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Maximal Ideals

I have a theorem which says:

If the ideal I I is maximal, then R/I R/I is a field.

Is the converse true, can you say that if R/I R/I is a field, then I I is maximal??

Thanks!
Reply 1
Original post by adie_raz
I have a theorem which says:

If the ideal I I is maximal, then R/I R/I is a field.

Is the converse true, can you say that if R/I R/I is a field, then I I is maximal??

Thanks!


You need R to be commutative as well don't you?

The converse is true. Perhaps you have a theorem that says:

If R is commutative with an identity element then R is a field if and only if the only ideals of R are {0} and R

Also, you need the third isomorphism theorem:

If R is a ring and I and ideal of R, there is a one to one correspondence between ideals J so that IJRI \subseteq J \subseteq R and ideals of R/I.

Then R/I is a field if and only if the ideals of R/I are R/I and {0} if and only if there are no ideals strictly between I and R (which is what it means for I to be maximal).
Reply 2
Original post by SsEe
You need R to be commutative as well don't you?

The converse is true. Perhaps you have a theorem that says:

If R is commutative with an identity element then R is a field if and only if the only ideals of R are {0} and R

Also, you need the third isomorphism theorem:

If R is a ring and I and ideal of R, there is a one to one correspondence between ideals J so that IJRI \subseteq J \subseteq R and ideals of R/I.

Then R/I is a field if and only if the ideals of R/I are R/I and {0} if and only if there are no ideals strictly between I and R (which is what it means for I to be maximal).


Thanks for the reply! yes I am working with commutative rings (sorry I didn't mention that).

Thank you :biggrin:

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