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TheoremStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: AI-adaptedprecheck passaudited 2026-08-31
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Unique factorization of nonzero fractional ideals into prime powers

Statement

Assume the Axiom of Choice. Let R be a Dedekind domain. Every nonzero fractional ideal I of R has a unique factorization I=ppvp(I), where all but finitely many exponents are zero. If I is an integral ideal, then every exponent is nonnegative.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: A Dedekind domain R and a nonzero fractional ideal I.

[F1]

The valuation vp(I) is defined by the equality Ip=pvp(I)Rp (Prime-ideal valuations on fractional ideals).

[L1]

Only finitely many valuations of a fixed fractional ideal are nonzero, and valuations add under products (Prime-ideal valuations of a fractional ideal have finite support and add under products).

[L2]

Localisation of modules preserves short exact sequences (Localisation of modules is exact).

[L3]

Assuming Choice, a module is zero exactly when all maximal localisations vanish (Assuming the Axiom of Choice, local criteria for zero modules and for injective, surjective, and bijective maps).

Proof

technique · direct
1.1

By [L1], only finitely many integers vp(I) are nonzero, so J:=ppvp(I) is a well-defined nonzero fractional ideal. Fix a nonzero prime ideal q. If pq, choose xpq; then x/1 is a unit in Rq, so (pvp(I))q=Rq. Hence only the q-factor survives after localizing, and Jq=qvq(I)Rq=Iq.

F1L1givenalgebra
2.1

Let M:=(I+J)/J. Localizing the short exact sequence 0JI+JM0 and using [L2], we get Mm(Im+Jm)/Jm for every maximal ideal m. Step 1.1 gives Im=Jm, so Mm=0 for all m. Therefore [L3] gives M=0, hence IJ. The same argument with (I+J)/I gives JI, so I=J. This proves existence of the factorization.

L2L3step 1.1
3.1

If also I=ppnp, localising at a fixed nonzero prime q gives qvq(I)Rq=Iq=qnqRq. Uniqueness of powers in the DVR Rq forces nq=vq(I), so the factorization is unique.

F1step 2.1algebra
4.1

If IR, then IpRp for every nonzero prime ideal p, so the exponent in the DVR equality Ip=pvp(I)Rp must be nonnegative. Hence integral ideals have only nonnegative exponents.

F1step 2.1algebra

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