On the sum of \(z\)-ideals in subrings of \(C(X)\) (Q2219237)

Throughout, \(X\) is a completely regular Hausdorff space, \(C(X)\) is the ring of real-valued continuous functions on \(X\), and \(C^*(X)\) is the subring of \(C(X)\) consisting of bounded functions. A subalgebra \(A(X)\) of \(C(X)\) is called intermediate if \(C^*(X)\subseteq A(X)\subseteq C(X)\). A simple but useful proposition that sets the stage in the paper is that the intermediate subalgebras of \(C(X)\) are precisely its absolutely convex subalgebras. An ideal in a commutative ring is called a \(z\)-ideal if the intersection of all maximal ideals containing any member of the ideal is contained in the ideal. In \(C(X)\) this is equivalent to saying that any function with the same zero-set as a member of the ideal is a member of the ideal. Modifying this, the authors of the paper under review say an ideal \(I\) of a subalgebra \(A(X)\) is called a \(z_A\)-ideal in case whenever \(Z(f)\subseteq Z(g)\) with \(f\in I\) and \(g\in A\), then \(g\in I\). They show that the \(z\)-ideals of \(A(X)\) are precisely its \(z_A\)-ideals if and only if \(A(X)=C(X)\). They also show that in any intermediate subalgebra, the sum of two \(z_A\)-ideals is a \(z_A\)-ideal or the entire ring; a result reminiscent of the fact that in \(C(X)\) the sum of two \(z\)-ideals is a \(z\)-ideal or the entire ring. The major achievement (among several other significant results) in the second part of the paper is the characterization of the spaces \(X\) such that, for any ideal \(I\) of \(C(X)\), the sum of two \(z\)-ideals in the subring \(I+\mathbb R\) of \(C(X)\) is a \(z\)-ideal or the whole of \(I+\mathbb R\). They are precisely the \(F\)-spaces.