[Math] If a finitely-generated ideal is prime, does it follow that the generators are prime

abstract-algebraring-theory

If a finitely-generated ideal is prime, does it follow that the generators are prime? This is clearly true if it is generated by $1$ element, but is it true for any $n \ge 2$? If not, are there prime ideals generated by elements, none of which are prime?

Best Answer

In $\mathbb{Z}[X]$, the ideal generated by $2X$ and $3X$ is $(X)$ because $X = 3X-2X$, so it is prime.

However, $2X$ is not prime because $2X$ divides $2\times X$, but it does not divide $2$ nor $X$ in $\mathbb{Z}[X]$. The same goes for $3X$.