Radical ideals with same zero set

algebraic-geometrycommutative-algebra

Let $\mathbb{K}$ be a field. Let $S\subseteq \mathbb{K}[x_1,\dots,x_n]$ be a set of polynomials. The variety defined by $S$ is the set, $V(S)=\{a\in \mathbb{K}^n:f(a)=0\:\forall f\in S\}$

For an algebraically closed field Nullstellensatz relates the radical of an ideal to its variety. If the field is not algebraically closed, can there be two radical ideals with the same zero set? I was trying to construct examples but I couldn't do it.

Best Answer

You can look at $V(x^2+1)$ in $\mathbb{R}$, ie the empty set. $x^2+1$ is a radical ideal, since $\mathbb{R} [x]/ (x^2+1)$ is isomorphic to $\mathbb{C}$, a reduced ring. You can also look at $V(\mathbb{R}[x])$.