Show that if the height of a prime ideal is zero, then it is a prime ideal belonging to 0

abstract-algebracommutative-algebradimension-theory-algebra

I was reading Atiyah-Macdonald p. 122, the proof of the Krull's principal ideal theorem:

Let $A$ be a Noetherian ring and let $x$ be an element of $A$ which is neither a zero-divisor nor a unit. Then every minimal prime ideal $\mathfrak{p}$ of $(x)$ has height $1$.

Proof. First we have height $\mathfrak{p}\leq 1$. If height $\mathfrak{p}=0$, then $\mathfrak{p}$ is a prime ideal belonging to $0$, hence every element of $\mathfrak{p}$ is a zero divisor: contradiction, since $x\in \mathfrak{p}$.

I don't know how to show that

If height $\mathfrak{p}=0$, then $\mathfrak{p}$ is a prime ideal belonging to $0$.

Any hints and answer are welcome!


However, I have an alternative proof: If height $\mathfrak{p}=0$, then $\dim A_\mathfrak{p}=0$ and therefore $A_{\mathfrak{p}}$ is a local Artin ring. Thus, $(\mathfrak{p}^e)^n=0$ for some $n$, which implies that every element of $\mathfrak{p}$ is a zero divisor.

Best Answer

Noetherian case: Let $p$ be a minimal prime ideal of $R$ and let $0=q_1\cap\cdots \cap q_n$ be a primary decomposition of the zero ideal. Hence $q_1\cap\cdots\cap q_n\subseteq p$ and thus $\sqrt{q_1\cap\cdots\cap q_n}\subseteq p$. Hence we have $\sqrt{q_1}\cap\cdots\cap \sqrt{q_n}\subseteq p$ and so there is an $i$ such that $\sqrt{q_i}\subseteq p$. Now since $p$ is a minimal prime ideal, we have $\sqrt{q_i}=p$. So $p\in \mathrm{Ass}(R)$ and every element of $p$ is a zerodivizor since $Z(R)=\cup_{q\in \mathrm{Ass}(R)} q$.

General case: It is well-known a prime ideal $p$ is minimal prime if and only if for each $x\in p$ there exists $y\in R\setminus p$ such that $xy$ is nilpotent. This shows that every element of a minimal prime ideal is a zero divizor.