An elementary proof of Wiebe's theorem (Q1703086)

The authors study the concept of \textit{true grade}, denoted \(\mathrm{Gr}(I)\), for a finitely generated ideal \(I\) in a commutative ring \(R\). Their main focus is the behaviour of this invariant modulo nonzero divisors \(b \in I\). For example, the authors' first result says that for each such ideal \(I\), if \(\mathrm{Gr}(I) \geq k + 1\), then \(\mathrm{Gr}(I) \geq k\) modulo \(\langle b \rangle\), for all regular elements \(b \in I\). The authors then study consequences of this theorem within the context of earlier work of \textit{H. Wiebe} [Math. Ann. 179, 257--274 (1969; Zbl 0169.05701)].