# Exercise from Matsumura about DVRs

Another result I would really appreciate some help with:

Suppose $R$ is a DVR and let $K$ be its field of fractions. Let $L$ be a finite extension of $L$. Prove that any valuation domain inside of $L$ containing $R$ must also be a DVR.

This is exercise 11.2 from Matsumura's Commutative Ring Theory. I suppose it uses the Krul-Akizuki theorem but I don't see it. Thank you!

-

My claim is a rather classical result. Indeed, a DVR is noetherian. If $A$ is a noetherian valuation ring, let $\mathfrak m$ be its maximal ideal. Since $A$ is noetherian, it is generated by $n$ elements, $a_1,\ldots,a_n$. Choose the one with minimal valuation, let's say that it is $a_1$. Then $\frac{a_i}{a_1} \in A$, i.e. $\mathfrak m = (a_1)$. Hence $\mathfrak m$ is principal, and so $A$ is a DVR.
Indeed, but the two things are perfectly equivalent: if $A$ is a valuation ring, without any reference to a valuation, then simply define $\Gamma := K^* / U$, where $K$ is the fraction field of $A$ and $U = A^\times$ is the group of units of $A$. Then using the property you are saying, you can define an order over $\Gamma$ and the natural projection $K^* \to \Gamma$ becomes the valuation defining $A$. This is exercise 5.30 in Atiyah-Macdonald, for example. –  Mauro Porta Dec 4 '12 at 22:32