# Example of prime, not maximal ideal

This is homework from videolecture: "Show that $(x^2-y)$ is prime but not maximal in $C[x,y]$". Linked SE pages offer to approach this by demonstrating that $C[x,y]/(x^2-y)$ is integral domain but not field. However, I feel that exhibiting an ideal strictly containing $(x^2-y)$ is easier; and $(x^2+y^2)$ seems to fit the bill. It also seems that proving that $(x^2-y)$ is prime directly is easier, because the polynomial $x^2-y$ can't be factored.

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$(x,y)$ is a example of an ideal which contains yours. $(x^2+y^2)$, on the other hand, is not. Indeed, as you observe, $x^2-y$ is irreducible, so the ideal $(x^2-y)$ is not contained non-trivially in any principal ideal. –  Mariano Suárez-Alvarez Oct 18 '11 at 18:10
When you say primary, do you mean prime? Showing that $x^2 - y$ is irreducible (I assume we are working over a field) would be enough to show that the ideal is prime, but you'd have to prove that. And you would still have to show that it isn't maximal, somehow. –  Dylan Moreland Oct 18 '11 at 18:11
You should edit your question and specify which ring you are working in. $\mathbb{Z}[x,y]$? $\mathbb{Q}[x,y]$? ... –  Bill Cook Oct 18 '11 at 18:17
@TegiriNenashi Over $\mathbf{C}$ there are far more solutions to $x^2 + y^2 = 0$ than the one you've written down; $(1, i)$ is one example. –  Dylan Moreland Oct 18 '11 at 18:32
Perhaps the time has come to gather these comments into an answer? –  Gerry Myerson Oct 19 '11 at 2:52

It may be worth saying that since $\Bbb C$ is algebraically closed, the maximal ideals in $\Bbb C[X,Y]$ are precisely the ideals of the form $(X-\zeta_1,Y-\zeta_2)$ where $\zeta_1$ and $\zeta_2$ are arbitrary complex numbers.

Moreover, the maximal ideal $(X-\zeta_1,Y-\zeta_2)$ contains the ideal $(P(X,Y))$ for a (not necessarily irreducible) polynomial $P(X,Y)$ if and only if $P(\zeta_1,\zeta_2)=0$.

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An ideal $(x^2+y) \subset \mathbb{C}[x,y]$ is prime because a polynomial $x^2+y$ is irreducible. Indeed, if we assume that $x^2+y = a \cdot b,\ a,b \in \mathbb{C}[x,y]$, then if $y$-degree of $a$ is $1$, y-degree of $b$ must be $0$. If $x$-degree of $a$ is $2$, then $x$-degree of $b$ is $0$, and $b$ is just a complex number. Otherwise, if $x$-degree of $a$ is not $2$, then $a \cdot b$ contains $x^2y$ or $xy$ terms, that are not contained in $x^2+y$.
The ideal is not maximal, because it's contained in an ideal $(x,y) \subset \mathbb{C}[x,y]$.