Let $K$ be an ideal of the direct product $R\times S$.
Define
\[I=\{a\in R \mid (a,b)\in K \text{ for some } b\in S\}\]
and
\[J=\{b\in S \mid (a, b)\in K \text{ for some } a\in R\}.\]
We claim that $I$ and $J$ are ideals of $R$ and $S$, respectively.
Let $a, a’\in I$. Then there exist $b, b’\in S$ such that $(a, b), (a’, b’)\in K$.
Since $K$ is an ideal we have
\[(a,b)+(a’,b’)=(a+a’, b+b)\in k.\]
It follows that $a+a’\in I$.
Also, for any $r\in R$ we have
\[(r,0)(a,b)=(ra,0)\in K\]
because $K$ is an ideal.
Thus, $ra\in I$, and hence $I$ is an ideal of $R$.
Similarly, $J$ is an ideal of $S$.
Next, we prove that $K=I \times J$.
Let $(a,b)\in K$. Then by definitions of $I$ and $J$ we have $a\in I$ and $b\in J$.
Thus $(a,b)\in I\times J$. So we have $K\subset I\times J$.
On the other hand, consider $(a,b)\in I \times J$.
Since $a\in I$, there exists $b’\in S$ such that $(a, b’)\in K$.
Also since $b\in J$, there exists $a’\in R$ such that $(a’, b)\in K$.
As $K$ is an ideal of $R\times S$, we have
\[(1,0)(a,b’)=(a,0)\in K \text{ and } (0, 1)(a’,b)=(0, b)\in K.\]
It yields that
\[(a,b)=(a,0)+(0,b)\in K.\]
Hence $I\times J \subset K$.
Putting these inclusions together gives $k=I\times J$ as required.
Remark.
The ideals $I$ and $J$ defined in the proof can be alternatively defined as follows.
Consider the natural projections
\[\pi_1: R\times S \to R \text{ and } \pi_2:R\times S \to S.\]
Define
\[I=\pi_1(K) \text{ and } J=\pi_2(K).\]
No Nonzero Zero Divisor in a Field / Direct Product of Rings is Not a Field
(a) Let $F$ be a field. Show that $F$ does not have a nonzero zero divisor.
(b) Let $R$ and $S$ be nonzero rings with identities.
Prove that the direct product $R\times S$ cannot be a field.
Proof.
(a) Show that $F$ does not have a nonzero zero divisor.
[…]
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Let $R$ be the ring of all continuous functions on the interval $[0,1]$.
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