Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2001 / iii / Paper 2 / 1 / ii / Solution

The commutative Laurent polynomial ring $B$ is an integral domain and $\sigma$ is invertible. Write nonzero elements asThe largest exponent in their product is $m+n$, with coefficientThere is only one pair of exponents contributing at this degree, and the coefficient cannot vanish in the integral domain $B$. Hence $rs\ne 0$. Equivalently, $rs=0$ forces $r=0$ or $s=0$. This is skew Laurent extensions of domains are domains, and the argument works over the original field in any characteristic.