# Isomorphism in coordinate ring

Let $x_{1},x_{2},...,x_{m}$ be elements of $\mathbb{A}^{n}$, where $\mathbb{A}^{n}$ is the n-affine space over an algebraically closed field $k$. Now define $X=\{x_{1},x_{2},...,x_{m}\}$. Why is the coordinate ring $A(X)$, isomorphic to $\oplus_{j=1}^{m} k = k^{m}$?

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The coordinate ring $A(X)$ is defined to be the quotient of $k[z_1,\ldots,z_n]$ (I'm using $z_i$ because you are using $x_i$ to denote the points of affine space) by the ideal $I(X)$. The ideal $I(X)$ is the ideal of all elements of $k[z_1,\ldots,z_n]$ that are zero at $X$.

By the Nullstellensatz, the ideal corresponding to a single point $x_i = (x_{i1},\ldots,x_{in})$ is given by $(z_1-x_{i1}, z_2-x_{i2},\ldots,z_n-x_{in})$.

The ideal of a union is the intersection of the ideals; so you are trying to mod out by $$\bigcap_{i=1}^m (z_1-x_{i1},\ldots,z_n-x_{in}).$$

But the ideals $(z_1-x_{i1},\ldots,z_n-x_{in})$ are maximal ideals, since $k[z_1,\ldots,z_n]/(z_1-x_{i1},\ldots,z_n-x_{in}) \cong k$. If they are all distinct, then they are pairwise comaximal, hence pairwise coprime. By the Chinese Remainder Theorem, we know that if $\mathfrak{p}_1,\ldots,\mathfrak{p}_k$ are pairwise coprime ideals in $R$, then $$\frac{R}{\mathfrak{p}_1\cap\cdots\cap\mathfrak{p}_k} \cong \frac{R}{\mathfrak{p}_1}\oplus\cdots\oplus\frac{R}{\mathfrak{p}_k}.$$

So we have that $$A(X) = \frac{k[z_1,\ldots,z_n]}{\cap_{i=1}^m(z_1-x_{i1},\ldots,z_n-x_{in})} \cong \mathop{\bigoplus}_{i=1}^m \frac{k[z_1,\ldots,z_n]}{(z_1-x_{i1},\ldots,z_m-x_{im})} \cong \mathop{\bigoplus}_{i=1}^m k.$$

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Thanks a lot! What can I say? I'm new with this stuff and your explanation helps a lot to really understand this material. –  user6495 Feb 24 '11 at 17:02

For each $i$, $A(\{x_i\}) = k[x]/I(x_i) \cong k$, so each $I(x_i)$ is a maximal ideal of $k[x]$. I assume the points $x_1,\ldots,x_n$ are distinct, from which it follows easily that the ideals $I(x_1),\ldots,I(x_n)$ are distinct maximal ideals. Thus they are pairwise comaximal and the Chinese Remainder Theorem -- see e.g. $\S 4.3$ of these notes -- applies. I leave it to you to check that it gives the conclusion you want.

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Thank you very much! I will print your notes, thanks for sharing them. –  user6495 Feb 24 '11 at 17:00
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