ABSTRACT
In classical algebraic geometry curves were frequently studied by projecting them onto a line and regarding the curve as a (ramified) covering o f the line. This is quite analogous to the relationship between a number field and the rational field-or rather between their rings of integers-and the common algebraic feature is the notion of integral dependence. In this chapter we prove a number o f results about integral dependence. In particular we prove the theorems of Cohen-Seidenberg (the “ going-up” and “ going-down” theorems) concerning prime ideals in an integral extension. In the exercises at the end we discuss the algebro-geometric situation and in particular the Normalization Lemma.
