Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2006 / ib / Paper 3 / 1E (Groups, Rings and Modules)

Take the integral domain $R=\mathbb{Z}[\sqrt{-5}]$, embedded in $\mathbb{C}$. It exhibits failure of unique factorization in the ring of integers generated by square root of minus five:Here is why these are genuinely distinct factorizations into irreducible elements. The multiplicative algebraic norm $N(a+b\sqrt{-5})=a^2+5b^2$ is a nonnegative integer and equals one only for $\pm 1$, which are therefore the only units. Neither two nor three is a value of $N$: if $b\ne 0$ the value is at least five, and if $b=0$ it is a square. A factorization of $2$ into nonunits would require norms two and two; one of $3$ would require norms three and three; one of $1\pm \sqrt{-5}$ would require norms two and three. All are impossible. Thus all four factors are irreducible. The factors of norms four and nine cannot be associate elements of those of norm six, and $1+\sqrt{-5}$ and $1-\sqrt{-5}$ are not related by a sign. Therefore $R$ is an integral domain which is not a unique factorization domain.

Use the standard convention that an integral domain has $1\ne 0$. Since $(n)=(-n)$, the sign of a nonzero $n$ makes no difference. For $|n|=p$ prime, every nonzero residue has an inverse by Bézout's identity, so the quotient ring is a field and hence an integral domain. If $|n|=ab$ is composite with $1<a,b<|n|$, the nonzero classes of $a$ and $b$ multiply to zero, giving zero divisors. For $n=\pm 1$, the quotient is the zero ring, excluded by the convention above. Finally, $n=0$ gives $\mathbb{Z}/(0)\cong \mathbb{Z}$, an integral domain. ThusIf a convention restricts this notation to positive moduli, the answer is simply the positive primes.