Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2015 iii Paper 1 3 ii Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
The key is a Laurent normalization by a monomial change of variables. We prove the slightly stronger assertion that every nonzero quotient of a Laurent polynomial ring in variables is finite as a module over an embedded Laurent polynomial ring in some number of variables.
Induct on . If the defining ideal is zero, the ring itself works. Otherwise choose a nonzero Laurent polynomialin that ideal, with nonzero coefficients. For a sufficiently large positive integer , the weightsare distinct for all . Indeed, each difference gives a nonzero polynomial in , which has only finitely many integer roots. Make the invertible monomial substitutionIts inverse is , so it is an automorphism of the Laurent polynomial ring. When there is no substitution and distinct exponents already give distinct weights.
As a Laurent polynomial in , the transformed relation has unique lowest and highest exponents. Their coefficients are nonzero scalar multiples of monomials in , hence units inMultiplying by a power of and the inverse leading coefficient givesHere : a single-term Laurent polynomial would be a unit and the quotient would be zero. Reversing the equation and dividing by gives a monic equation for . Thus both and are integral over the image of in . In fact being a unit also expresses as a polynomial in , so is generated as a -module by .
The ring is itself a nonzero quotient of an -variable Laurent polynomial ring. By induction, it is finite over an embedded Laurent polynomial ring in variables. Finiteness of modules is transitive, so the same is true of ; a finite ring extension is an integral extension, by the determinant trick applied to multiplication by an element.
Applying this to yields an embedded subringThe base case means the subring ; finiteness over it would make a finite-dimensional vector space. The hypothesis excludes this, so , as required. No infinitude assumption on is used.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2015 iii Paper 1 3 i Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
An integral extension means every satisfies a monic polynomialTo prove the Lying-over theorem, localize at . The injection remains injective, and is integral over : a monic relation for divided by suitable powers of gives one for . This is a nonzero ring, so choose a maximal ideal of it.
The contraction of to is maximal. To see this directly, a field integral over a subring forces that subring to be a field. For nonzero in the subring, is integral; multiply its monic equation of degree by to express as a polynomial in with coefficients in the subring. Apply this to the integral extensionSince is a local ring with unique maximal ideal , we obtain .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2016 iii Paper 101 2 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
The Weak Hilbert Nullstellensatz states that if is an algebraically closed field, every maximal ideal of isEquivalently, every proper ideal has a common zero. We prove the more general field statement, the Zariski lemma: a field finitely generated as a -algebra is a finite field extension of .
Write such a field as . Choose a maximal set of algebraically independent elements among these generators and denote the remaining generators by . Each is an algebraic element over , so is a finite field extension. Clearing the denominators in their monic equations, choose a nonzero such that each is an integral element overBecause is a field and , we have . Thus is an integral extension of .
A subring over which a field is integral must itself be a field. Indeed, for , an integral equation for multiplied by expresses as an element of . But if , the ring is not a field: choose an irreducible polynomial which does not divide . There are infinitely many monic irreducible polynomials in , by the usual product-plus-one argument, whereas only finitely many can divide the nonzero . The prime ideal stays proper after inverting , so has no inverse in . Therefore , proving that is a finite field extension, and in particular an algebraic field extension.
Apply the Zariski lemma to the residue field of a maximal ideal. When is an algebraically closed field, this field is itself. The images of then give , proving the Weak Hilbert Nullstellensatz.
For the real Laurent polynomial ring, the same argument applies because it is the finitely generated algebraEvery residue field at a maximal ideal is consequently a finite field extension of , and so is or . Here we use the fundamental theorem of algebra, which makes the algebraic closure of of degree two. The images of must be nonzero since these elements are units. It follows that the answer iswith and defining the same maximal ideal. If both coordinates are real, evaluation has image ; otherwise its image is . Thus every displayed kernel is maximal, and the Zariski lemma shows that this list is exhaustive.
For explicit generating sets of an ideal, there are three cases. For real nonzero ,If and with ,If with and , thenThe last two quotients are ; the nonzero coordinate condition ensures that the Laurent inverses exist in them. There are no further coincidences in the classification: equal kernels induce an -isomorphism between the evaluation image fields. The only -automorphisms of are the identity and complex conjugation, so the two pairs must agree or be conjugate.
To prove the intersection assertion, fix a prime ideal and an element . The integral domain has nonzero image . Its localization of a ring is nonzero and still a finitely generated algebra over , so it has a maximal ideal . By the Zariski lemma, the field is finite over .
The image of in is a subring containing and is a finite-dimensional -vector space. It is an integral domain, hence a field: multiplication by any nonzero element is an injective linear map of a finite-dimensional vector space and therefore surjective. The kernel of is thus a maximal ideal which avoids , since is invertible in . Its inverse image in is a maximal ideal containing but avoiding . As this works for every ,This is the Jacobson ring property for this Laurent polynomial ring.
For a nonzero finitely generated module , its set of associated primes isHere is the annihilator of the element. The Laurent polynomial ring is a Noetherian ring, so the nonempty collection of annihilators of nonzero elements of has a maximal member, say . It is proper because .
