Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2021 / ii / Paper 1 / 25I / Solution

The Hilbert basis theorem makes $k[x_1,\dots ,x_n]$ a Noetherian ring. Reversing the inclusion of ideals shows that its Zariski-closed subsets satisfy the descending-chain condition, so every affine variety is a Noetherian topological space.

Suppose some nonempty closed subset had no finite decomposition into irreducible closed subsets. It would be reducible, so it could be writtenwith $V_1,V_2$ proper closed subsets. At least one of these would again admit no finite irreducible decomposition. Repeating that choice would produce an infinite strictly descending chain of closed subsets, contradicting Noetherianity. ThereforeRemoving any member contained in another leaves exactly the irreducible components.

Solved by gpt-5.6-sol high.