## How to go about proving that $-1+(x-4)(x-3)(x-2)(x-1)$ is irreducible in $\mathbb{Q}$?

How do you show that $-1+(x-4)(x-3)(x-2)(x-1)$ is irreducible in $\mathbb{Q}$? I don’t think you can use the eisenstein criterion here Answer Actually, the obvious generalization is also true. Let $P$ and $Q$ be polynomial factors, so that the given expression equals $PQ$. Then $PQ=-1$ at each of the integer values, $1,2,3,4$ for this case. So … Read more

## Badly behaved, but easy-to-manipulate examples of rings to test hypotheses on

In calculating examples in mathematics it’s often useful to have a quite misbehaving but easy-to-manipulate object to test hypotheses on. Examples are the function f(x)={0 if x∈Q1 if x∉Q in analysis, or the Baumslag-Solitar groups B(n,m) in group theory. Do there exist rings that are like this? If so, which are your favourites? At the moment I tend to … Read more

## Show R\Bbb R and R[X]\Bbb R[X] not isomorphic

Why are the rings R and R[x] not isomorphic to eachother ? Think it might have to do with multiplicative inverses but I’m not sure. Answer You are right: the element “x” has no multiplicative inverse, that is there is no polynomial p(x) such that x⋅p(x)=1. AttributionSource : Link , Question Author : jamie , … Read more

## Prove that (0)(0) is a radical ideal in Z/nZ\mathbb{Z}/n\mathbb{Z} iff nn is square free

Let n>1 be an integer. Prove that 0 is a radical ideal in Z/nZ if and only if n is a product of distinct primes to the ﬁrst power (i.e., n is square free). Deduce that (n) is a radical of Z if and only if n is a product of distinct primes in Z. … Read more

## Prove RR conatins an ideal that is not finitely generated. R=F[x,x2y,…,xnyn−1,…]R = F[x,x^2 y,\ldots,x^n y^{n-1},\ldots]

Prove R conatins an ideal that is not finitely generated. R=F[x,x2y,…,xnyn−1,…] and is a subring of F[x,y] where F is a field. Seems like R itself is not finitely generated and R is an ideal of itself. Im just not positive this would work or really how to show it. Say I≤R is an ideal … Read more

## Is this set necessarily a subring?

I have been doing a lot of work with quadratic fields and I am attempting to generalize the results to abstract fields and rings and I am having trouble showing that a certain set is a subring (I don’t even know for sure if it is, but my intuition tells me it is and I … Read more

## Generalization of Chinese Remainder Theorem

Q: With ring R, if I,J⊆R are ideals such that I+J=R, then the map R/(I∩J)→R/I×R/J given by a+(I∩J)↦(a+I,a+J) is an isomorphism, broadly generalizing the Chinese Remainder Theorem. Can someone help me get started on this one? Answer Consider the canonical maps πI:R→R/I and πI:R→R/J and form the morphism φ(r)=(πI(r),πJ(r)). As Censi LI explained in his … Read more

## prove (n)⊇(m)⟺n∣m (n) \supseteq (m)\iff n\mid m\ (contains = divides for principal ideals)

For non-zero integers m and n, prove (m)⊂(n) iif n divides m, where (n) is the principal ideal. My attempt is following. For non-zero integers m and n, assume that (m)⊂(n). Then, mk∈(m) is also in (n). This means that ∃nh such that mk=nh. Then, we have m=nhk−1. Assume that n divides m for non-zero … Read more

## Understanding Quotient Rings

I am watching a video on Field Extensions (trying to self “relearn” some Abstract Algebra before I take it again). I struggled with it as an undergrad, so I’m trying to get a leg up. The example is $\mathbb{Q}[x]/\langle{x^2+1}\rangle$. I’m trying to deduce in my mind what elements of this division ring “look” like. From … Read more

## Are fractions with zero divisors in the denominator never well defined?

Are fractions with zero divisors in the denominator never well defined? I know that for a fraction in modular arithmetic to be well defined, the denominator must not be a zero divisor, e.g: x \equiv \frac a b \pmod p Then b\neq k \cdot p, k\in \Bbb{Z}, but what about fractions in other rings? Answer … Read more