# An element does not belong to an ideal

How can I prove that the element $x-5$ does not belong to the ideal $(x^2-25,-4x+20)$ in $\mathbb Z[x]$.

I tried to show that by proving $x-5\neq(x^2-25)f(x)+(-4x+20)g(x)$ for all $f,g$. Any help?

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Compute in the quotient ring $Q:=\mathbb{Z}[x]/(x^2-25,-4x+20) \cong (\mathbb{Z}[x]/(x^2-25))/(4x-20)$. Since $x^2-25$ is monic of degree $2$, $\mathbb{Z}[x]/(x^2-25)$ is a free $\mathbb{Z}$-module with basis $1,x$. We divide out the ideal generated by $4x-20$, i.e. the subgroup generated by $4x-20$ and $x(4x-20)=4x^2-20x=4 \cdot 25 - 5 \cdot 4x=5(20-40x)$, i.e. this generator becomes superfluous. Clearly $x-5 \notin \mathbb{Z} \cdot (4x-20)$, so that $x-5 \neq 0$ in $Q$. In fact we can determine the structure of $Q$ as a $\mathbb{Z}$-module: It is isomorphic to $\mathbb{Z} \oplus \mathbb{Z}/4$ with generators $1,x-5$.

This also offers another simple proof: $Q/(2) = \mathbb{F}_2[x]/(x^2-1)$ and here $x-5=x-1 \neq 0$ is clear. (see my comment to Hagen's answer for a quotient-free version of this argument).

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Take the formal derivative of $$x-5=(x^2-25)f(x)+(-4x+20)g(x)$$ to arrive at $$1 = 2xf(x)+(x^2-25)f'(x)-4g(x)+(-4x+20)g'(x).$$ The right hand side is even at $x=1$.

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Why taking derivatives? Just reduce modulo $2$ to get $x-1=(x^2-1) \cdot \overline{f}$ in $\mathbb{F}_2[x]$, a contradiction. –  Martin Brandenburg Jan 12 at 22:57
@MartinBrandenburg Because Iwas playful :) –  Hagen von Eitzen Jan 13 at 7:21

Evaluate $x-5=(x^2-25)f(x)+(-4x+20)g(x)$ at $x=-5$ to obtain $40\mid10$, impossible.

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Skipping cancelling of $\,x-5\,$ makes it less clear what the source of the idea is to evaluate at $\,x=-5.\,$ Did you have some other way to motivate that? –  Bill Dubuque Jan 12 at 23:12
It is the sole root of $x^2-25$ which is not a root of $x-5$. –  anon Jan 12 at 23:13
$\begin{eqnarray}{\bf Hint}\ \ \ x-5\, &=&\, (x^2\!-25) f(x) -4(x-5) g(x)\\ \overset{\phantom{I}}\iff 1\, &=&\, (x\ +\ 5)\ f(x) - 4\, g(x)\\ \overset{x\ =\ -5}\Rightarrow\ 1\, &=&\, -4\ g(-5)\ \ {\rm in}\ \ \Bbb Z\ \Rightarrow\Leftarrow \end{eqnarray}$
${\rm mod}\ \color{#c00}2\!:\ (x^2\!-25) f -\color{#c00}2\, g\$ is either $\,0\,$ or of degree $\ge 2,\,$ so is $\,\not\equiv\, x-5$