Exercise · ZW-UNIQUE-FACTORIZATION-DOMAIN-007 · ★★☆ Intermediate

Which ideal of \(\mathbb{Z}[x]\) shows that \(\mathbb{Z}[x]\) is not a principal ideal domain, even though it is a UFD?

Choose one option.

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  • B. \((2,x)\)

Explanation

A generator of \((2,x)\) would have to divide both 2 and \(x\), and the only common divisors are units; but then the ideal would be the whole ring, and \(1\notin(2,x)\). The other three have a single generator by construction.

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Review the concept: Unique factorization domain

An integral domain \(D\) in which every nonzero nonunit element \(a\) is a product of irreducibles \(p_i\), and this factorization is unique up to order and associates.

\[a=p_1p_2\cdots p_r\]

More practice problems: unique factorization domain

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