Past exam of the algebra, analysis and differential equations II course of the University of Oxford / 2006 / Algebra / 3

An element $a$ of an integral domain is an irreducible element when it is nonzero and not a unit, and any factorization $a=bc$ has at least one unit factor. The exclusions of zero and units are part of the definition.

An element $a$ is a prime element when it is nonzero and not a unit, and $a\mid bc$ implies $a\mid b$ or $a\mid c$. If $a=bc$ and $a$ is a prime element, assume for example $b=ad$. Cancellation in $a=adc$ gives $dc=1$, so $c$ is a unit. This proves every prime element is an irreducible element.

In a Euclidean domain, each nonzero ideal has a generator of least Euclidean value: division of another member by that generator leaves a remainder in the ideal of smaller value, so the remainder must vanish. Let $a$ be an irreducible element and suppose $a\mid bc$ but $a\nmid b$. Write $(a,b)=(d)$. Since $d\mid a$, irreducibility says $d$ is a unit or is associate to $a$. The second case would give $a\mid b$, so $d$ is a unit. Hence $1=ra+sb$ for some $r,s$. Multiplying by $c$ shows $a\mid c$. Thus irreducibles in a Euclidean domain are prime.

For $R=\mathbb{Z}[i\sqrt{7}]$, use the multiplicative integer field norm $N(m+ni\sqrt{7})=m^2+7n^2$. Units have field norm one and are exactly $\pm 1$. If $2=uv$ were a product of nonunits, their norms would be integers greater than one multiplying to four, hence both would have field norm two. But $m^2+7n^2=2$ has no integer solution: $n\ne 0$ makes the left side at least seven, and $n=0$ would give $m^2=2$. Therefore 2 is an irreducible element.

On the other hand,is divisible by 2, while neither factor is, because divisibility by 2 requires both integer coefficients to be even. Thus 2 is not a prime element in this ring. It is also not a prime element in $\mathbb{Z}[i]$: $2\mid (1+i{)}^2=2i$, but $2\nmid 1+i$. In fact $2=(1+i)(1-i)$ is already a nontrivial factorization there.