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LemmaStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: AI-adaptedprecheck passaudited 2026-08-27
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A prime containing an ideal and avoiding a multiplicative set

Statement

Assume the Axiom of Choice.

Let R be a commutative ring, let S⊆R be a multiplicative subset, and let I⊴R be an ideal with I∩S=∅. Then there exists a prime ideal p of R such that I⊆p and p∩S=∅.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: A commutative ring R, a multiplicative subset S⊆R, an ideal I⊴R with I∩S=∅, and the Axiom of Choice.

[L1]

A prime ideal is a proper ideal p such that ab∈p implies a∈p or b∈p (Prime ideals and maximal ideals in a commutative ring).

[L2]

A multiplicative subset contains 1 and is closed under multiplication (Multiplicative subsets and the localisation S−1R as equivalence classes of fractions).

[L3]

Assuming the Axiom of Choice, every nonempty poset in which every chain has an upper bound has a maximal element (Zorn's lemma).

Proof

technique · direct
1.1givenconstruct

Let Σ be the set of ideals J⊴R with I⊆J and J∩S=∅, ordered by inclusion. The ideal I lies in Σ, so Σ≠∅.

2.1step 1.1L2algebra

If C⊆Σ is a chain, then J=⋃C is an ideal containing I. Moreover J∩S=∅, because if s∈J∩S then s∈C for some C∈C, contradicting C∩S=∅. Thus every chain in Σ has an upper bound.

3.1L2L3step 2.1

Zorn's lemma yields a maximal member p of Σ. Because 1∈S by [L2] and p∩S=∅, the ideal p is proper.

4.1L1L2step 3.1choosealgebra

Suppose ab∈p while a∉p and b∉p. By maximality of p in Σ, the larger ideals p+(a) and p+(b) must meet S. Choose ν=m+ra∈S∩(p+(a)) and ω=n+tb∈S∩(p+(b)) with m,n∈p and r,t∈R. Then νω=mn+mtb+nra+rtab∈p, because m,n,ab∈p. But νω∈S by [L2], contradicting p∩S=∅. Therefore p is prime by [L1].

5.1step 3.1step 4.1∎

The ideal p is prime, contains I, and is disjoint from S, exactly as required.

Depends on

Used by

Dependency tree · two levels

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Sources