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Exercise 1877Algebra › Rings and fieldsM1Added 3 Nov 2026

Principal ideal domains

#PID#principal ideal#examples

Statement

Show that Z\mathbb{Z} and R[X]\mathbb{R}[X] are PIDs.

Hint

For R[X]\mathbb{R}[X], use Euclidean division to show that every ideal is generated by the element of minimal degree.

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Solution

Z\mathbb{Z}. Shown earlier: every ideal is nZn\mathbb{Z} for some n≥0n\ge0.

R[X]\mathbb{R}[X]. Let II be a nonzero ideal. Let PP be a nonzero element of II of minimal degree. For any Q∈IQ\in I, Euclidean division: Q=AP+RQ=AP+R with deg⁡R<deg⁡P\deg R<\deg P. Since R=Q−AP∈IR=Q-AP\in I and deg⁡R<deg⁡P\deg R<\deg P, by minimality R=0R=0. So Q=AP∈(P)Q=AP\in(P). Hence I=(P)I=(P).

Conclusion. Both are PIDs. Since every Euclidean domain is a PID, and Z\mathbb{Z} and R[X]\mathbb{R}[X] are Euclidean, this is consistent.