Proof of Hilbert's Nullstellensatz
We prove the strong Nullstellensatz: for and any ideal ,
The proof proceeds in three steps: (1) the weak Nullstellensatz via Zariski's lemma, (2) the ideal form as an immediate corollary, and (3) the strong form via the Rabinowitsch trick.
Step 1: Zariski's Lemma
Let be a field and a finitely generated -algebra that is also a field. Then is a finite algebraic extension of .
Suppose as a -algebra. We want to show all are algebraic over .
Suppose not. After reordering, let be a transcendence basis of (so ), and are algebraic over .
Then is a finite extension of (the rational function field). So is a finitely generated -module. Say where each satisfies a monic polynomial over .
Clearing denominators: there exists such that each is integral over . Hence is integral over .
But is a field, so must also be a field (a subring of a field that is integral over it is a field if the field is integral over it — by the lying-over theorem). But is a localization of , which is not a field when (e.g., the element is not a unit unless has infinitely many factors, which is impossible).
Contradiction. So , and all are algebraic over .
Step 2: Weak Nullstellensatz
Let . Every maximal ideal of is of the form for some .
Let be a maximal ideal. Then is a field that is a finitely generated -algebra.
By Zariski's Lemma, is algebraic. Since , we have .
The projection sends for some . The kernel of this map is , which is contained in . But is already maximal, so .
Corollary (Ideal form). If is a proper ideal, then for some maximal ideal , so . In particular, .
Step 3: Strong Nullstellensatz (Rabinowitsch trick)
.
Easy inclusion (): If , then for any , in , so . Thus .
Hard inclusion (, the Rabinowitsch trick): Let . We need to show for some .
Introduce a new variable and consider the ideal
Claim: in .
Proof of claim: If , then , so (since ). But also . Contradiction. So .
By the ideal form of the Nullstellensatz, . So there exist and polynomials such that
Now substitute (formally, work in , i.e., localize at ):
Multiply both sides by for large enough to clear all denominators:
where . So , i.e., .
Commentary
The trick of introducing the auxiliary variable with the relation is a stroke of genius. It converts the statement " vanishes wherever vanishes" into the statement " and have no common zero," which is exactly what the weak Nullstellensatz can handle.
This is a prototype of a ubiquitous technique in algebraic geometry: to study the complement of , adjoin (pass to a localization).
There are several other proofs of the Nullstellensatz:
- Via Noether normalization: Show that is a finite extension of a polynomial ring, then use the weak form.
- Model-theoretic proof: Use quantifier elimination for algebraically closed fields.
- Proof using resultants: For , the resultant iff and share a root.
- Artin–Tate lemma: A more general algebraic statement that implies Zariski's lemma directly.
The Rabinowitsch trick proof is the most elementary and is the one given in Hartshorne (Theorem I.1.3A) and Atiyah–Macdonald (Exercise 7.14).
Let and .
(the -axis).
vanishes on all of , so .
Rabinowitsch: Consider .
From : (heuristically). Then and . In the quotient, , so is a unit, and becomes . Formally:
, so . Then . So .
Now: . Substituting and multiplying by :
Hmm, this is trivial. Let's be more careful. We had , and . So , giving .
Indeed: , and . ✓