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Let $A$ be a nonzero noetherian commutative ring with one, and let $x$ be an indeterminate.

Can the rings $A[x]$ and $A$ be isomorphic?

Of course such a ring would have infinite Krull dimension, but noetherian rings of infinite Krull dimension are well known to exist: see this thread.

1 Answers1

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Suppose there is a ring isomorphism $f : A \to A[x]$. Let $g : A[x] \to A$ be the $A$-algebra map sending $x \mapsto 0$; then the composition $\varphi = gf$ is a surjective ring automorphism of $A$ with nonzero kernel. Set $K_{n} := \ker \varphi^{n}$. Then $K_{1} \subseteq K_{2} \subseteq K_{3} \subseteq \dotsb$ is an ascending chain of ideals of $A$. It remains to show that $K_{n} \ne K_{n+1}$. This follows from induction on $n$, using that $K_{n} = \varphi^{-1}(K_{n-1})$ and $K_{n+1} = \varphi^{-1}(K_{n})$.

Minseon Shin
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