Paper 3, Section I, H

Groups, Rings and Modules
Part IB, 2010

Let AA be the ring of integers Z\mathbb{Z} or the polynomial ring C[X]\mathbb{C}[X]. In each case, give an example of an ideal II of AA such that the quotient ring R=A/IR=A / I has a non-trivial idempotent (an element xRx \in R with x0,1x \neq 0,1 and x2=xx^{2}=x ) and a non-trivial nilpotent element (an element xRx \in R with x0x \neq 0 and xn=0x^{n}=0 for some positive integer nn ). Exhibit these elements and justify your answer.