[Math] Proving that kernels of evaluation maps are generated by the $x_i – a_i$

abstract-algebrapolynomialsring-theory

I want to prove that the kernel of the evaluation map $s_a : \mathbb{C}[x_1,\dots,x_n] \rightarrow \mathbb{C}, x_i \mapsto a_i$ where $a = (a_1,\dots, a_n) \in \mathbb{C}^n$ is the ideal generated by $\{x_1 – a_1, \dots, x_n – a_n\}$.

The proof in the book first shows it easily for the case $a = 0$, and says that by substitutions of variables $x_i' = x_i – a_i$, you can show it for the rest of the cases. I know that $f \in \ker s_a$ iff $f(a) = 0$. And $\phi : \mathbb{C}[x_1,\dots, x_n] \rightarrow \mathbb{C}[x_1 – a_1, \dots, x_n-a_n], x_i \mapsto x_i – a_i$ is a surjective ring homomorphism. Please give a hint and not the full answer. Thanks.

Best Answer

First of all $\mathbb{C}[x_1 - a_1, \dots, x_n-a_n]=\mathbb{C}[x_1,\dots, x_n]$ and I think in the book you are reading it must be $$\phi : \mathbb{C}[x_1,\dots, x_n] \rightarrow \mathbb{C}[x_1, \dots, x_n], x_i \mapsto x_i - a_i.$$ This is easily seen an isomorphism. You also have two maps: $s_a : \mathbb{C}[x_1,\dots,x_n] \rightarrow \mathbb{C}, x_i \mapsto a_i$ whose kernel you want to determine and $s_0 : \mathbb{C}[x_1,\dots,x_n] \rightarrow \mathbb{C}, x_i \mapsto 0$ whose kernel you already know. Now check that $s_a\circ\phi=s_0$ and let's find out the kernel of $s_a$: $f\in\ker s_a$ iff $s_a(f)=0$ iff $s_0\circ\phi^{-1}(f)=0$ iff $\phi^{-1}(f)\in\ker s_0$ iff $f\in \phi(\ker s_0)$, so $$\ker s_a=\phi(\ker s_0).$$ Since we know that $\ker s_0=(X_1,\dots,X_n)$ it follows $$\ker s_a=\phi((X_1,\dots,X_n))=(\phi(X_1),\dots,\phi(X_n))=(X_1-a_1,\dots,X_n-a_n).$$

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