A sharp Bézout domain is an elementary divisor ring (Q2259526)

This paper, which is an English translation of an article which first appeared in Ukrains'kyi Matematychnyi Zhurnal, investigates sharp Bézout domains. We begin with some definitions. Recall that an overring of \(R\) is any integral domain between \(R\) and \(K\), the ring of fractions of \(R\). As defined by \textit{R. Gilmer} [J. Appl. Algebra 4, 331--340 (1966; Zbl 0146.26205)], an integral domain \(R\) is said to have property \((\#)\) if for any two distinct subsets \(M\) and \(N\) of the collection of maximal ideals of \(R\) (\(\mathrm{mspec}R\)), \(\bigcap_{P\in M} R_P \neq \bigcap_{Q\in N} R_Q\). Then we call a domain \textit{sharp} if each overring has property \((\#)\). An integral domain is \textit{Bézout} if every finitely generated ideal is principal. A non-zero element \(a\) of the domain \(R\) is called \textit{adequate} if, for each element \(b \in R\), there exists elements \(r,s \in R\) such that: (1) \(a=rs\), (2) \(rR +bR=R\), and (3) for any \(s' \in R\), the relation \(sR \subset s'R \neq R\) implies \(s'R + bR\) is a proper ideal. Then a Bézout domain is an \textit{adequate ring} if each non-zero element is a adequate. Lastly, a commutative ring \(R\) is an \textit{elementary divisor ring} if each matrix over \(R\) is equivalent to a diagonal matrix. It is shown that the collection of adequate elements in a Bézout domain form a saturated, multiplicatively closed set. Call this set \(S\). Then a Bézout domain is an elementary divisor ring if and only if \(R_S\) is an elementary divisor ring. Finally, these results are used to prove the main theorem (and title) of the paper: A sharp Bézout domain is an elementary divisor domain.