Paper 1, Section II, H

Algebraic Geometry
Part II, 2013

Let VAnV \subset \mathbb{A}^{n} be an affine variety over an algebraically closed field kk. What does it mean to say that VV is irreducible? Show that any non-empty affine variety VAnV \subset \mathbb{A}^{n} is the union of a finite number of irreducible affine varieties VjAnV_{j} \subset \mathbb{A}^{n}.

Define the ideal I(V)I(V) of VV. Show that I(V)I(V) is a prime ideal if and only if VV is irreducible.

Assume that the base field kk has characteristic zero. Determine the irreducible components of

V(X1X2,X1X3+X221,X12(X1X3))A3V\left(X_{1} X_{2}, X_{1} X_{3}+X_{2}^{2}-1, X_{1}^{2}\left(X_{1}-X_{3}\right)\right) \subset \mathbb{A}^{3}