# radical of an ideal in the polynomial ring $k[x,y]$

How can I compute the radical of an ideal? I suppose that there no exist an algorithm for compute it. But in the case of polynomials rings? there exist an algorithm? I need to compute the radical of the ideal generated by $(x^2y , xy^3)$ in the ring of polynomials $k[x,y]$ where $k$ is any field.

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You should look into Groebner bases. This related question might also prove useful. – Alex Becker Mar 28 '12 at 5:43

Your ideal $I=(x^2y,xy^3)$ is what's called a monomial ideal, because it is generated by monomials; it has the nice property that a polynomial belongs to $I$ if and only if each of its monomials belongs to $I$, and you can probably prove this easily. It is not hard to see that its radical is also generated by monomials, and then you can probably see which monomials you need in this specific case. I'll let you try your hand at this before giving you the answer...
Using that you said, I can try with all the options of monomials of less degree than $x^2y , xy^3$ that belongs to the radical, and are not in I . There is only one. And is the monoial xy. So the radical is generated by $xy, x^2y , xy^3$ – Pilot Mar 28 '12 at 6:20