Gaussian Integers form Principal Ideal Domain/Proof 1
Theorem
The ring of Gaussian integers:
- $\struct {\Z \sqbrk i, +, \times}$
forms a principal ideal domain.
Proof
From Gaussian Integers form Integral Domain, we have that $\struct {\Z \sqbrk i, +, \times}$ is an integral domain.
Let $a, d \in \Z \sqbrk i$ such that $d \ne 0$.
Suppose $\cmod a \ge \cmod d$.
Reference to an Argand diagram shows that one of:
- $a + d, a - d, a + i d, a - i d$
is closer to the origin than $a$ is.
So it is possible to subtract Gaussian integer multiples of $d$ from $a$ until the square of the modulus of the remainder drops below $\cmod d^2$.
That remainder can only take integer values.
Thus a Division Theorem result follows:
- $\exists q, r \in \Z \sqbrk i: a = q d + r$
where $\cmod r < \cmod d$.
Let $J$ be an arbitrary non-null ideal of $\Z \sqbrk i$.
Let $d$ be an element of minimum modulus in $J$.
Then the Division Theorem can be used to prove that $J = \ideal d$.
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Sources
- 1978: Thomas A. Whitelaw: An Introduction to Abstract Algebra ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $9$: Rings: Exercise $23$