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The height of a prime ideal is the supremum of lengths of strict prime chains ending at it, equivalently the Krull dimension of its localization at a prime ideal. The Krull height theorem bounds the height of a minimal prime over an $n$-generated ideal by $n$.

An invertible module over a commutative ring $A$ is a finitely generated module that is a projective module and whose localization at a prime ideal is free of rank one at every prime. Its dual module $L^{\ast }={\mathrm{Hom}}_A(L,A)$ is also finite projective. Evaluation $L{\otimes }_A{L}^{\ast }\to A$ is an isomorphism after every prime localization, hence is an isomorphism globally by localization detects zero elements. The Picard group of a ring consists of the isomorphism classes of these modules under the tensor product of modules.

An element $a$ of a commutative ring $R$ is zero if and only if its image in every localization at a prime ideal is zero. If $a\ne 0$, its proper annihilator lies in a maximal ideal $\mathfrak{m}$. No element outside $\mathfrak{m}$ can annihilate $a$, so $a/1\ne 0$ in $R_{\mathfrak{m}}$. This also applies to elements of an $R$-module using localization of a module.

A minimal prime ideal is a prime ideal containing no strictly smaller prime ideal. If $A$ is a reduced ring and $\mathfrak{p}$ is minimal, the localization at a prime ideal $A_{\mathfrak{p}}$ is a field: its only prime is its maximal ideal, and reducedness makes that ideal its zero nilradical. Every nonzero commutative ring has a minimal prime.

The prime radical of a noncommutative ring is $N(R)={\bigcap }_{P}P$, with $P$ ranging over all prime ideals of a noncommutative ring. Here primeness means that for two-sided ideals $A,B$, $AB\subseteq P$ implies $A\subseteq P$ or $B\subseteq P$. A minimal prime over an ideal $I$ is a prime ideal containing $I$ with no strictly smaller prime ideal containing $I$.

The ascending chain condition on left ideals also applies to two-sided ideals. We first prove by Noetherian induction that every proper $I$ contains a finite product of prime ideals, each containing $I$. If there were counterexamples, choose a maximal one. It is not prime, so there are strictly larger two-sided ideals $A,B$ with $AB\subseteq I$. Neither is a counterexample; products of prime ideals contained in $A$ and in $B$ then concatenate to a product contained in $I$, a contradiction.

Write $P_1\cdots P_t\subseteq I\subseteq P_j$. Every prime ideal $P$ over $I$ contains at least one $P_j$, by primeness. The inclusion-minimal members of the finite list $P_j$ are therefore precisely the minimal primes over an ideal $I$: any smaller prime over $I$ would contain a member of that same list. Consequently there are finitely many. Replacing each factor $P_j$ by a minimal prime contained in it giveswith each $Q_j$ minimal over $I$. Repeated factors may be necessary; in $k[\epsilon ]/({\epsilon }^m)$ the sole minimal prime $(\epsilon )$ requires its $m$th power to reach zero.

Apply this to $I=0$. Since $N(R)\subseteq Q_j$ for every $j$,Thus the prime radical is a nilpotent ideal, as in finite minimal primes and nilpotent prime radical.

Now assume $R$ is commutative. A prime ideal $P$ is an associated prime of a module $M$ when $P={\mathrm{Ann}}_R(m)$ for some $0\ne m\in M$. Every nonzero module over $R$ has an associated prime: the ascending chain condition gives a maximal annihilator of a nonzero element, and maximal annihilator of a module element is prime.

Since the given $M$ is a Noetherian module, repeatedly choosing such a cyclic submodule in the next quotient yields a finite prime filtrationThe process terminates by the ascending chain condition. In a short exact sequence $0\to U\to M\to W\to 0$, one has $\mathrm{Ass}(M)\subseteq \mathrm{Ass}(U)\cup \mathrm{Ass}(W)$. Indeed, if $P=\mathrm{Ann}(m)$ and $Rm\cap U=0$, the image of $m$ in $W$ still has annihilator $P$. Otherwise choose $0\ne am\in U$; then $a\notin P$, and primeness gives $\mathrm{Ann}(am)=P$. As $\mathrm{Ass}(R/P_i)=\{P_i\}$, induction along the prime filtration provesIn particular there are only finitely many associated primes of a module.

