# Maximal and prime ideals of $2 \mathbb Z$

What are the all maximal ideals of $2 \mathbb Z$ ? what are the all prime ideals of $2 \mathbb Z$ ? We know that if $R$ is a commutative ring with multiplicative identity $1$ and $M$ is a maximal ideal then $M$ is a prime ideal . But the problem here is $R$ does not have any multiplicative identity ... Please help

An ideal of $2\mathbb{Z}$ must be an additive subgroup, to begin with; so it is of the form $2k\mathbb{Z}$. Any such subset (with $k\ge0$ for a unique representation) is indeed an ideal, as it is readily checked.
Saying that $2k\mathbb{Z}\subsetneq 2l\mathbb{Z}\subsetneq 2\mathbb{Z}$ means $l>1$ and $l\mid k$ with $k\ne l$. Thus the maximal ideals are those of the form $2p\mathbb{Z}$, with prime $p$.
Let's now assume $2k\mathbb{Z}$ is a nonzero ideal ($0\mathbb{Z}$ is prime, of course). If $k=ab$ is composite ($a>1$ and $b>1$), then $2a\cdot2b\in 2k\mathbb{Z}$, but neither $2a$ nor $2b$ belong to $2k\mathbb{Z}$, so this ideal is not prime.
We're left with prime $k$. Can you go on?
• should it not be $l|k$ ? – user123733 Dec 12 '14 at 13:59