Proving L is an Ideal - Part of the Proof of Hilbert's Bass Theorem

• June 3rd 2013, 12:57 AM
Bernhard
Proving L is an Ideal - Part of the Proof of Hilbert's Bass Theorem
I am reading Dummit ad Foote's proof of Hilbert's Basis Theorem (See attached for the theorem and proof)

In the proof I is an ideal in R[x] L is the set of all leading coefficients of elements of I

D&F then proceed to prove that L is an ideal of R

Basically they establish that if elements a and b belong to L and r belongs to L then ra - b belongs to L.

D&F claim that this shows that L is an ideal but for an ideal we need to show that for $a, b \in L$ and $r \in R$ we have:

$a - b \in L$ and $ra \in R$

My question is how exactly does $ra - b \in L \Longrightarrow a - b \in L$ and $ra \in R$??

Peter
• June 3rd 2013, 06:35 AM
Gusbob
Re: Proving L is an Ideal - Part of the Proof of Hilbert's Bass Theorem
Quote:

Originally Posted by Bernhard

My question is how exactly does $ra - b \in L \Longrightarrow a - b \in L$ and $ra \in R$??

Take $r=1$ in the first case and $b= 0$ in the second.