Finally let $P$ be a minimal prime ideal of $R$. Its localization at a prime ideal $R_P$ has exactly one prime, its maximal ideal $P{R}_P$. The preceding nilpotence result makes this maximal ideal nilpotent. Choose $0\ne y\in R_P$ annihilated by $P{R}_P$, for example a nonzero element in its last nonzero power, or $1$ if $P{R}_P=0$. Since elements outside the maximal ideal are units, ${\mathrm{Ann}}_{R_P}(y)=P{R}_P$.

Write $y=r/s$. The element $r/1$ is nonzero and also has annihilator $P{R}_P$. Generate $P$ by $p_1,\dots ,p_{\ell }$. For each $i$, choose $u_i\notin P$ with $u_i{p}_{i}r=0$, and put $u={\prod }_i{u}_i$. Then $m=ur$ remains nonzero after localization, while $Pm=0$. If $am=0$, localization forces $a/1\in P{R}_P$, and hence $a\in P$. Therefore ${\mathrm{Ann}}_R(m)=P$. This proves that minimal primes are associated primes.

For a commutative ring $R$ and a multiplicative subset $S$ containing $1$, the universal property of localization specifies a pair $(R_S,\iota )$ with $\iota :R\to R_S$ a unital ring homomorphism, such that every $\iota (s)$, $s\in S$, is a unit, and any unital ring homomorphism $f:R\to T$ into a commutative ring that sends $S$ to units factors uniquely through $\iota$. Thus there is a unique $\tilde{f}:R_S\to T$ satisfying $\tilde{f}\iota =f$. The property determines the pair up to a unique compatible isomorphism.

For existence, take pairs $(r,s)\in R\times S$ and declareThe extra multiplier is essential when $R$ has zero divisors. This is an equivalence relation: for transitivity, multiply the two cross-multiplication equations by appropriate denominators and add them, using the product of their annihilating multipliers. Write the class as $r/s$ and defineMultiplying the defining equivalence equations verifies that these operations are well defined. They give a commutative ring, and $s/1$ has inverse $1/s$. The required map is necessarilyIt is well defined because applying $f$ to $u(s^{\prime }r-s{r}^{\prime })=0$ and cancelling the units $f(u),f(s),f(s^{\prime })$ equates the two images. Its addition and multiplication laws follow directly from the fraction formulas. This establishes existence and the universal property of localization. If $0\in S$, this construction gives the zero ring, which is allowed as a localization.

For a prime ideal $P$, its complement $S=R\setminus P$ is multiplicatively closed, and localization at a prime ideal means $R_P=S^{-1}R$. The mapis well defined and surjective, with kernel of a ring homomorphism $P{R}_P$: a numerator has zero image exactly when it belongs to $P$. Since $R/P$ is an integral domain, its field of fractions is a nonzero field, so $P{R}_P$ is a proper maximal ideal. Every fraction $r/s$ with $r\notin P$ is a unit, with inverse $s/r$. Every fraction with $r\in P$ belongs to this proper ideal and cannot be a unit. Thus the nonunits are exactly $P{R}_P$, and every proper ideal lies within it. ConsequentlyNow suppose each $R_P$ is reduced. If $x\in R$ is nilpotent, its image $x/1$ is nilpotent in every $R_P$, hence is zero. If $x\ne 0$, its annihilator ${\mathrm{Ann}}_R(x)$ is a proper ideal, so choose a maximal ideal $P$ containing it. Maximal ideals in a commutative ring are prime ideals. The vanishing criterion in a module localization would give $sx=0$ for some $s\notin P$. But then $s\in {\mathrm{Ann}}_R(x)\subseteq P$, a contradiction. Hence $R$ is reduced. This is reducedness is detected by prime localizations; no finiteness hypothesis is needed.

