Primary Ideals, prime ideals and maximal ideals - D&F Section 15.2

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The discussion focuses on Proposition 19 Part (5) from Dummit and Foote's Algebra, specifically regarding maximal ideals and primary ideals. It establishes that if \( M \) is a maximal ideal and \( Q \) is an ideal such that \( M^n \subseteq Q \subseteq M \) for some \( n \ge 1 \), then \( Q \) is a primary ideal with \( \text{rad} \, Q = M \). The participants clarify that \( \text{rad} \, M = M \) holds true because if \( \text{rad} \, M \) were equal to \( R \), it would contradict the definition of a maximal ideal.

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  • Basic concepts from Dummit and Foote's Algebra, specifically Section 15.2
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I am studying Dummit and Foote Section 15.2. I am trying to understand the proof of Proposition 19 Part (5) on page 682 (see attachment)

Proposition 19 Part (5) reads as follows:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proposition 19.

... ...

(5) Suppose M is a maximal ideal and Q is an ideal with M^n \subseteq Q \subseteq M for some n \ge 1.

Then Q is a primary idea, with rad Q = M

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The proof of (5) above reads as follows:-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proof.

Suppose M^n \subseteq Q \subseteq M for some n \ge 1 where M is a maximal idea.

Then Q \subseteq M so rad \ Q \subseteq rad \ M = M.

... ... etc

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My problem is as follows:

Why can we be sure that rad M = M?

I know that M is maximal and so no ideal in R can contain M. We also know that M \subseteq rad \ M

Thus either rad M = M (the conclusion D&F use) or rad M = R?

How do we know that rad \ M \ne R?

Would appreciate some help.

Peter
 
Last edited:
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Like you said, we have M \subseteq \mbox{Rad} \ M which implies that M = \mbox{Rad}\ M as M is a maximal ideal. Why is \mbox{Rad} \ M \neq R? Suppose that \mbox{Rad} \ M = R then M=R but that's impossible by definition of a maximal ideal.
 
Siron said:
Like you said, we have M \subseteq \mbox{Rad} \ M which implies that M = \mbox{Rad}\ M as M is a maximal ideal. Why is \mbox{Rad} \ M \neq R? Suppose that \mbox{Rad} \ M = R then M=R but that's impossible by definition of a maximal ideal.


Thanks for the helpful post, Siron

Peter
 

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