# Polynomial ring $F[x]$ integrally closed?

by Thomas   Last Updated November 18, 2018 15:20 PM

Question: Let $F$ be a field and $A\subset F[x]$ the polynomials without the linear term. Prove that $F[x]$ is the integral closure of $A$.

My Proof: Since we have $x=x^3/x^2$, the field of fractions of $A$ is $F(x)$, because $x^2,x^3\in A$. Also, $x\in F(x)$ is a root of $t^2-x^2\in A[t]$, so $A$ is not integrally closed. In fact, $F[x]$ is generated by $1,\ x$ as an $A$-module, so any element of $F[x]$ is integral over $A$. And since every UFD is integrally closed, $F[x]$ is closed, hence it must be the integral closure of $A$.

But, when I take $y=\frac{x^3+2}{x^2-5}\in F(x)$, then $(x^2-5)\cdot t- (x^3+2)\in A[t]$ has $y$ as a root. So $y$ should be in the integral closure of $A$. What is my mistake?

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If $$A \subset B$$ are commutative rings with identity, then an element $$\alpha \in B$$ is said to be integral over $$A$$ if $$\alpha$$ satisfies a monic polynomial $$f(X) \in A[X]$$, that is, a polynomial whose leading coefficient is $$1$$, so $$f$$ is of the form $$f(X) = X^n + a_{n-1}X^{n-1} + \dots + a_1 X + a_0$$ for some $$a_i \in A$$, $$0 \leq i \leq n-1$$.
So, since $$p(t) = (x^2 - 5) \cdot t - (x^3 + 2) \in A[t]$$ is not monic, $$y = \frac{x^3 + 2}{x^2 - 5}$$ is not integral over $$A$$.