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13 votes
1 answer
2k views

Can an infinite commutative ring have a finite (but nonzero) number of non-nilpotent zero-divisors?

By a theorem of Ganesan, if a commutative ring not a domain has only finitely many zero-divisors, then the ring must be finite. (There are analogous results for non-commutative rings.) There are ...
2 votes
0 answers
348 views

How much can we say about the number of nilpotents in a finite local commutative ring?

A commutative ring is local if it has a single maximal ideal. If the ring is finite, this implies that all elements are either units or nilpotents. Further, all finite local rings have prime power ...
20 votes
1 answer
3k views

On a theorem of Jacobson

In a comment to an answer to a MO question, in which Bill Dubuque mentioned Jacobson's theorem stating that a ring in which $X^n=X$ is an identity is commutative (theorem which has shown up on MO ...
4 votes
0 answers
179 views

Global dimensions of orders over non-Gorenstein centers

This question concerns the following Lemma 4.2 in this paper by Van den Bergh: Lemma: Let $R$ be local, normal Gorenstein ring of dimension $d$. Suppose $M$ is a reflexive $R$ module such that $A=\...
6 votes
2 answers
2k views

Cardinality of maximal linearly independent subset

M a finitely generated module over a commutative ring A. I can't think of an example of two maximal linearly independent subsets of M having different cardinality. I know that they all have the same ...
5 votes
2 answers
2k views

Is there a non-projective flat module over a local ring?

Is there a non-projective flat module over a local ring? Here I assume the ring is commutative with unit.
13 votes
0 answers
496 views

Are the supports of $Ext^i(M,N)$ eventually periodic?

Let $R$ be a Noetherian, commutative ring and $M,N$ be finitely generated $R$-modules. Question: Do the sets of minimal primes of $\text{Ext}^i_R(M,N)$ (for a fixed pair of $M,N$) become periodic ...
9 votes
3 answers
1k views

Vector spaces with natural bases

Sergeib's question asks about vector spaces without a natural basis. Actually, I would claim (apparently in accord with many comments and answers to Sergeib's question ) that this is the default ...
1 vote
0 answers
534 views

Integral element in the quotient of a polynomial ring

Hello, I'm writting a "report" (to learn) on algebraic geometry, and was looking to write a proof for the following statement : Theorem : Let $K$ be an algebraically closed field and $C_1, C_2 \...
11 votes
1 answer
1k views

The associated prime ideals of $Ext^i_R(M,N)$

If R is a commutative noetherian ring, M and N are modules with M finite. It is well known in commutative algebra that $AssHom_R(M,N)=Supp(M)\cap Ass(N)$. But I want to know whether there is a ...
2 votes
1 answer
1k views

For which rings does there exist an invertible Vandermonde matrix?

Suppose $R$ is a commutative ring, and $S \subset R^{n\times n}$ is an $R$-module. We are given $H_0,\dots,H_n \in R^{n\times n}$, and we know that for all $r \in R$, $$H_0 + r H_1 + \dots r^n H_n \in ...
5 votes
4 answers
388 views

Familiar equations in more general settings

What equations, or results about equations, generalize in interesting ways from number theory or geometry to more abstract settings? The motivating example for this question was as follows: ...
4 votes
1 answer
914 views

Elements of trace zero in a field extension

Let $K=F_q$ and $F=F_{q^3}$, define the set A={$x \in F$ : $Tr_{F/K} (x)=0$}. Is it true that for every $x \in A$ there are $y,z \in A$ such that $x=yz$?
2 votes
0 answers
165 views

Ideals weak equivalence and "finite" equivalence

Let $R$ be an order in a number field. Two $R$-ideals $I$ and $J$ are weak equivalent if there exist (necessarily invertible) ideals $X$ and $Y$ such that $I X=J$ and $J Y=I$. This is equivalent to ...
0 votes
1 answer
630 views

Useless question on rank

What is the rank of $A^{n}$ if A is the zero ring? It's clearly not $n$ as many careless authors claim, since it's not even invariant. I don't think it's 0 either because it does have a linearly ...
7 votes
2 answers
1k views

Is the category of affine schemes (over a fixed field) Cartesian closed?

This is probably a trivial question, but I don't see the answer, and I haven't found it on Wikipedia, nLab, nor MathOverflow. Let $\text{ComAlg}$ denote the category whose objects are commutative ...
1 vote
1 answer
219 views

Name for a module with only one associated prime

In EGA IV2, Def. 3.2.4, Grothendieck defines a quasicoherent sheaf over a locally Noetherian scheme to be "irredondant" if it has a unique associated point. Presumeably, a module over a Noetherian ...
16 votes
1 answer
2k views

Does ZF prove that all PIDs are UFDs?

