Past exam of the commutative algebra course of the University of Oxford 2017 2 b Solution 2026-10-25
If , write with and . Choose such that and . In the binomial theorem expansioneach term has either at least factors , or at least factors . Hence every term belongs to the sum of ideals , andThus comaximal ideals can be recognized from their radicals of ideals.
For the general identity, givesOn the other hand, implies . Since the latter is an ideal, . Taking radicals of ideals and using the idempotence proved in a yieldsTherefore the radical of a sum of ideals satisfies