The stronger local-domain condition does not force $R$ to be an integral domain. Take $R=k\times k$ for a field $k$. Its only prime ideals are $P_1=0\times k$ and $P_2=k\times 0$: a prime ideal must contain one of the orthogonal idempotents $(1,0)$ and $(0,1)$, and the remaining quotient is the field $k$. At $P_1$, inverting $(1,0)$ kills the second component, so $R_{P_1}\cong k$; similarly $R_{P_2}\cong k$. Both localizations are integral domains, butis a product of nonzero elements in $R$. Therefore the answer is no, as illustrated by domain prime localizations do not imply a domain.

Let $S$ be a multiplicative subset, containing one and closed under products. On $A\times S$, useThe relation is reflexive and symmetric. For transitivity, if $u(ta-sb)=0$ and $v(rb-tc)=0$, then multiplication and addition give $uvt(ra-sc)=0$. Thus it is an equivalence relation. Write $a/s$ for the equivalence class. The localization of a ring $A_S=S^{-1}A$ has operationsThey are well defined. For example, replacing $a/s$ by $b/t$ in its sum with $c/r$ gives cross-numerator difference $r^2(ta-sb)$, and in its product with $c/r$ gives $rc(ta-sb)$. The same annihilating element $u$ kills both differences. Replacing the other input works identically. Associativity and distributivity then follow by putting all terms over the product of their denominators and using the ring identities in $A$. Addition and multiplication are commutative, with identities $0/1$ and $1/1$, and the displayed negative is an additive inverse. Hence $S^{-1}A$ is a commutative ring. If $0\in S$, the fraction relation identifies all elements, producing the zero ring.

The canonical ring homomorphism $\iota :A\to S^{-1}A$, $a\mapsto a/1$, makes each $s\in S$ a unit, with inverse $1/s$. The universal property of localization states that any ring homomorphism $h:A\to C$ sending $S$ into the units factors uniquely through $\iota$. Define the factor byIf $u(ta-sb)=0$, then $h(u)$ is invertible, so $h(t)h(a)=h(s)h(b)$, proving well-definedness. The fraction operations prove that $\tilde{h}$ is a ring homomorphism. Its value is forced by $a/s=\iota (a)\iota (s{)}^{-1}$, so it is unique. This property characterizes the localization up to a unique compatible isomorphism.

For a prime ideal $\mathfrak{p}$, its complement is a multiplicative subset, and the localization at a prime ideal is $A_{\mathfrak{p}}=(A\setminus \mathfrak{p}{)}^{-1}A$. Fractions with numerator outside $\mathfrak{p}$ are units; those with numerator in $\mathfrak{p}$ form the unique maximal ideal $\mathfrak{p}{A}_{\mathfrak{p}}$. Thus it is a local ring.

For the nilpotent question, suppose $a\ne 0$ and $a^n=0$. Its annihilator is a proper ideal, so it lies in some maximal ideal $\mathfrak{m}$. The fraction criterion says $a/1=0$ in $A_{\mathfrak{m}}$ only if $sa=0$ for some $s\notin \mathfrak{m}$, which is impossible by the choice of $\mathfrak{m}$. Thus $a/1$ is a nonzero nilpotent element in that localization. This proves reducedness is detected by prime localizations: if every prime localization is reduced, $A$ has no nonzero nilpotent elements.

For the domain question take $A=k\times k$ with $k$ a field. Its only prime ideals are ${\mathfrak{p}}_1=0\times k$ and ${\mathfrak{p}}_2=k\times 0$: a prime ideal must contain one of the orthogonal idempotents $(1,0),(0,1)$, and the corresponding quotient is $k$. Localizing at ${\mathfrak{p}}_1$ makes $(1,0)$ invertible and kills $(0,1)$, giving $A_{{\mathfrak{p}}_1}\cong k$; similarly $A_{{\mathfrak{p}}_2}\cong k$. But $(1,0)(0,1)=0$ with both factors nonzero. Therefore domain prime localizations do not force $A$ to be an integral domain, as expressed by domain prime localizations do not imply a domain.

