),\dots ,D(f_{j_r})$ cover $X$. The corresponding original open sets form a finite subcover. This is quasi-compactness of an affine variety.

Let $I\subseteq k[x_0,\dots ,x_n]$ be a homogeneous ideal over an algebraically closed field, and letbe the irrelevant ideal. Then $V_{+}(I)=\varnothing$ exactly when either $I=(1)$ or $\sqrt{I}=\mathfrak{m}$. For a proper homogeneous ideal this is also equivalent to ${\mathfrak{m}}^N\subseteq I$ for some $N$.

An ideal $I$ is radical when $f^m\in I$ for some positive integer $m$ implies $f\in I$. Over an algebraically closed field, the Hilbert Nullstellensatz identifies the vanishing ideal of $V(I)$ with the radical $\sqrt{I}$.