let $A$ a Noetherian ring and $M$ a finitely generated $A$-module. suppose that $t \in A$ is an $M$–regular element, i.e. multiplication map $t: M \to M. m \mapsto am$ is injective. recall the notation of support:
$\operatorname{Supp}(M):= \{\mathfrak{p} \in \operatorname{Spec}(R): M_{\mathfrak{p}} \neq 0 \}$
Q: why the equation $$\operatorname{Supp}(M/tM)= \operatorname{Supp}(M) \cap V(tA)$$ is true?
recall $V(tA):= \{\mathfrak{p} \subset A \text{ } \vert \text{ } tA \subset \mathfrak{p} \}$. the "$\subset$" part is easy: if $\mathfrak{p} \in \operatorname{Supp}(M/tM)$ prime with $(M/tM)_{\mathfrak{p}} \neq 0$ then obviously $M_{\mathfrak{p}} \neq 0$ and $tA \subset \mathfrak{p}$, since if otherwise $tA \not \subset \mathfrak{p}$ then a $ta \in A \backslash \mathfrak{p}$ would annulatate every $\bar{m} \in M/tM$ and thus $(M/tM)_{\mathfrak{p}} = 0$.
the "$\supset$" is harder. let $\mathfrak{p} \in \operatorname{Supp}(M/tM)$ with $tA \subset \mathfrak{p}$. possibly that can happen, that for every $m \in M$ we can find a $s_m \in \mathfrak{p}$ with $sm \in tM$,i.e. thus $(M/tM)_{\mathfrak{p}} = 0$. why this cannot happen?
alternative strategy might also be to show $\sqrt{Ann(M/tM)}= \sqrt{Ann(M)+ tA}$, since $\operatorname{Supp}(M) = V(Ann(M))$. trying this I also fail to show "$\supset$".
Best Answer
Let $\mathfrak{p}\in\text{Supp}(M)\cap V(tA)$. Now, suppose that $(M/tM)_\mathfrak{p}=0$. We have that $(M/tM)_\mathfrak{p}=M_\mathfrak{p}/tM_\mathfrak{p}$, and so $tM_\mathfrak{p}=M_\mathfrak{p}$.
Since $tA\subseteq\mathfrak{p}$ we have $\mathfrak{p}M_\mathfrak{p}=M_\mathfrak{p}$. Then certainly as $A_\mathfrak{p}$-modules we have $(\mathfrak{p}A_\mathfrak{p})M_\mathfrak{p}=M_\mathfrak{p}$. Since $M$ is a finitely generated $A$-module we have that $M_\mathfrak{p}$ is a finitely generated $A_\mathfrak{p}$-module.
Now, $\mathfrak{p}A_\mathfrak{p}$ is the unique maximal ideal of $A_\mathfrak{p}$, and so by Nakayama's Lemma we have $M_\mathfrak{p}=0$.
This is a contradiction, and so $(M/tM)_\mathfrak{p}\neq0$. Then $\mathfrak{p}\in\text{Supp}(M/tM)$ and so $\text{Supp}(M)\cap V(tA)\subseteq\text{Supp}(M/tM)$.