If and , then andMaximality forces , hence . Thus is a prime ideal, proving . This argument in fact only needs that is Noetherian, not the finite generation of .
A proper ideal is -primary when its radical of an ideal is andEquivalently, and imply ; equivalently, every zero divisor of is nilpotent. These formulations distinguish the actual primary ideal property from the weaker assertion that there is only one minimal prime ideal.
For the final example, set and . ThenSince is an integral domain, is a prime ideal. Moreover and , so . Consequently is the unique minimal prime ideal over .
Nevertheless , while and no power of belongs to . For the first assertion, reduce modulo : the image of is in , and is not a multiple of because is a nonunit in this integral domain. For the second, , so for every . Thus is not a -primary ideal: a unique minimal prime does not imply primary. In , the nonzero class of is killed by , a zero divisor which is not nilpotent.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2016 iii Paper 101 4 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
An integral domain is an integrally closed domain if every element of its fraction field which is an integral element over belongs to . Explicitly, if satisfiesthen . Thus .
Suppose is a unique factorization domain and is integral, with , , and with no common irreducible element as a factor. Multiplying its monic equation by givesHence divides . Every irreducible element dividing is a prime element, so it would divide , contrary to the choice of the fraction. Therefore is a unit, and . We have proved
The going-down theorem is the following. Let be an integral extension of integral domains with an integrally closed domain. IfthenWe first prove this for a module-finite ring extension and then remove that extra hypothesis. We use the Lying-over theorem, the going-up theorem, and the incomparability theorem for integral extensions: primes exist over every base prime, prime chains can be extended upwards, and distinct primes over the same base prime cannot contain one another. The going-up theorem follows by applying the Lying-over theorem to the quotient by the lower prime. These results concern arbitrary integral extensions; none assumes the going-down theorem.
For the finite case, let and . Since is module-finite, is a finite field extension. Take a finite normal field extension containing , obtained as a splitting field of the minimal polynomials of finitely many field generators. The extension need not be a separable field extension. Let be the integral closure of in . Then , and is integral over both and .
We need one auxiliary fact: the finite group acts transitively on the prime ideals of over any fixed prime ideal of . First observe that an element fixed by all of is a purely inseparable algebraic element over . Indeed, all -embeddings of into an algebraic closure extend to -automorphisms of the normal field extension . Hence the minimal polynomial of an algebraic element has only one distinct root. In characteristic zero this says ; in characteristic it says for some .
Now let be primes of over , and suppose is different from every , . By the incomparability theorem for integral extensions, is contained in none of these conjugate primes. The prime avoidance lemma suppliesThe productis fixed by , is integral over , and lies in because one factor is . Choose an exponent equal to in characteristic zero, or a power of in characteristic , such that . Since is an integrally closed domain, . It also lies in , hence in . Because is a prime ideal, some factor lies in . This means , contradicting our choice. Thus for some , proving transitivity. The power accounts for the possible purely inseparable field extension and makes the argument valid in every characteristic.
Lift the prescribed to a prime of by the Lying-over theorem for . Separately, choose a prime over and use the going-up theorem to find over . Transitivity gives with . ThenContracting to gives with the required contraction. This proves the going-down theorem for the module-finite case.
For a general integral extension , consider and the idealWe claim that is disjoint from . Otherwise, clearing the finitely many denominators in an expression for an element givesThe subalgebra is a module-finite ring extension of , since all its generators are integral elements. Apply the finite case to : there is a prime contracting to . The displayed identity puts in , but . Thus , a contradiction.
Localize further at the multiplicative subset . The extension of is a proper ideal, by the disjointness just proved. Choose a maximal ideal containing it and contract back to a prime ideal of . This prime contains and avoids . Its contraction to lies inside by the prime ideal correspondence for localization, and its contraction to is exactly . This completes the proof of the going-down theorem without any finite generation assumption on .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 iii Paper 101 5 d Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
TakeWe justify that this is a Dedekind domain. It is an integral domain inside the number field . As an additive group it is free of rank two over . The subgroup theorem for finitely generated abelian groups says that every subgroup of such a group is finitely generated. Thus every ideal has finitely many additive generators, and those same elements generate it as a -ideal. This proves that is Noetherian.
We use the standard formula for the ring of integers of a quadratic field: for squarefree , it is if , and otherwise. Since , is the ring of integers of a number field , meaning all elements of integral over . We also use transitivity of integral extensions. If an element of is integral over , it is integral over because is integral over , and therefore belongs to . Thus is an integrally closed domain.
Every nonzero prime ideal is maximal. Indeed, choose . Multiplying by its algebraic conjugate puts the nonzero integer in . Hence the integral domain is a quotient of the finite ring , and is finite. Every finite integral domain is a field, since multiplication by a nonzero element is injective and therefore surjective. The element has no inverse in , since , so is not a field. Consequently is not maximal, and a maximal ideal above it is nonzero. Together with the preceding result, this gives Krull dimension exactly one.
