# Which of these Rings are Euclidean Domains and which are UFDs?

I want to determine which of the following cases are the rings Euclidean Domains and in which they are UFDs.

1. $\mathbb{Q}[X]$
2. $\bigcup_{n=1}^{\infty}\mathbb{Q}[x^\frac{1}{n}]$
3. $\mathbb{Q}[X,Y,Z]$
4. $\mathbb{Z}[\frac{1}{2}]$

Here are my thoughts thus far:

1. $\mathbb{Q}$ is a field and so $\mathbb{Q}[X]$ is a Euclidean Domain. It is also a UFD (I think I have shown correctly why this is the case, so I only need comments on this if it is in fact not a UFD).

I'm really struggling for ideas for the other cases. Guidance would be very appreciated.

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1. A univariate polynomial ring $\,F[x]\,$ over a field is Euclidean $\Rightarrow$ PID $\Rightarrow$ UFD.

2. $\bigcup_{n=1}^{\infty}\mathbb{Q}[x^\frac{1}{n}]\,$ fails ACCP by $(x) \subsetneq (x^{1/2}) \subsetneq (x^{1/4}) \subsetneq\,\ldots\,$ so is $\ \lnot \rm UFD\,\Rightarrow\,\lnot$ Euclidean.

3. Polynomial rings over UFDs are UFDs, thus so is $\,\Bbb Q[x,y,z],\,$ but it's $\,\lnot\rm PID\,\Rightarrow\,\lnot$ Euclidean, since $\,(x,y)\,$ is not principal.

4. Localization preserves Euclidean domains. Hint: lift the Euclidean function from $\,\Bbb Z\to \Bbb Z[1/2]\,$ by ignoring all factors of $\,2,\$ i.e. for odd $\,a,b,\,\ b 2^i\mid a 2^j \in \Bbb Z[1/2]\iff b\mid a\in \Bbb Z.\,$ If not, then $\, 0 < r = a-qb < b,\,$ so $\,v(r) \le r < b = v(b 2^j),\,$ where $\,v(r)\,$ is the odd part $> 0$ of $\,r.$

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These comments are very useful. Thanks. –  Mathmo Jun 10 '13 at 20:05

For 2, what would a prime factorization be for $x$?

In general, a Euclidean domain is also a Principal Ideal Domain. Can you find a non-principal ideal in $\mathbb Q[X,Y,Z]$?

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$2$. This ring is not an UFD (since $x=(x^{\frac{1}{n}})^n$ has many different decompositions).

$3$. $\mathbb{Q}[X,Y,Z]$ is an UFD, but is not Euclidean (since it is not a PID).

$4$. Every ring of fractions of an Euclidean domain is also Euclidean, so in this case your ring is Euclidean (since $\mathbb Z[\frac{1}{2}]=S^{-1}\mathbb Z$, where $S=\{1,2,2^2,\dots\}$).

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Quick tip: in English, "a UFD" and "a unique factorization domain" are correct, but the "an" is considered incorrect. The rule about using the article "an" for vowels only applies to vowel sounds not vowel letters. So you would also say "a Euclidean domain" or "an ED". –  rschwieb Jul 18 '13 at 23:16