A prime ideal $\mathfrak{p}$ is minimal over $I$ if $I\subseteq \mathfrak{p}$ and no strictly smaller prime contains $I$. An associated prime of a module is an annihilator of an individual nonzero element which happens to be prime. For the quotient module this readswhere ${\mathrm{Ann}}_R(\bar{a})=(I:a)=\{r\in R:ra\in I\}$. This is the annihilator of an individual element, rather than necessarily the annihilator of the whole quotient.

Minimal primes exist because $I$ is proper. First choose a maximal ideal containing $I$. Within the primes contained in it and containing $I$, an intersection of any decreasing chain is again prime. Indeed, if $ab$ is in the intersection and $a$ is absent from one member, then $b$ belongs to that member and to every smaller member; it also belongs to every larger member. The intersection is still proper and contains $I$. Zorn's lemma, applied with reverse inclusion, produces a minimal prime. This proves existence of minimal primes over a proper ideal, even without the Noetherian hypothesis.

Now fix a minimal prime $\mathfrak{p}$ and put $A=R/I$. The localization at a prime ideal $A_{\mathfrak{p}}$ is nonzero and is a Noetherian local ring. By prime ideal correspondence for localization, its only prime is $\mathfrak{p}{R}_{\mathfrak{p}}/I{R}_{\mathfrak{p}}$. Write this maximal ideal as $\mathfrak{n}$. It is the nilradical; since it is finitely generated and each generator is nilpotent, some power of $\mathfrak{n}$ is zero. Explicitly, if its generators have nilpotence exponents $e_1,\dots ,e_r$, every product of degree $1+{\sum }_i(e_i-1)$ vanishes.

Choose the smallest $s\ge 1$ such that ${\mathfrak{n}}^s=0$, and choose a nonzero element in ${\mathfrak{n}}^{s-1}$; when $\mathfrak{n}=0$, choose $1$. Its annihilator over $R_{\mathfrak{p}}$ is exactly $\mathfrak{p}{R}_{\mathfrak{p}}$. Represent it as $a/u$ with $u\notin \mathfrak{p}$. Multiplication by the unit $u$ shows that $a/1$ has the same annihilator and remains nonzero.

Let $p_1,\dots ,p_r$ generate $\mathfrak{p}$ in $R$. For each $i$, the equality $p_{i}a/1=0$ supplies $u_i\notin \mathfrak{p}$ such that $u_i{p}_i\bar{a}=0$ in $A$. Put $u={\prod }_i{u}_i$ and $\bar{b}=u\bar{a}$. Its localization is nonzero, so $\bar{b}\ne 0$, and every element of $\mathfrak{p}$ kills it. Conversely, an element outside $\mathfrak{p}$ becomes a unit and cannot kill the nonzero element $\bar{b}/1$. ThereforeThe key step in minimal primes are associated primes is clearing denominators for a finite generating set of $\mathfrak{p}$; that is where Noetherianity is used.

For an embedded associated prime, take $R=k[x,y]$ and $I=(x^2,xy)$. Its radical is $(x)$, so $(x)$ is its unique minimal prime. The nonzero class of $x$ satisfiesIndeed, $rx\in x(x,y)$ is equivalent to $r\in (x,y)$ by cancellation in the polynomial domain. Thus $(x,y)$ is associated but is not minimal, since $(x)⊊(x,y)$. For comparison, ${\mathrm{Ann}}_R(\bar{y})=(x)$, exhibiting the minimal associated prime as well.

Use the following finite-length version of the Hilbert-Serre theorem. Let $S={⨁}_{n\ge 0}{S}_n$ be a graded algebra generated over an Artinian ring $A=S_0$ by finitely many homogeneous elements $x_1,\dots ,x_r$ of positive degrees $e_1,\dots ,e_r$. For a finitely generated nonnegatively graded $S$-module $M$, define its Poincare series of a graded module byEvery component has finite length, and the theorem saysFor a module whose grading is merely bounded below, the same statement holds with a Laurent-polynomial numerator. When the generators all have degree one, the denominator is $(1-t{)}^r$.

