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Rings, Integral Domains and Fields

The document defines rings, integral domains, and fields. It states that a ring is a set with two binary operations, addition and multiplication, that satisfy certain properties. An integral domain is a ring with no zero divisors, meaning no two non-zero elements multiply to get zero. A field is an integral domain where every non-zero element has a multiplicative inverse, so it is a set where both addition and multiplication are commutative groups.

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81 views2 pages

Rings, Integral Domains and Fields

The document defines rings, integral domains, and fields. It states that a ring is a set with two binary operations, addition and multiplication, that satisfy certain properties. An integral domain is a ring with no zero divisors, meaning no two non-zero elements multiply to get zero. A field is an integral domain where every non-zero element has a multiplicative inverse, so it is a set where both addition and multiplication are commutative groups.

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© © All Rights Reserved
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11.

3YK3 Algebra 1

Notes 2
RINGS, INTEGRAL DOMAINS AND FIELDS

Definition. Let R be a set and let + and · be binary operations on R.


Then (R, + , · ) is a ring if

• (R, + ) is a commutative group;

• · is a closed associative operation on R;

• · is distributive over +, i.e., a·(b+c) = a·b+a·c and (b+c)·a = b·a+c·a


for all a, b, c ∈ R.

Remark. The identity element with respect to + is usually denoted by 0;


the inverse of a with respect to + is usually denoted by −a. We will often
write ab for a · b.

Definition. Let (R, + , · ) be a ring.

• If · is commutative, R is called a commutative ring;

• if there exists an identity element for · (usually denoted by 1), R is


called a ring with unity.

Theorem. Let (R, + , · ) be a ring and let a, b, c ∈ R. Then

• a + b = a + c =⇒ b = c;

• 0 · a = a · 0 = 0;

• (−a) · b = −(a · b);

• (−a) · (−b) = a · b.

Invertible elements (units) and divisors of zero

Let (R, + , · ) be a ring with unity 1 (we shall always assume 1 =


6 0). Let
u ∈ R. In general u may or may not have inverse with respect to · .

Definition. We say that u is a unit (or that u is invertible) if u has an inverse


with respect to · , i.e., if there exists u0 ∈ R such that u · u0 = u0 · u = 1. (u0
is usually denoted u−1 .)
11.3YK3 Algebra 2

Theorem. If S is a set of all units in (R, + , · ), then (S, · ) is a group.

Definition. Let (R, + , · ) be a ring. If a, b ∈ R, a 6= 0, b 6= 0, and a · b = 0,


then a and b are called divisors of zero.

Theorem. Let (R, + , · ) be a ring with unity and let u be a unit in R. Then
u is not a divisor of zero.

Corollary. If u is a divisor of zero, then u is not a unit.

Integral domains and fields

Integral domains and fields are rings in which the operation · is better
behaved.

Definition. Let (R, + , · ) be a commutative ring with unity. If there are


no divisors of zero in R, we say that R is an integral domain (i.e, R is an
integral domain if u · v = 0 =⇒ u = 0 or v = 0.)

Theorem. Let (R, + , · ) be an integral domain. If ab = ac where a 6= 0,


then b = c.

Definition. Let (R, +, ·) be a commutative ring with unity. If every element


of R \ {0} is a unit, R is called a field .

Theorem. Let (R, + , · ) be a field. Then (R, + , · ) is an integral domain.

Corollary. If (R, + , · ) is a field, then (R \ {0}, · ) is a commutative group.

Theorem. Let (R, + , · ) be a finite integral domain. Then R is a field. (No


proof is required.)

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