SJEM 2213/SJES 2216 ALGEBRA I

Chapter 5 Rings, Integral Domains and Fields

5.1. Definition. Let R be a set with two binary operations , .
Note that following conditions:
a b R,
a, b R.
(a b) c a (b c),
a, b, c R.
a b b a,
a, b R.
a R.
0 R such that a 0 a 0 a,
a R, a R such that a (a) 0 (a) a.

(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)

(6) a b R,
(7) (a b) c a (b c),

a, b R.
a, b, c R.

(8) a (b c) a b a c,
(9) (b c) a b a c a,

a, b, c R.
a, b, c R.

(10)
(11)
(12)
(13)

a b b a,
1 R such that a 1 a 1 a,
a b 0 a 0 or b 0,

} Distributive law

a, b R.
a R.
a, b R.

a R, a 1 R such that a a 1 1 a 1 a.

Then ( R,, ) is called a

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)

ring if and only if ( R, , ) obeys the rules (1) - (9).

commutative ring if and only if ( R, , ) obeys the rules (1) - (9) & (10).
ring with identity 1 if and only if ( R, , ) obeys the rules (1) - (9) & (11).
commutative ring with identity 1 if and only if ( R, , ) obeys the rules (1) - (9), (10) & (11).
integral domain if and only if ( R, , ) obeys the rules (1) - (9), (10), (11) & (12).
field if and only if ( R, , ) obeys the rules (1) - (9), (10), (11) & (13).

Note.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)

The binary operation + is called addition.

The element 0 is called the zero in R.
The element a is called the negative for a in R.
The binary operation is called multiplication.
The element 1 is called the identity in R if it exists.
The element a 1 is called the inverse for a in R if it exists.

5.2. Theorem. Let ( R, , ) be a ring. Then

(i) 0 is unique in R.
(ii) a is unique for each a R.
(iii) 1 is unique in R if it exists.
(iv) a 1 is unique for each a R, a 0, if it exists.
Proof.
(i) & (iii) from Theorem 1.2 (Chapter 1).
(ii) & (iv) from Theorem 1.3 (Chapter 1).
Note.
Let ( R, , ) be a ring.
(i) 0, a must exist in R;
(ii) 1, a 1 may not exist in R.
5.3. Definition. Let ( R, , ) be a ring with identity 1.
(i) An element a R, a 0, is called a zero divisor in R if and only if there exists an element
b R, b 0, such that ab 0 or ba 0.
(b is also a zero divisor.)
(ii) An element a R, a 0, is called a unit in R if and only if there exists an element
a 1 R, a 1 0, such that aa 1 1 or a 1a 1.
(a is a unit in R if and only if a 1 exists if and only if the inverse of a exists.)
Note.
Let ( R, , ) be a commutative ring with identity 1. Then
(i) ( R, , ) is an integral domain if and only if R does not have any zero divisor.
(Defn 5.3(i))
(ii) ( R, , ) is a field if and only if each element a R, a 0, is a unit in R.
(Defn 5.3(ii))
Criterion: Let ( R,, ) be a commutative ring with identity 1.
( R, , ) is an integral domain iff
ab 0 a 0 or b 0, a, b R.
( R, , ) is a field iff
a R, a 1 R such that a a 1 1 a 1 a.

5.4. Theorem. Let ( R, , ) be a ring. Then

(i) a 0 0 0a,
a R.
(ii) a(b) (ab) (a)b, a, b R.
(iii) (a)(b) ab,
a, b R.
Proof.
(i) a 0 a(0 0)
a 0 a 0.
So, a 0 0.
(ii) 0 0b
[a (a)]b
ab (a)b.
So, (ab) (a)b.
(iii) (a)(b) [a(b)]
[(ab)]
ab.
So, (a)(b) ab.
5.5. Corollary. Let ( R, , ) be a ring with identity 1. Then
(i) (1)a a a(1),
a R.
(ii) (1)(1) 1.
5.6. Definition. Let ( R, , ) be a ring.
Define a b a (b),
a, b R.
5.7. Theorem. Let ( R, , ) be a ring. Then
(i) a(b c) ab ac,
a, b, c R.
(ii) (b c)a ba ca,
a, b, c R.
Proof. (Exercise)

UNITS AND ZERO DIVISORS

5.8. Theorem. Let ( R, , ) be a ring with identity 1 and a R, a 0. If a is a unit in ( R, , ) ,
then a is not a zero divisor in ( R, , ) .
Proof.
Let a R, a 0 and a is a unit in R.
Then a 1 exists.
Let ab 0.
a 1 (ab) a 1 0.
b 0.
So, a is not a zero divisor in R.

INTEGRAL DOMAIN
5.9. Theorem. Let ( R, , ) be a commutative ring with identity 1. Then ( R, , ) is an integral
domain if and only if ab ac and a 0 b c, a, b, c R.
Proof.
Suppose R is an integral domain.
Let ab ac and a 0.
ab ac 0 and a 0.
a(b c) 0 and a 0.
(R integral domain and a 0. )
b c 0.
b c.
Suppose ab ac and a 0 b c, a, b, c R.
To show that R does not any have zero divisor.
Let ab 0 and a 0.
(Thm 5.4)
ab a 0 and a 0.
b 0.
R does not have any zero divisor.
So R is an integral domain.
5.10. Corollary. Let ( R, , ) be a commutative ring with identity 1. Then ( R, , ) is an
integral domain if and only if ba ca and a 0 b c, a, b, c R.
5.11. Definition. (Cancellation Laws)
Let ( R, , ) be a commutative ring with identity 1. Then
(i) ab ac and a 0 b c, a, b, c R is called the left cancellation law.
(ii) ba ca and a 0 b c, a, b, c R is called the right cancellation law.
Note.
Let ( R, , ) be a commutative ring with identity 1. Then ( R, , ) is an integral domain if and
only if the cancellation laws hold.
Criterion: Let ( R,, ) be a commutative ring with identity 1.
( R, , ) is an integral domain iff
ab ac and a 0 b c, a, b, c R.

INTEGRAL DOMAIN AND FIELDS

5.12. Theorem. Every field is an integral domain.
Proof.
Let R be a field.
each element a R, a 0, is a unit.
each element a R, a 0, is not a zero divisor.
So, R is an integral domain.

(Thm 5.7)

5.13. Theorem. Every finite integral domain is a field.

Proof.
Let R be a finite integral domain.
Then R is a commutative ring with identity 1.
To show that every element a R, a 0, is a unit.
Let a R, a 0.
Suppose R {1 r1 , r2 ,, rk }, ri rj , i j.

(R is finite)

Then Ra {a r1a, r2 a,, rk a} R .

If ri a r j a, i j, then ri r j , i j.

(aR )
(Thm 5.8 and a 0 )

But ri r j , i j.
So ri a r j a, i j.
This implies that Ra R.
So 1 Ra since 1 R.
1 rn a, rn R.

a 1 rn .
a is a unit.
So, R is a field.
5.14. Theorem. In every field, the cancellation laws hold.
Proof.
Method 1.
R is a field.
R is an integral domain.
(Thm 5.12)
The cancellation laws hold.
(Thm 5.9 & 5.10)
Method 2.
Let ab ac and a 0.
a 1 exists.
a 1 (ab) a 1 (ac).
b c.
The cancellation laws hold.

ring
commutative ring
ring with identity
commutative ring with identity
integral domain
field

ring

commutative ring
ring with identity

commutative ring with identity

integral domain

field