Here is an induction proof. An Artinian ring is Noetherian by question 1, so the Hilbert basis theorem makes $S$ Noetherian. If there are no positive-degree generators, $S=A$ and a finite homogeneous generating set for $M$ occupies only finitely many degrees. Each component is a finite module over the Artinian ring $A$, hence has finite length of a module, and $P_M$ is a polynomial.

For $r>0$, put $x=x_r$, $e=e_r$, $N=\{m\in M:xm=0\}$ and $C=M/xM$. Both are finitely generated graded modules annihilated by $x$, hence modules over $S/(x)$, which is generated by the first $r-1$ homogeneous elements. Their multiplication exact sequence isHere $M(-e{)}_n=M_{n-e}$. Additivity of length degree by degree givesThis is the Hilbert series multiplication exact sequence. By induction, the right-hand side has denominator ${\prod }_{i<r}(1-t^{e_i})$. Division by $1-t^e$ completes the proof of the Hilbert-Serre theorem. The finite-component and finite-generation claims also follow from the finite set of positive-degree algebra and module generators; no analytic convergence of a series is involved.

For the local invariant, use the usual Noetherian local ring hypothesis of Hilbert–Samuel growth dimension. Locality alone does not guarantee finite lengths or polynomial growth; the printed question leaves this finiteness assumption implicit. For instance, in the localization at a prime ideal of the polynomial ring $k[x_1,x_2,\dots ]$ at $(x_1,x_2,\dots )$, the vector space $\mathfrak{m}/{\mathfrak{m}}^2$ has the infinitely many independent classes of the variables, so its length is not finite. Write $\mathfrak{m}=P$ and $\kappa =R/\mathfrak{m}$. Its associated graded ringis generated over $\kappa$ in degree one, because $\mathfrak{m}$ is finitely generated. Thus its Hilbert series is rational with a denominator that is a power of $1-t$. After cancelling factors, writeDefine $d(R)=d$, the pole order at $t=1$, with $d=0$ when $P_G$ is a polynomial.

Equivalently, the Hilbert–Samuel functionhas generating series $P_G(t)/(1-t)$ and eventually agrees with a polynomial of degree $d$. Indeed, coefficients of $(1-t{)}^{-d-1}$ are $\left(\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{n+d}{d}\right)$, and multiplication by $q(t)$ leaves leading term $q(1)n^d/d!$. Consequently $d(R)$ is the degree of the cumulative Hilbert-Samuel polynomial, rather than the degree of the individual graded-component function; the latter has degree $d-1$ when $d>0$. This pole/growth invariant also equals Krull dimension by the local dimension theorem, although that theorem is not required to define it here.

For an example, take $R=k[x,y{]}_{(x,y)}$. Its associated graded ring is $k[x,y]$ with the ordinary degree grading: degree $n$ has the $n+1$ monomials $x^i{y}^{n-i}$ as a basis. ThereforeThe length formula also follows directly by counting monomials of total degree at most $n$ in $R/(x,y{)}^{n+1}$.

Set $S=R\setminus P$, a multiplicative subset. The localization at a prime ideal is $R_P=S^{-1}R$, whose elements are fractions $r/s$. Equality of two fractions means that $u(r{s}^{\prime }-r^{\prime }s)=0$ for some $u\in S$. Likewise the localization of a module is $M_P=S^{-1}M$, withAddition uses a common denominator, and the module action isThe equivalence relations make these operations well-defined, so $M_P$ is an $R_P$-module.

If $M\ne 0$, choose $0\ne m\in M$. Its annihilator is proper, so it lies in a maximal ideal $P$. The element $m/1$ cannot vanish in $M_P$: vanishing would mean $sm=0$ for some $s\notin P$, contrary to ${\mathrm{Ann}}_R(m)\subseteq P$. The converse is immediate by localizing the zero module. ThusThis proof of localization detects zero elements actually applies to arbitrary modules, without finite-generation or Noetherian assumptions. We will use that extra generality for an Ext functor module below.