Finally, consider the idealReduction modulo with identifies with , so the additive index is . If were the principal ideal , multiplication by its nonzero generator would have integer matrixin the basis . The index of its image is the absolute determinant, soThere are no integer solutions: makes the right side at least , while would require . Thus is a nonprincipal ideal in the integers adjoined a square root of minus five, and is a Dedekind domain that is not a principal ideal domain.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 iii Paper 101 6 c Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
For a subring with the same identity, is an integral extension of if every is an integral element over : there exist and such thatThe requirement that the polynomial be monic is essential. Merely satisfying some polynomial equation over is insufficient: for instance satisfies over , but is not integral over . To see this directly, a hypothetical monic equation for , multiplied by , would say that an odd integer plus a sum of even integers is zero.
The degree and coefficients may depend on . Integrality does not by itself assert that the entire ring is a finite -module; it does imply that the subalgebra is generated as an -module by .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 iii Paper 101 6 d Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
We use three theorems for an integral extension , none requiring Noetherian hypotheses. The Lying-over theorem says that each prime ideal of is for some prime ideal of . The going-up theorem says that if in and , there is with . The incomparability theorem for integral extensions says that comparable prime ideals of with the same contraction to are equal.
Take any strict chainin . The contraction of an ideal operation gives , which are prime ideals of , by the proof in Question 1(b), and remain strictly increasing by the incomparability theorem for integral extensions. Thus every chain length in occurs in , giving .
Conversely, take any strict chain in . Use the Lying-over theorem to choose over , then repeatedly use the going-up theorem to obtain with the prescribed contractions. Each inclusion must be strict, since its contractions are distinct. Hence every chain length in occurs in , giving .
Taking suprema proves integral extensions preserve Krull dimension:The argument works equally well when the dimensions are infinite, since it compares all finite chain lengths.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 iii Paper 101 6 e Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
No. In the Gaussian integers, chooseIndeed, substituting gives , so is a prime ideal and its contraction is . Put . Modulo , becomes in , so . ThereforeWe show that is not an integral element over , using a direct reduction argument. Write , viewed inside . There is a ring homomorphismwhich reduces rational coefficients modulo . It is well defined because denominators in are not divisible by , and in . In particular, and .
If satisfied a monic equation over , saymultiplication by would give an equality in :Applying gives in , a contradiction. ConsequentlyThis exhibits why localization of an integral extension at a prime need not be integral. Localizing both rings by the same multiplicative subset preserves an integral extension, but inverts additional elements, including , whose image at the other prime ideal is zero. The original extension is integral because satisfies the monic equation : the subalgebra generated by finitely many integral elements property applies to .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 iii Paper 148 1 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
An element is an integral element over when it satisfies a monic equationThe extension is an integral extension when every is integral over .
Let and localize both rings at . The extension remains integral. Choose a maximal ideal of . The contraction of a maximal ideal under an integral extension is maximal, and the local ring has unique maximal ideal , so . Contracting back to produces with . This proves the Lying-over theorem and hence the surjectivity of
Suppose and both contract to . Quotient by and localize the resulting integral domain at the nonzero elements of . The localized ring is an integral domain integral over the field , and is therefore itself a field. The localization of must consequently be zero; since the localized ring is a domain, . Thus the incomparability theorem for integral extensions gives
The Krull dimension of a ring is the supremum of the lengths of its strict chains of prime ideals. Incomparability makes the contraction of every strict prime chain in strict, so . Conversely, start over the bottom prime of any chain in using lying over and lift each subsequent inclusion using the going-up theorem. Hence
For the concrete surface, write for the residue classes of and putThenand characteristic zero allows division by three. ThereforeDivision by the monic quadratic shows that is free over with basis . In particular, are algebraically independent and the requested Noether normalization of the quadratic surface xy plus yz plus zx is
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2023 iii Paper 101 2 a i Solution 2026-09-28
A ring extension is an integral extension when every is an integral element over : there is a monic polynomialwith all .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2023 iii Paper 101 2 c Solution Created 2026-09-28 Updated 2026-10-03
The claim fails for a general extension. If is an infinite field, all the infinitely many maximal ideals of contract to in .
It still fails for an integral extension. Take a finite field andEvery satisfies the monic equation , so is integral over the diagonal copy of . The coordinate kernels are infinitely many distinct maximal ideals, all lying over .
The claim is true for a module-finite ring extension. The primes above correspond to the primes of the fiber ringThis is a finite-dimensional algebra over the residue field , hence an Artinian ring, and an Artinian ring has only finitely many prime ideals.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2026 iii Paper 101 3 a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
The Going-down theorem states: let be an integral extension of integral domains, with integrally closed in its fraction field. If are prime ideals of and is a prime ideal of lying over , then there is a prime ideal lying over .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2026 iii Paper 101 3 b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Put , letbe the minimal polynomial of an algebraic element over , and let be the integral closure of in a finite normal extension containing all roots of . Since is integral over and is integrally closed domain, every belongs to .
Write with and . Every -embedding into the normal extension fixes the and sends each to an element integral over . Thus every conjugate of lies in the extended ideal . Each nonleading coefficient of is, up to sign, an elementary symmetric polynomial in those conjugates, so it lies in .
For an integral extension, extension followed by contraction preserves a prime ideal:Indeed, the determinant trick gives for , and primality then gives . Hence for every .