First question
Commutative Algebra: Fall 2023
Exam
The first problem on your exam will be one of the following 10 problems, chosen randomly.
Qn
Problem 1. Let R be a ring, p a prime ideal, and m1 , . . . , mn maximal ideals such that i=1 mi = 0.
Show that p = mi for some i.
Problem 2. Let R be an integral domain, I a nonzero ideal in R, and K = Frac(R). Show that
I ⊗R K ∼
= K.
Problem 3. Let R be a ring, S ⊂ R a multiplicative subset, and M a finitely generated R-module.
Suppose that S −1 M = 0. Show that there is an f ∈ S such that Mf = 0, where Mf is the
localization of M at {f n : n ∈ N}.
Problem 4. Let m and n be natural numbers. Show that there is a short exact sequence
0 → Z/mZ → Z/mnZ → Z/nZ → 0.
For which m, n does the exact sequence split?
Problem 5. Let m and n be natural numbers. Compute Z/mZ ⊗Z Z/nZ.
Problem 6. Let R be a ring, S ⊂ R a multiplicative subset. Let I = {a ∈ R : as = 0 for some s ∈ S}.
Show that I is an ideal, and then show that the localization map R → S −1 R factors through R/I.
Problem 7. Let R = C[x, y]/(y 2 − x3 ). Let K = Frac(R). Compute the integral closure of R in K.
Problem 8. Let R be an Artinian ring. Prove that if R is a domain, then it is a field.
Problem 9. Let k be a field. Compute the dimension of k[x]x , the localization of k[x] at the
multiplicative subset S = {xn : n ∈ N}.
Problem 10. Let k be a field, d ∈ N. Compute the Hilbert function and dimension of
k[xd , xd−1 y, . . . , xy d−1 , y d ],
the subalgebra of k[x, y] generated by all degree d monomials.
