Department of Mathematics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada K1N 6N5
Abstract:
Let be a field of characteristic and a polynomial algebra in two variables. By a -generator of we mean an element of for which there exist and such that . We also define a -line of to mean any element of whose coordinate ring is that of a -generator. Then we prove that if is such that is a -line of (where is an indeterminate over ), then is a -generator of . This is analogous to the well-known fact that if is such that is a line of , then is a variable of . We also prove that if is a -line of for which there exist and such that , then is in fact a -generator of .