Main Question: Does ZF (no axiom of choice) prove that every Principal Ideal Domain is a Unique Factorization Domain? The proofs I've seen all use dependent choice. Minor Questions: Does ZF + ...
11 votes
2 answers
470 views

Localizing at the primitive polynomials?

For any UFD $R$, the concept of a primitive polynomial (gcd of the coefficients is 1) makes sense in $R[x]$. The product of two primitive polynomials is primitive (Gauss's Lemma), and certainly 1 is a ...
5 votes
3 answers
4k views

How to prove these two rings are not isomorphic

In fact, it is a simple problem. I just want to know whether there are some interesting proof. $Z[x_1, x_2, ......, x_{n^2-1}]$ and $Z[y_{11}, ......, y_{1n}, y_{21}, ......, y_{nn}]/(det(y_{ij})-1))...
13 votes
3 answers
6k views

Ranks of free submodules of free modules [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Atiyah-MacDonald, exercise 2.11 The following question came up during tea today. Let $R$ be a commutative ring with an identity and let $M \subset R^n$ be a submodule. ...
5 votes
0 answers
437 views

Primary decomposition for non-affine schemes

I will call a (nonzero) ring primary if every zero divisor is nilpotent. (This implies that the prime spectrum is irreducible, although the converse does not hold.) An irreducible scheme I will call ...
6 votes
1 answer
376 views

Checking locally whether a homomorphism is a localization

All rings below are commutative with $1$. Suppose $A\subset B$ is a subring and that $A\rightarrow A'$ is a faithfully flat ring homomorphism. [You may assume the rings are actually ${\mathbb C}$-...
3 votes
2 answers
2k views

Finitely-generated algebra over Z

Let A be an artin ring which is also a finitely generated algebra over Z. Show that $|A|<\infty$. If A would have been a field then I know how to prove it. I know that A is a product of local ...
9 votes
1 answer
2k views

Symmetric polynomials theorem

Hello all, I would appreciate comments on the following question: A main theorem of symmetric functions might be formulated: Let k be a field of char. 0. Then $k[x_1,...,x_n]^{S_n} = k[s_1,...,s_n]$,...
12 votes
0 answers
529 views

A commutative monoid associated with a finite abelian group

Let $M$ be a finite abelian group, and denote by $e_m$, for $m \in M$, the canonical basis of $\mathbb{Z}^M$. For $m, n \in M$ define elements $v_{m,n} \in \mathbb{Z}^M/\langle e_0\rangle$ as $$ v_{m,...
6 votes
2 answers
610 views

What is the set of possible values of the degree of the sum of two algebraic numbers with fixed degrees?

This question is related to Degree of sum of algebraic numbers and algebraic numbers of degree 3 and 6, whose sum has degree 12. In this last question I asked a very special case of the following ...
3 votes
3 answers
1k views

question about tensor of two fields

Let $k$ be a field, $L$, $H$ extension fields of $k$, and $G=L\otimes_k H$. I wonder why (I want to know the proof but I can't find) the prime ideal of $G$ must be maximal, and its properties: a) if $...
3 votes
1 answer
3k views

Isomorphism between direct sum of modules

Let $M$, $N$ be two modules over ring $A$. If $M\oplus M\cong N\oplus N$, can we conclude $M\cong N$? In the case that $M$, $N$ are completely decomposable (e.g. finite-length module by Krull-Schmidt ...
2 votes
0 answers
234 views

Flatness of module

$A\rightarrow B$ a ring homomorphism, $N$ a $B$-module which is flat over $A$. $\mathfrak{q}\subset B$ a prime ideal, $\mathfrak{p}\subset A$ its contraction in $A$. Then is it true that $N_{\mathfrak{...
2 votes
0 answers
333 views

Localization of module

M an A-module, $S\subset A$ a multiplicative subset. Is it possible for $S^{-1}M$ to have an $S^{-1}A$-module structure satisfying $\frac{a}{1}\cdot\frac{m}{1}=\frac{am}{1}$ other than the "usuall" ...
3 votes
2 answers
335 views

Gaps in Dimension Polynomials

There are several notions of rank/dimension defined on differential fields. However, we do not have a reasonable way to estimate these typically ordinal valued invariants. Especially, we do now know a ...
1 vote
0 answers
268 views

Rational map defined over K leads to algebra question

Hello, Concrete algebraic question : Let $K$ be a perfect field, $\bar{K}$ a fixed algebraic closure and let $f \in \bar{K}[x_1,\ldots,x_n]$. I was wondering when there exists another polynomial (non-...
13 votes
2 answers
5k views

Primitive element theorem without building field extensions

Is there are nice way to prove the primitive element theorem without using field extensions? The primitive element theorem says that if $x$ and $y$ are algebraic over $F$ and $y$ is separable over $F$...
0 votes
1 answer
2k views

Dimension of tensor product of modules

$A\rightarrow B$ a ring homomorphism of Noetherian rings, where $A$ is local. $M$, $N$ finitely generated and nonzero $A$- and $B$- modules, respectively. Then I seem to get $\mbox{dim}_ {B}(M\...
4 votes
2 answers
1k views

elementary classification of artinian rings

this may be too elementary for mathoverflow, but I'll give it a try. rings are commutative here. it is well-known that every $0$-dimensional noetherian ring is artinian. the standard proof uses a ...
5 votes
2 answers
2k views

Why is the fibered coproduct of affine schemes not affine?

