We consider the algebra
generated over the ring R by the quotients {x1∕x,⋯,xn∕x}. This “monoidal
transform” R[x1∕x,⋯,xn∕x] may be regarded as the homomorphic image of the
polynomial ring R[Xi,⋯,Xn]. Examination of the kernel of this homomorphism gives
in one instance the theorem of analytic independence of systems of parameters and in
another the analogous theorem about R-sequences in arbitrary commutative rings.
We combine these results with some older work of ours (included in an appendix) to
give several characterizations of ideals in Noetherian rings generated by
R-sequences.