Why is $\mathbb{Z}[x]/(1-x,p)$ isomorphic to $\mathbb{Z}_{p}$, where $p$ is a prime integer.

Solution 1:

Basically, yes.

It is a bit easier if you consider it in steps, though. First, consider $\mathbb{Z}[x]/(p)$, which is isomorphic to $\mathbb{Z}_p[x]$; then consider $\mathbb{Z}_p[x]/(1-x)$, which is isomorphic to $\mathbb{Z}_p$ under the map "evaluate at 1" (or using the division algorithm, like you do above).

Or you can do it the other way. First consider the quotient $\mathbb{Z}[x]/(x-1)$, which is isomorphic to $\mathbb{Z}$ under evaluation at $x=1$; then mod out by $(p)$.

(What you are doing if you go this route is using the homomorphism theorems; the ideal $(p + (x-1))$ of $\mathbb{Z}[x]/(x-1)$ corresponds to the ideal $(p,x-1)$ of $\mathbb{Z}[x]$, and $(R/I)/(J/I)\cong R/J$, where $I$ and $J$ are ideals of $R$ with $I\subseteq J$).

Solution 2:

Define a map $\mathbb{Z}[x]\to \mathbb{Z}_p$ that sends $f(x)$ to the equivalence class of $f(1)$ modulo $p$. This is a homomorphism of rings. Since, every $f(x)$ can be written as $(x-1)q+r$ as you did, this map is surjective (just look at the images of the constant functions $0,1,...,p-1$), and the kernel is precisely $(x-1,p)$. This gives the required isomorphism by the first isomorphism theorem.

Counting cosets only gives you an abstract isomorphism, while this gives you a canonical one.