Math 307 Abstract Algebra Homework 10 Sample solution

1. An element a of a ring R is nilpotent if an = 0 for some n ∈ N.

(a) Show that if a and b are nilpotent elements of a commutative ring, then a + b is also
nilpotent.
(b) Show that a ring R has no nonzero nilpotent element if and only if 0 is the only solution
of x2 = 0 in R.
Solution. (a) Suppose an = 0 = bm with n, m ∈ N. Because R is commutative, the Binomial
theorem applies and
n+m
X n + m
n+m
(a + b) = aj bm+n−j = 0
j
j=0

by the fact that aj = 0 or bn+m−j = 0 depending on j ≥ n or j < n.

(b) If there is a nonzero x ∈ R satisfies x2 = 0, then x is a nilpotent. If y ∈ R is a nonzero
nilpotent and k > 1 is the smallest positive integer such that y k = 0, then x = y k−1 satisfies
x2 = y 2k−2 = y k y k−2 = 0.

2. Show that the set S of all nilpotent elements of a communtative ring R is an ideal, i.e., S is
a subring satisfying ax ∈ S for every a ∈ S and x ∈ R.
Solution. Let A be the set of nilpotent elements of a commutative ring R. First, 0 ∈ A; if
x, y ∈ A so that xn = 0 = y m , then (x − y)m+n = 0 by the same proof as in (a) of the previous
question. Thus, x − y ∈ A. Moreover, if z ∈ R, then (xz)n = xn z n = 0. So, A is an ideal.

3. Suppose R is a commutative ring with unity and charR = p, where p is a prime. Show that
φ : R → R defined by φ(x) = xp is a ring homomorphism.
Solution. Note that for k = 1, . . . , p−1, kp = p!/(k!(p−k)!) is divisible by p. [To see this, note

that if m = p!/(k!(p − k)!), then p! = mk!(p − k)! and p cannot be a prime factor of k!(p − k)!.
So, p is a factor of m.] Thus, φ(x + y) = (x + y)p = pj=0 pj xj y p−j = xp + y p = φ(x) + φ(y),
P

and φ(xy) = (xy)p = xp y p = φ(x)φ(y). So, φ is a ring homomophism.

4. Let R1 and R2 be rings, and φ : R1 → R2 be a ring homomorphism such that φ(R1 ) 6= {00 },
where 00 is the additive identity of R2 .
(a) Show that if R1 has a unity and R2 has no zero-divisors, then φ(1) is a unity of φ(R1 ).
(b) Show that the conclusion in (a) may fail if R2 has zero-divisors.
Solution. (a) We prove the stronger result that φ(1) is the unity in R2 . Since φ(R) 6= {00 },
there is x ∈ R such that φ(x) 6= 00 . Now for any z ∈ R2 , φ(x)φ(1)z = φ(x1)z = φ(x)z so that
φ(1)z = z by left cancellation, and zφ(1)φ(x) = zφ(1x) = zφ(x) so that zφ(1) = z by right
cancellation. Thus, φ(1)z = zφ(1) = z for all z ∈ R2 ; φ(1) is the identity in R2 .
(b) Suppose φ : Z → Z ⊕ Z such that φ(n) = (n, 0). Then φ(1) = (1, 0) is not the unity in
Z ⊕ Z.

1
5. Find an multiplicative inverse of 2x + 1 in Z4 [x]. Is the inverse unique?
Solution. (2x + 1)(2x + 1) = 4x2 + 4x + 1 = 1. So, (2x + 1) is its own inverse.
Note that in a ring with unity, if b, c are the inverses of a, then b = b(ac) = (ab)c = c. So,
the inverse if always unique if it exists.

6. (a) Given an example to show that a factor ring of an integral domain may have zero-divisors.
(b) Give an example to show that a factor ring of a ring with zero-divisors may be an integral
domain.
Solution. (a) Let R = Z, A = 4Z. Then R/A ∼
= Z4 has a zero divisor.
(b) Let R = Z4 and A = h2i. Then R/A = {0 + A, 1 + A} ∼
= Z2 has no zero divisors.

7. Let R1 and R2 be rings, and φ : R1 → R2 be a ring homomorphism.

(a) Show that if A is an ideal of R1 , then φ(A) is an ideal of φ(R1 ).
(b) Give an example to show that φ(A) may not be an ideal of R2 .
Solution. (a) Note that φ(A) is a subgroup of R2 using the group theory result. So, it is a
subgroup of φ(R1 ). For any b ∈ φ(A) and y ∈ φ(R1 ), there are a ∈ A, x ∈ R1 such that
φ(a) = b and φ(x) = y. Because ax, xa ∈ A, we have by = φ(a)φ(x) = φ(ax) ∈ φ(A) and
yb = φ(x)φ(a) = φ(xa) ∈ φ(A).
(b) Suppose A = R1 = Z, R2 = Q, and φ(x) = x. Then φ is a ring homomorphism,
φ(A) = φ(R1 ) = Z so that φ(A) is an ideal in φ(R1 ). But φ(A) = Z is not an ideal in R2 = Q,
say, 1 ∈ Z, 1/2 ∈ Q and 1 · (1/2) ∈
/ Z.

8. (8 points) Let A = hx2 + x + 1i = {(x2 + x + 1)f (x) : f (x) ∈ Z2 [x]} ⊆ Z2 [x].

(a) Show that Z2 [x]/A = {a + bx + A : a, b ∈ Z2 } has 4 elements.
Proof: Note that Z2 [x]/A = {f (x) + A : f (x) ∈ Z2 [x]}. Now for every f (x) ∈ Z2 [x], f (x) =
a + bx + (x2 + x + 1)q(x) so that f (x) + A = a + bx + (x2 + x + 1)q(x) + A = a + bx + A. Thus,
Z2 [x]/A = {a + bx + A : a, b ∈ Z2 } = {A, 1 + A, x + A, 1 + x + A} has four distinct elements.
(b) Show that (a + bx + A)(c + dx + A) = (ac + bd) + (ad + bc + bd)x + A.
Proof: (a + bx + A)(c + dx + A) = ac + adx + bcx + bdx2 + A = ac + adx + bcx + bdx2 + bd +
bd + bdx + bdx + A(ac + bd) + (ad + bc + bd)x + bd(x2 + x + 1)A = (ac + bd) + (ad + bc + bd)xA.
(c) For each nonzero element a + bx + A ∈ Z2 [x]/A, show that there is c + dx + A ∈ Z2 [x]/A
such that (a + bx + A)(c + dx + A) = 1 + A, and deduce that F = Z2 [x]/A is a field.
Proof: Because Z2 [x]/A is a commutative ring with unity, we only need to show that every
nonzero element has an inverse. Then Z2 [x]/A is a field. Now, (1 + A)(1 + A) = 1 + A and
(x + A)(1 + x + A) = 1 + A. The result follows.
(d) Show that the nonzero elements in F form a cyclic group under multiplication.
Proof: Note that (x + A)1 = x + A, (x + A)2 = x2 + A = 1 + x + A, (x + A)3 = x3 + A =
x(x2 + x + 1) + (x2 + x + 1) + 1 + A = 1 + A. The result follows.