Integral Extensions, Units in an Integral Extension

Units in an Integral Extension

Let S be an integral extension of R, and let x be an element of R. Now x is a unit in R iff it is a unit in S.

One direction is obvious, so assume x is a unit in S, with xy = 1. Since y is integral over R, p(y) = 0 for some monic polynomial p. Multiply p(y) through by xn-1, and y lies in R after all. Thus x is a unit in R.