Around the Eakin-Sathaye theorem (Q2569435)

Throughout we use \((R,M,k)\) to indicate that \(R\) is a local Noetherian ring with maximal ideal \(M\) and with infinite residue field \(k\). Let \(I\) be an ideal in a commutative Noetherian ring \(R\) with identity. Call a subideal \(J\) of \(I\) a reduction of \(I\) if for some natural number \(n,\) \(JI^{n}=I^{n+1}\) [\textit{D. G. Northcott} and \textit{D. Rees}, Proc. Camb. Philos. Soc. 50, 145--158 (1954; Zbl 0057.02601)]. \textit{P. Eakin} and \textit{A. Sathaye} [J. Algebra 41, 439--454 (1976; Zbl 0348.13012)] proved a general result on reductions which for \((R,M,k)\) states that if for some integers \(n\geq 1,\) \( r\geq 0,\) \(I^{n}\) can be generated by fewer than \(\binom{n+r}{r}\) elements then every ideal \(J\) generated by \(r\) linear combinations of generators of \( I \) is a reduction of \(I.\) To give an algebraic theory of mixed multiplicities, \textit{D. Rees} [J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 29, 397--414 (1984; Zbl 0572.13005)] introduced the notions of complete and joint reductions. The idea is: Let \( I_{1},I_{2},\dots ,I_{s}\) be (not necessarily distinct) ideals in \((R,M,k)\) and let \(I=I_{1}I_{2}\dots I_{s}. \) Elements \(x_{ij}\in I_{i}\) \((i=1,\dots,s;\) \( j=1,\dots ,r)\) are called a complete reduction of \(I_{1},I_{2},\dots ,I_{s}\) if \( (y_{1},\dots ,y_{r})\) is a reduction of \(I\) where \(y_{j}=x_{1j}x_{2j}\dots x_{sj}\) \((j=1,\dots,r).\) Next, elements \(x_{i}\in I_{i}\) are a joint reduction of \( I_{1},I_{2},\dots ,I_{s}\) if \( J=x_{1}I_{2}\dots I_{s}+I_{1}x_{2}I_{3}\dots I_{s}+\dots +I_{1}I_{2}\dots I_{s-1}x_{s}\) is a reduction of \(I.\) The author uses notions related to Segre embedding to prove the following analogue, for complete reductions, of the above mentioned Eakin-Sathaye theorem. Let \(I_{1},I_{2},\dots ,I_{s}\) be (not necessarily distinct) ideals in \((R,M,k).\) Set \(I=I_{1}I_{2}\dots I_{s}\). Suppose that for some integers \(n,r\) with \(n\geq 1\) and \(r\geq 0,\) \(I^{n}\) can be generated by fewer than \(\binom{n+r}{r}\) elements. Then for general elements \(y_{1},y_{2},\dots ,y_{r}\) with \(y_{j}=x_{1j}x_{2j}\dots x_{sj}\) \( (j=1,\dots ,r)\) where \(x_{ij}\in I_{i}\) \((i=1,\dots ,s),\) we have that \( (y_{1},y_{2},\dots ,y_{r})\) is a reduction for \(I.\) As an immediate corollary the author offers a version of the Eakin-Sathaye theorem for joint reductions. In addition, the author indicates, as consequences, a number of interesting applications and generalizations of known results.