Commutative algebra 34 Geometry of normalizations
Channel: Richard E Borcherds
Date: 2020-10-03

This lecture is part of an online course on commutative algebra, following the book
"Commutative algebra with a view toward algebraic geometry" by David Eisenbud.

We discuss the geometric meaning of finite morphisms and normal rings. 
Finite morphisms have the property that in the map of spectrums of rings, each point has a finite inverse image. Normalizing a ring is a sort of weak form of resolution of singularities, where we eliminate all singularities of codimension 1 in the spectrum.

Reading: Section 4.2
Exercises: 4.24