Unique factorization and principal ideal domains
In an integral domain irreducibles are nonzero nonunits that cannot split into two nonunits; primes divide a product only by dividing a factor.
Key knowledge
In an integral domain irreducibles are nonzero nonunits that cannot split into two nonunits; primes divide a product only by dividing a factor. A UFD has unique factorization up to units and order. A PID has every ideal principal, is a UFD, and supplies gcd Bézout identities d=ra+sb.
Conditions and scope
- Prime implies irreducible; the converse requires additional structure.
- A UFD alone need not supply Bézout identities.
Sources · 1
References
Sources retain their recorded scope. A source link alone does not establish verification of every statement.
Evidence and review
Definitions 19.5/19.7/19.12, Lemma 19.22 and Theorem 19.23; zero/nonunit restrictions explicit.
2026-10-10 · Independent AI editorial review: All241 compact claims, hypotheses, displayed equations/conventions and all596 origin semantic links read; entire241-entry author exact-source inspection matrix and declared limitations reviewed. Prior105 actual inherited Mathematics/Information records read for whole-inventory breadth. Targeted independent primary sections are listed below; this does NOT claim every cited source body or every proof was independently re-read. This is AI reference-content review, not human disciplinary certification, exhaustive textbook reproduction or experimental replication. Receipt: mathematics-information-independent-content-review.1.
Entry details
Permanent link to this entry ↗- Record identity
- math-factorization-domains
- Revision
- university-core.1
- Structured reference record
- University core expansion