An injective module $E$ has the extension property: for each inclusion $A\hookrightarrow B$, every map $A\to E$ extends to a map $B\to E$. Equivalently, ${\mathrm{Hom}}_R(-,E)$ is exact. A projective module $Q$ has the lifting property: for each surjection $B\twoheadrightarrow C$, every map $Q\to C$ lifts to $Q\to B$. Equivalently, ${\mathrm{Hom}}_R(Q,-)$ is exact, or $Q$ is a direct summand of a free module.

For the local criterion for injectivity over a Noetherian ring, recall the Baer criterion: $E$ is injective precisely when every map from an ideal $J\subseteq R$ into $E$ extends to $R$. Through the short exact sequence $0\to J\to R\to R/J\to 0$, this is equivalent toWe also need localization of Ext over a Noetherian ring. Because $R$ is Noetherian, the module $R/J$ has a free resolution with every term finitely generated: all successive kernels are finitely generated, so this can be built recursively. For a finite free term $F$, the natural mapis an isomorphism, as is clear from a finite basis. Exactness of localization lets us pass to cohomology of the Hom complex. ThereforeThis explains the finiteness hypothesis needed for the localization argument, rather than assuming that localization preserves injectivity automatically.

If $M$ is injective, the left-hand side vanishes for every $J$ and $P$. Every ideal $L$ of $R_P$ is $J{R}_P$, where $J$ is its contraction to $R$: if $r/s\in L$, then $r/1=s(r/s)\in L$, and conversely localization of a member of the contraction stays in $L$. Hence all ideal tests for $M_P$ vanish, and the Baer criterion over $R_P$ makes $M_P$ injective.

Conversely, suppose every $M_P$ is injective. For each ideal $J$, the displayed Ext functor localization is zero at every prime. The zero-detection argument above gives ${\mathrm{Ext}}_R^1(R/J,M)=0$, without needing this Ext module to be finitely generated. Applying the Baer criterion over $R$ provesIn fact, under the Noetherian ring hypothesis this equivalence holds for arbitrary $M$; the printed finite-generation assumption is more than is needed.

The global dimension iswhere projective dimension is the smallest length of a projective resolution, or infinity if there is no finite one. If $\mathrm{gldim}R=0$, every module is projective. Given an inclusion $A\hookrightarrow B$, the quotient $B/A$ is then projective, so the exact sequence $0\to A\to B\to B/A\to 0$ splits. A retraction $\rho :B\to A$ exists. For any module $E$ and any map $f:A\to E$, the composition $f\rho :B\to E$ extends $f$. Thus every module is also injective. Global dimension zero makes all modules both projective and injective, as recorded by global dimension zero and split exact sequences.

Put $u=X_1-1$ and $v=X_2-1$. Evaluation at $(1,1)$ is surjective, andso its kernel is the prime ideal $\boxed{P=(u,v)}$. In particular $P/P^2$ is naturally an $R/P=\mathbb{Z}$-module, generated by the classes of $u,v$.

For integers $a,b$, including negative integers, reduction modulo $P^2$ givesFor negative powers, this follows from $(1+u{)}^{-1}\equiv 1-u$ and $(1+v{)}^{-1}\equiv 1-v$; the mixed product $uv$ vanishes modulo $P^2$. Therefore a Laurent polynomial $f$ satisfiesThe formal derivatives obey the product rule, so $D_i(ab)=\theta (a)D_i(b)+\theta (b)D_i(a)$. If $a,b\in P$, both terms vanish. Hence both $D_i$ vanish on $P^2$ and define a mapIt sends $[u]$ to $(1,0)$ and $[v]$ to $(0,1)$, and the displayed expansion gives its inverse. Thus the conormal module has the explicit basis

Let $A=R_P$ be the localization at a prime ideal, with maximal ideal $\mathfrak{m}=P{R}_P$. Every nonzero integer lies outside $P$ and is therefore inverted. The residue field isIndeed there is an explicit identificationinverting $1+u$ and $1+v$ has no effect in this local ring, and a polynomial denominator lies outside $(u,v)$ precisely when its constant term is nonzero. Conversely, clearing rational denominators turns every such fraction into a fraction from $R_P$.

