Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2007 / ib / Paper 2 / 11G / ii

Hilbert's basis theorem: if $R$ is a commutative Noetherian ring with identity, then the polynomial ring $R[x]$ is Noetherian. Iteration gives the same assertion for every finite number of variables.

Here is a bounded-degree coefficient proof of Hilbert basis theorem. Let $I$ be any ideal of $R[x]$. For $n\ge 0$, define $J_n\subseteq R$ to be the coefficients of $x^n$ in the polynomials of $I$ of degree at most $n$, including the zero coefficient. Closure under addition and scalar multiplication makes $J_n$ an ideal of $R$. Multiplication of a polynomial by $x$ shows $J_n\subseteq J_{n+1}$. By the ascending chain condition, there is $N$ such that $J_N=J_{N+1}=\cdots$.

Each $J_n$ for $0\le n\le N$ is finitely generated. Choose generators $a_{n,1},\dots ,a_{n,r_n}$ and corresponding polynomials $f_{n,j}\in I$ of degree at most $n$ whose coefficient of $x^n$ is $a_{n,j}$. There are only finitely many chosen polynomials. We prove they generate $I$ by induction on degree.

Take a nonzero $f\in I$ of degree $d$ and leading coefficient $a$. If $d\le N$, express $a={\sum }_j{c}_j{a}_{d,j}$ and subtract ${\sum }_j{c}_j{f}_{d,j}$. If $d>N$, use $a\in J_d=J_N$, express $a={\sum }_j{c}_j{a}_{N,j}$, and subtract ${\sum }_j{c}_j{x}^{d-N}{f}_{N,j}$. In both cases the leading coefficient cancels, leaving a polynomial in $I$ of smaller degree. For degree zero the remainder is zero, and the induction completes the claim.

Thus every ideal of $R[x]$ is finitely generated, proving the Hilbert basis theorem. The proof uses no cancellation of nonzero elements of $R$, so it remains valid when $R$ has zero divisors.