Take the 2-minute tour ×

How can we show that if $R$ is an infinite commutative ring and $R/I$ is finite for every nontrivial $I \unlhd R$, then $R$ is an integral domain?

I tried proceeding by contradiction: assume $a$,$b$ $\in R \backslash \{0\}$ and $ab=0$; then $R/(a)$ and $R/(b)$ must be finite, say $R/(a)=\{k_i + (a) : 1 \leq i \leq m\}$ and $R/(b)=\{l_j + (b) : 1 \leq j \leq n\}$. Does this mean R must be finite? Or what about using the fact that $R/(a,b)$ finite?

Thanks for any help with this!

share|improve this question
Are we assuming $R$ is commutative? This is clearly false otherwise. –  Chris Eagle Mar 30 '12 at 9:45
Yes, commutative and with multiplicative identity. –  Harry Macpherson Mar 30 '12 at 11:58
add comment

2 Answers

up vote 12 down vote accepted

If $ab=0$, and if $k_i$, $1\leq i\leq m$, are representatives mod $a$, then $(b)=\{bk_1,\dots,bk_m\}$, i.e. $(b)$ is finite and and hence $R/(b)$ infinite.

share|improve this answer
Dear user, I don't see why $(b)=\{bk_1,\dots,bk_m\}$. Could you please explain that? –  Georges Elencwajg Mar 30 '12 at 11:09
+1 Very nice proof, if a bit succinct. –  Marc van Leeuwen Mar 30 '12 at 11:43
@GeorgesElencwajg: Maybe you understand better in abstract terms: whenver $ab=0$ in a commutative ring $R$, the surjective map $r\mapsto br:R\to bR$ induces an surjective $R$-module morphism $R/aR\to bR$, so if $R/aR$ and $R/bR$ are both finite, then $R$ must be finite as well (and in fact its order divides $\#(R/aR)\times\#(R/bR)$). –  Marc van Leeuwen Mar 30 '12 at 11:44
@user8268 Thanks! –  Harry Macpherson Mar 30 '12 at 11:59
@Georges Elencwajg: any $c\in R$ is of the form $k_i+ad$ for some $d\in R$. And $bc=bk_i$, as $ba=0$. (the comment by Marc van Leeuwen makes it much nicer) –  user8268 Mar 30 '12 at 12:00
show 1 more comment

I give a solution when $R$ is commutative and noetherian.

Suppose absurdly that $R$ is not a domain, hence $0$ is not a prime ideal. Therefore, for every prime ideal $\mathfrak{p}$ of $R$, the domain $R / \mathfrak{p}$ is finite, hence a field. So every prime ideal of $R$ is maximal, i.e. $R$ is artinian. Therefore $R$ is a direct product of some of its quotients, hence $R$ is finite.

share|improve this answer
add comment

Your Answer


