Do Noetherian Modules Have Noetherian Basis Functions?

Abstract. In Bishop-style constructive algebra it is known that if a module over a commutative ring has a Noetherian basis function, then it is Noetherian. Using countable choice we prove the reverse implication for countable and strongly discrete modules. The Hilbert basis theorem for this specific class of Noetherian modules, and polynomials in a single variable, follows with Tennenbaum’s celebrated version for modules with a Noetherian basis function. In particular, the usual hypothesis that the modules under consideration are coherent need not be made. We further identify situations in which countable choice is dispensable.