I am confused about the following issue: Let $X=SpecS$, $U_1=SpecR_1$, $U_2=SpecR_2$. and suppose we have maps $S \rightarrow R_1$, $S \rightarrow R_2$. Let $U_3=Spec (R_1 \otimes_S R_2)$. We have ...
1 vote
0 answers
2k views

Formal power series ring & completion

I encountered the following passage in Matsumura's Commutative Ring Theory : A a Noetherian ring, $B=A[[x]]$ a formal power series ring. $M\subset B$ a maximal ideal, $\mathfrak{m}=M\cap A$. Then $(...
1 vote
2 answers
340 views

Infinite collection of elements of a number field with very similar annihilating polynomials

Hello all, let $n$ be an integer $\geq 2$ and let $\alpha$ be an algebraic number of degree $n$. Let $R$ be the ring of algebraic integers in ${\mathbb Q}(\alpha)$, and let $B$ be the subset of $R$ ...
13 votes
1 answer
990 views

Is -1 a sum of 2 squares in a certain field K?

Consider the field of fractions $K$ of the quotient algebra $\mathbb{R}[x,y,z,t]/(x^2+y^2+z^2+t^2+1)$, where $\mathbb{R}$ is the field of real numbers and $x,y,z,t$ are variables. Clearly $-1$ is a ...
2 votes
1 answer
429 views

0 dimensional Dedekind domain?

It seems that the ratio of those authors allowing a field to be a Dedekind domain to those who do not is almost 50 - 50. Why such a bewildering lack of consensus for such an elementary notion?
16 votes
2 answers
2k views

Extra principal Cartier divisors on non-Noetherian rings? (answered: no!)

On the way to defining Cartier divisors on a scheme $X$, one sheafifies a presheaf base-presheaf of rings $\mathcal{K}'(U)=Frac(\mathcal{O}(U))$ on open affines $U$ to get a sheaf $\mathcal{K}$ of "...
9 votes
2 answers
2k views

Jordan Form Over a Polynomial Ring

Let $X$ be the set of $k\times k$ matrix with entries in $\mathbb{C}$, and let $M\in X$. The group $GL(k,\mathbb{C})$ acts on $X$ by conjugation, and according to the Jordan decomposition theorem (...
2 votes
2 answers
349 views

Subrings of rational functions invariant under change of sign

Let $R$ be a ring generated by $k$ rational functions in the variables $x_1,...,x_n$ over the real numbers. Is there an algorithm that computes a set of rational functions $f_1,...,f_l \in R$ which ...
5 votes
1 answer
271 views

Feasibility of linear programs

It's known that finding the intersection of n halfplanes in 2-d takes $\Omega(n\log n)$ time. Does the lower bound apply if we change the question to deciding whether the intersection is non-empty?
5 votes
1 answer
443 views

Does the free resolution of the cokernel of a generic matrix remain exact on a Zariski open set?

"Random" modules of the same size over a polynomial ring seem to always have the same Betti table. By a "random" module I mean the cokernel of a matrix whose entries are random forms of a fixed degree....
1 vote
2 answers
992 views

Hilbert Syzygy Theorem - Induction step

Does someone know in which books, lecture notes or ... I can find the induction step of the proof of Hilbert Syzygy Theorem? I'd only found the proof for R[x] (e.g. Weibel) and I haven't really an ...
6 votes
1 answer
1k views

Seeking examples or proof: injectivity of Cartan homomorphism for commutative rings?

This question is motivated by some issue raised by David Speyer in this question. Let $R$ be a ring. Let $K_0(R)$ and $G_0(R)$ be the Grothendieck groups of f.g. projective modules and f.g. modules ...
10 votes
5 answers
1k views

$K_{0}(R) =\mathbb{Z}$ but some f.g. projective not stably free?

This question is motived by this recent question. $K_{0}(R)=\mathbb{Z}$ is often used as a euphemism for saying that every finitely generated projective module is stably free; however, there are some ...
4 votes
6 answers
665 views

Number of A Subset of Monomials

I need to count the number of monomials of degree $n$ in $k$ variables, $x_1,\ldots ,x_k$, that contain at least one variable with a power of 1. The monomials need not include all the variables. ...