For the Krull dimension, the prime ideal correspondence for localization preserves the strict chainof prime ideals in $R$. They are prime because the successive quotients are the integral domains $R$, $\mathbb{Z}[X_2,X_2^{-1}]$, and $\mathbb{Z}$. They remain distinct after localization at a prime ideal because they are all contained in $P$. Hence $\dim A\ge 2$.

For the upper bound, $R$ is a Noetherian ring by the Hilbert basis theorem and Localization of a Noetherian ring. Since $P$ is generated by two elements, the Krull height theorem gives $\mathrm{ht}P\le 2$. The prime ideal correspondence for localization identifies $\dim R_P$ with $\mathrm{ht}P$, so

A Noetherian local ring $(B,\mathfrak{n})$ with residue field $\kappa$ is a regular local ring ifBy the Nakayama lemma, the dimension on the left is the minimal number of generators of $\mathfrak{n}$; this is also called the embedding dimension.

The localization of a module is exact and commutes with quotients and products of ideals. Applying it to the already computed conormal module gives the cotangent space of a local ringIts dimension is two, equal to $\dim A$. Therefore $\boxed{R_P\text{ is a regular local ring}}$. Notice that $P/P^2$ has a basis over $\mathbb{Z}$, whereas the localized cotangent space of a local ring has a basis over the residue field $\mathbb{Q}$.

Let $T=R\setminus P$. Since $P$ is a prime ideal, $T$ is a multiplicative subset containing $1$ and excluding $0$. The localization at a prime ideal isConcretely, its elements are equivalence classes of pairs $(r,s)\in R\times T$, written $r/s$, withThis extra multiplier is essential when $R$ has zero divisors. Addition and multiplication areThe equivalence criterion is compatible with these operations: after multiplying by the multipliers witnessing changes of representatives, the corresponding numerators agree. The commutative ring axioms follow from those of $R$; the identity is $1/1$.

The canonical ring homomorphism $\iota :R\to R_P$, $r\mapsto r/1$, supplies the algebra over a commutative ring structure, with scalar action $a(r/s)=ar/s$. It also has the universal property of localization: whenever a ring homomorphism $\psi :R\to A$ sends $T$ to units, the unique extension is $r/s\mapsto \psi (r)\psi (s{)}^{-1}$.

For later use, $R_P$ is a local ring with maximal ideal $P{R}_P$. Reduction of numerators and denominators gives a surjective ring homomorphism $R_P\to \mathrm{Frac}(R/P)$ with kernel $P{R}_P$, so this ideal is proper and maximal. Every fraction outside it has numerator outside $P$ and is a unit, with inverse $s/r$. Thus it is the unique maximal ideal.

The equivalence relation defining the localization at a prime ideal givesThereforeEquivalently, all zero divisors of $R$ must lie in $P$. To prove necessity, if $s\notin P$ and $sr=0$ with $r\ne 0$, then $r/1=0$ in $R_P$, contradicting the hypothesis that the map is injective. Conversely, if every denominator annihilates no nonzero element, the displayed kernel of a ring homomorphism is zero, so the map is injective.

An integral domain automatically satisfies this criterion at every prime ideal, but the criterion itself does not require $R$ to be an integral domain.

No: $R$ cannot contain a nonzero nilpotent element. We prove the needed principle, localization detects zero elements, rather than assume it.

Let $a\ne 0$ in $R$. Its annihilator $\mathrm{Ann}(a)=\{r:ra=0\}$ is a proper ideal, because $1$ does not annihilate $a$. Every proper ideal is contained in a maximal ideal, by the Zorn lemma; choose such a maximal ideal $\mathfrak{m}$ containing $\mathrm{Ann}(a)$. If $a/1=0$ in $R_{\mathfrak{m}}$, then some $s\notin \mathfrak{m}$ satisfies $sa=0$. This would put $s$ in $\mathrm{Ann}(a)\subseteq \mathfrak{m}$, a contradiction. Thus every nonzero element survives in at least one localization at a prime ideal.

