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Viewing Version 4 of 'maximal ideal is prime'
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Title of object: maximal ideal is prime
Canonical Name: MaximalIdealIsPrime
Type: Theorem

Created on: 2007-11-23 10:00:05
Modified on: 2007-11-23 16:35:03

Creator: pahio
Modifier: pahio
Author: pahio

Classification: msc:13A15, msc:16D25

Revision comment (for changes between this and next version):

related

Preamble:

% this is the default PlanetMath preamble. as your knowledge
% of TeX increases, you will probably want to edit this, but
% it should be fine as is for beginners.

% almost certainly you want these
\usepackage{amssymb}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{amsfonts}

% used for TeXing text within eps files
%\usepackage{psfrag}
% need this for including graphics (\includegraphics)
%\usepackage{graphicx}
% for neatly defining theorems and propositions
\usepackage{amsthm}
% making logically defined graphics
%\usepackage{xypic}

% there are many more packages, add them here as you need them

% define commands here

\theoremstyle{definition}
\newtheorem*{thmplain}{Theorem}
Content:

\textbf{Theorem.} In a commutative ring with non-zero unity, any maximal ideal is a prime ideal.

{\em Proof.}\, Let $\mathfrak{m}$ be a maximal ideal of such a ring $R$ and let the ring product $rs$ belong to $\mathfrak{m}$ but e.g. \,$r \notin \mathfrak{m}$. The maximality of $\mathfrak{m}$ implies that\,
$\mathfrak{m}\!+\!(r) = R = (1)$.\, Thus there exists an element \,$m \in \mathfrak{m}$\, and an element\, $x \in R$\, such that\, $m\!+\!xr = 1$.\, Now $m$ and $rs$ belong to $\mathfrak{m}$, whence
$$s = 1s = (m\!+\!xr)s = sm\!+\!x(rs) \in \mathfrak{m}.$$
So we can say that along with $rs$, at least one of its \PMlinkname{factors}{Product} belongs to $\mathfrak{m}$, and therefore $\mathfrak{m}$ is a prime ideal of $R$.