# A subring of the field of fractions of a PID is a PID as well.

Let $A$ be a PID and $R$ a ring such that $A\subset R \subset \operatorname{Frac}(A)$, where $\operatorname{Frac}(A)$ denotes the field of fractions of $A$. How to show $R$ is also a PID?

Any hints?

#### Solutions Collecting From Web of "A subring of the field of fractions of a PID is a PID as well."

Define the multiplicative set

$$S = \{\text{multiplicative set of all elements a \in A that are units in R}\}.$$

Recall Corollary 3.3 of Atiyah – Macdonald:

${\color{blue}{\text{Corollary 3.3: If$g: A \rightarrow B$is a ring homomorphism such that}}}$

${\color{blue}{\text{(i)$s \in S \implies g(s)$is a unit }}}$

${\color{blue}{\text{(ii)$g(a) = 0\implies as = 0$for some$s \in S$}}}$

${\color{blue}{\text{(iii) Every element in$B$is of the form$g(a)g(s)^{-1}$for some$a\in A$and$s \in S$}}}$

${\color{blue}{\text{then there is a unique isomorphism$h:S^{-1}A \rightarrow B$such that$g$factorises through the}}}$ ${\color{blue}{\text{localisation$S^{-1}A$.}}}$

In our case we have $g$ to be the inclusion map $\iota : A \hookrightarrow R$ and $R$ as the ring $B$. Clearly the first two properties are satisfied. To see that the third property is satisfied, since everything is happening inside the fraction field of $A$ let us consider an element $\frac{a}{b}$ in $R$ where $a,b \in A$. Since $a,b$ are elements in $A$ that is a PID we can compute GCDs, so we can assume that $a,b$ are coprime. Again because $A$ is a PID this means that there are elements $x,y \in A$ such that

$$ax + by = 1.$$

Now go up to $\operatorname{Frac}(A)$ and view this expression as lying in here. Then dividing by $b$ we see that

$$\frac{a}{b}x + y = \frac{1}{b}.$$

However the left hand side is in $R$ so the right is. It follows that $b$ is an element of $A$ that is a unit in $R$ $\implies b\in S$. Hence we can write $a/b \in R$ as $\iota(a)\iota(b)^{-1}$ and so since $a/b$ was arbitrary it follows by the corollary that

$$S^{-1}A \cong R.$$

Now to prove that $R$ is a PID it suffices by the isomorphism to prove that $S^{-1}A$ is a PID. Let $\mathfrak{a}$ be an ideal in $S^{-1}A$. Then a basic result about localisation by multiplicative sets says that

$$(\mathfrak{a}^{c})^{e} = \mathfrak{a}$$

where $(\mathfrak{a}^{c})^{e}$ denotes the extension of the contraction of $\mathfrak{a}$. Now $\mathfrak{a}^c$ is always an ideal in $A$; since $A$ is a PID we can write

$$\mathfrak{a}^c = (\alpha)$$

for some $\alpha \in A$. It follows that $$(\alpha)^{e} = (\mathfrak{a}^{c})^{e} = \mathfrak{a}.$$

Now I claim that $(\alpha)^{e} = S^{-1}(\alpha)$. To see this, clearly we have $S^{-1}(\alpha) \subseteq (\alpha)^{e}$. To see the other inclusion, take an element

$$\sum_{i=1}^n \frac{\alpha_i}{s_i}$$

in $(\alpha)^e$ where $s_i \in S$, $\alpha_i \in (\alpha)$. Then clearing denominators gives that this element is in $S^{-1}A$, so we have proven the other inclusion.

Hence $\mathfrak{a} = S^{-1}(\alpha)$, from which it follows immediately that $\mathfrak{a}$ is a principal ideal.

$\hspace{6in} \square$

If $I$ is an ideal of $R$, then you can verify that that the set of numerators of $I$, $\{r\in A: \frac{r}{s}\in I\text{ for some$s\in S$}\}$, is an ideal in $A$, thus a principal ideal, generated by some element $t$. Now show that the ideal generated by $t=\frac{t}{1}$ in $R$ is the ideal you started out with.