Now suppose $a^n=0$. For every prime ideal $P$, $(a/1{)}^n=0$ in $R_P$. The assumed absence of nonzero nilpotent elements forces $a/1=0$ in every $R_P$. The preceding argument then forces $a=0$. In the terminology of reduced rings, we have proved

Yes: $R$ can have nonzero zero divisors. Let $R=k\times k$, a direct product of rings, where $k$ is any field. The nonzero idempotents $e_1=(1,0)$ and $e_2=(0,1)$ satisfy $e_1{e}_2=0$, so both are zero divisors.

There are exactly two prime ideals:Indeed, any prime ideal must contain $e_1$ or $e_2$, since their product is zero. If it contains $e_1$, it contains $k\times 0$ and corresponds to a prime ideal of the quotient ring $k$, whose only prime ideal is zero; hence it equals $P_2$. The other case gives $P_1$.

For the localization at a prime ideal $P_1$, every denominator $(u,v)\notin P_1$ has $u\ne 0$, andis an isomorphism. It is surjective using constant first-coordinate fractions. It is injective because a numerator with first coordinate zero is annihilated by $e_1\notin P_1$, so its fraction is zero. Interchanging the coordinates proves $R_{P_2}\cong k$.

Thus the localization at a prime ideal is a field in every case, although $R$ has zero divisors. The obstruction to using the previous part's argument is that the two nonzero factors of a zero product can survive at different prime ideals.

Let $e_j$ be the sequence with $1$ in coordinate $j$ and zero elsewhere. In the direct product of rings $R=k^{\mathbb{N}}$, the idealsform a strict ascending chain: every element of $(e_1,\dots ,e_n)$ vanishes after coordinate $n$, whereas $e_{n+1}$ does not. Hence $R$ is not a Noetherian ring.

Nevertheless, each $a=(a_j)\in R$ has a coordinatewise generalized inverse $b=(b_j)$, defined by $b_j=a_j^{-1}$ when $a_j\ne 0$ and $b_j=0$ otherwise. It satisfiesThis is the defining property of a Von Neumann regular ring. Fix any prime ideal $P$, and take $a\in P$. Since $ab\in P$, $1-ab\notin P$; butConsequently $a/1=0$ in the localization at a prime ideal $R_P$. All elements of $P{R}_P$ therefore vanish. By the local ring description in part (a), $P{R}_P$ is the unique maximal ideal, so $R_P$ is a nonzero field. A field has only the ideals zero and itself, and thus is Noetherian.

We have proved the stronger conclusionThe argument applies to every prime ideal, without assuming that it comes from a coordinate projection.

A Dedekind domain is a Noetherian ring $D$ which is an integral domain, is an integrally closed domain, and has Krull dimension one. Explicitly, every ideal is finitely generated; every element of the fraction field that is an integral element over $D$ already belongs to $D$; and every nonzero prime ideal is a maximal ideal, with $D$ itself not a field.

With this convention, an equivalent local characterization is that $D$ is a Noetherian integral domain that is not a field and whose localization at a prime ideal $D_P$ is a discrete valuation ring for every nonzero prime ideal $P$. The integrally closed domain condition rules out singularities such as those represented by the subring $k[t^2,t^3]\subset k[t]$, where $t$ is integral but missing.

Some conventions also include fields by allowing Krull dimension at most one; the conclusions about ideals below remain valid under that convention.

The Second uniqueness theorem for primary decomposition says that in a minimal primary decomposition of an ideal in a Noetherian ring, every primary component belonging to an isolated prime is unique. Here an isolated prime is a minimal member of the set $\{\sqrt{Q_i}\}$.

Let $\mathfrak{p}=\sqrt{Q_i}$ be isolated and apply localization at a prime ideal. If $j\ne i$, minimality of $\mathfrak{p}$ gives $\sqrt{Q_j}⊈\mathfrak{p}$, so some element of $Q_j$ becomes a unit in $R_{\mathfrak{p}}$. ConsequentlyBecause $Q_i$ is $\mathfrak{p}$-primary, multiplication by any $s\notin \mathfrak{p}$ cannot carry an element outside $Q_i$ into $Q_i$. ThereforeThe right side depends only on $I$ and $\mathfrak{p}$, proving uniqueness.