# Math Help - Maximal ideal (x,y) - and then primary ideal (x,y)^n

1. ## Maximal ideal (x,y) - and then primary ideal (x,y)^n

Example (2) on page 682 of Dummit and Foote reads as follows: (see attached)

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(2) For any field k, the ideal (x) in k[x,y] is primary since it is a prime ideal.

For any $n \ge 1$, the ideal $(x,y)^n$ is primary

since it is a power of the maximal ideal (x,y)

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My first problem with this example is as follows:

How can we demonstrate the the ideal (x,y) in k[x,y] is maximal

Then my second problem with the example is as follows:

How do we rigorously demonstrate that the ideal $(x,y)^n$ is primary.

D&F say that this is because it is the power of a maximal ideal - but where have they developed that theorem/result?

The closest result they have to that is the following part of Proposition 19 (top of page 682 - see attachment)

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Proposition 19. Let R be a commutative ring with 1

... ...

(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 ideal with rad Q = M

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Now if my suspicions are correct and Proposition 19 is being used, then can someone explain (preferably demonstrate formally and rigorously)

how part (5) of 19 demonstrates that the ideal $(x,y)^n$ is primary on the basis of being a power of a maximal ideal.

Would appreciate some help

Peter

2. ## Re: Maximal ideal (x,y) - and then primary ideal (x,y)^n

I have been doing some reflecting and reading around the two issues/problems mentioned in my post above.

First problem/issue was as follows:

"My first problem with this example is as follows:

How can we demonstrate the the ideal (x,y) in k[x,y] is maximal"

In the excellent book "Ideals, Varieties and Algorithms: An Introduction to Computational Algebraic Geometry and Commutative Algebra" by David Cox, John Little and Donal O'Shea we find the following theorem (and its proof) on pages 201-202.

Proposition 9. If k is any field, an ideal $I \subseteq k[x_1, x_2, ... ... , x_n]$ of the form

$I = (x_1 - a_1, x_2 - a_2, ... ... x_n - a_n)$ where $a_1, a_2, ... ... , a_n \in k$

is maximal.

Now (x, y) is of the form mentioned in Cox et al Proposition 9 since $(x,y) = (x-0, y-0)$ and so by Cox et al Proposition 9, (x,y) is maximal

Can someone confirm that this is correct.

Now reflecting on my second problem/issue.

Peter