# On the height of an ideal

Which of the following inequalities hold for a ring $R$ and an ideal of its $I$?

height $I\leq\mathrm{dim}\;R-\mathrm{dim}\;R/I$

height $I\geq\mathrm{dim}\;R-\mathrm{dim}\;R/I$

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Assume dim R is finite. Let P be a prime containing I such that dim R/I = dim R/p. We have then that

ht(I) + dim (R/I) <= ht(I) + dim (R/p) <= ht(P) + dim(R/p) <= dim(R)

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I might be wrong, but I think that $\mathrm{dim}\;R/I\geq \mathrm{dim}\;R/\mathfrak{p}$. For example take $I\subset\mathfrak{p}_1\subset\mathfrak{p}_2$ then $\mathrm{dim}\;R/I\geq\mathrm{dim}\;R/\mathfrak{p}_2$, isn't it? –  Jacob Fox Jul 11 '11 at 13:46
But choose a prime P such that dim R/I = dim R/p. –  YequalsX Jul 11 '11 at 14:01
Right, you're right –  Jacob Fox Jul 11 '11 at 14:18
I think to have it: suppose $\mathrm{height}\;I=n$ and $\mathrm{dim}\;R/I=m$ then we have a chain
$\mathfrak{p}_0\subset\ldots\subset\mathfrak{p}_n\subset I\subset\mathfrak{p}_{n+1}\subset\ldots\subset\mathfrak{p}_{n+m}$
but in general $\mathrm{dim}\;R$ would be greater, so
$\mathrm{height}\;I+\mathrm{dim}\;R/I\leq\mathrm{dim}\;R$ holds