4-5W/8-12WP

Abstract Algebra III

Math-5209
TGU

September 13, 2020

Math 1 / 17
3. Ideals, Homomorphisms and Quotient Rings
Definition [Pg. 139]
The mapping φ : R → R0 of the ring R into the ring R0 is
homomorphism if:
(a) φ(a + b) = φ(a) + φ(b) and
(b) φ(ab) = φ(a)φ(b) for all a, b ∈ R.

A ring has two operations, +, ·.

A map from a ring R into a ring R0 is called ring homomorphism if it

preserves these operations.

Math 2 / 17
Definition [Pg.140]
Let R be a ring. A nonempty subset I of R is called an ideal of R if:
(a) I is an additive subgroup of R.
(b) Given r ∈ R, a ∈ I, then ra ∈ I and ar ∈ I.

I is called left ideal if it satisfied (a) and first part of (b).

I is called right ideal if ti is satisfied (a) and second part of (b).

An ideal is called a two-sided ideal.

{0} and R are the trivial ideals of R.

Math 3 / 17
Lemma 4.3.1 [Pg.140]
If φ : R → R0 is a homomorphism, then Ker φ is an ideal of R.

Proof. Let Ker φ = {x ∈ R| φ(x) = 00 }. Since 0 ∈ R and φ is

homomorphism,
φ(0) = 00 .

Thus, 0 ∈ Ker φ; so, Ker φ 6= ∅. To prove (a), Ker φ is additive subgroup

of R: Take any x, y ∈ Ker φ. Then

φ(x) = φ(y) = 00 .

Since φ(x ± y) = φ(x) ± φ(y) = 00 ± 00 = 00 ,

x ± y ∈ Ker φ.

Thus Ker φ is an additive subgroup of R.

Math 4 / 17
To prove (b): Let x ∈ Ker φ and r ∈ R. Then

φ(xr) = φ(x) φ(r) = 00 φ(r) = 00

and
φ(rx) = φ(r) φ(x) = φ(r) 00 = 00 .

Thus xr and rx are in Ker φ. Therefore Ker φ is an ideal of R. 

Example 1 [Pg.142]
Let Z be the ring of all integers under usual addition and multiplication.
Let n > 1 be a fixed integer and let In be the set of all multiples of n.
Show that In is an ideal of Z.

Let Z = {0, ±1, ±2, ±3, ±4, . . .} and In = {0, ±n, ±2n, ±3n, . . .}. To
show (a): Since 0 ∈ In , In 6= ∅ and In ⊂ Z.
Math 5 / 17
For any x, y ∈ In , let x = in and y = jn where i, j ∈ Z. Then

x ± y = in ± jn = (i ± j)n ∈ In

since i ± j ∈ Z. Thus In is an additive subgroup of Z. To show (b): For

any k ∈ Z and x ∈ In ,
kx = k(in) = (ki)n

and
xk = (in)k = (ni)k = n(ik) = (ik)n

since i, n, k ∈ Z. Thus kx, xk ∈ In . Thus In is an ideal of Z.#

Math 6 / 17
Example 2 [Pg.142]
Let F be a field; what can the ideals of F be?

{0} is an ideal of F since it is an additive subgroup of F and

r 0 = 0 r = 0 ∈ {0} for every r ∈ F .

Suppose that I 6= {0} is an ideal of F . Let a 6= 0 in I. Then, since I

is an ideal of F , 1 = a−1 a ∈ I. Since 1 ∈ I, r 1 = r ∈ I for every
r ∈ F . Thus I = F .

Hence F has only the trivial ideals {0} and itself.#

Math 7 / 17
Theorem 4.3.2 [Pg.141]
Let K be an ideal of R. Then the quotient group R/K as an additive
group is a ring under the multiplication (a + K)(b + K) = ab + K.
Furthermore, the mappping φ : R → R/K defined by φ(a) = a + K for
a ∈ R is a homomorphism of R onto R/K having K as its kernel. So
R/K is a homomorphic image of R.

Let G/K denote the family of all the cosets of a subgroup K of G. If

K is a normal subgroup, then

aK bK = ab K.

for all a, b ∈ G, and G/K is a group under this operation. The group
G/K is called the quotient group of G by N .
Read G/N : G over N or G mod N .
Math 8 / 17
Proof. Define · : R/K × R/K → R/K by

·((a + K, b + K)) = (a + K) (b + K) = ab + K

where a, b ∈ R.
To show ·(Multiplication) is well-defined: Suppose
(a + K, b + K) = (a0 + K, b0 + K). Then

a + K = a0 + K and b + K = b0 + K

a − a0 ∈ K and b − b0 ∈ K.

Since K is an ideal and b, a0 ∈ R,

(a − a0 )b ∈ K and a0 (b − b0 ) ∈ K.

Math 9 / 17
Since K is an additive subgroup of R,

(ab − a0 b) + (a0 b − a0 b0 ) ∈ K

ab − a0 b0 ∈ K

Let ab − a0 b0 = k where k ∈ K. Then

ab = a0 b0 + k.

For any k 0 ∈ K,

ab + k 0 = a0 b0 + k + k 0

= a0 b0 + k1 , where k1 = k + k 0 ∈ K.

Hence ab + K = a0 b0 + K so that the multiplication is well-defined.

Math 10 / 17
To show [(a + K)(b + K)](c + K) = (a + K)[(b + K)(c + K)] :
[(a + K)(b + K)](c + K) = (ab + K)(c + K)

= (ab)c + K

= a(bc) + K

= (a + K)(bc + K)

= (a + K)[(b + K)(c + K)]

To show [(a + K) + (b + K)](c + K) = (a + K)(c + K) + (b + K)(c + K) :

[(a + K) + (b + K)](c + K) = (a + b + K)(c + K)

= (a + b)c + K

= (ac + bc) + K

= ac + K + bc + K

= (a + K)(c + K) + (b + K)(c + K).

Math 11 / 17
Similarly, we can show that
(c + K)[(a + K) + (b + K)] = (c + K)(a + K) + (c + K)(b + K).
Hence R/K is a ring.
To show φ is homomorphism: Since

φ(a + b) = (a + b) + K = (a + K) + (b + K) = φ(a) + φ(b)

and
φ(ab) = ab + K = (a + K)(b + K) = φ(a)φ(b)

for all a, b ∈ R, φ is a homomorphism. For any a + K ∈ R/K, there exists an

element a ∈ R such that
φ(a) = a + K.

Thus φ is onto.

Math 12 / 17
Next, we show that Ker φ = K.

Ker φ = {a ∈ R | φ(a) = K}
= {a ∈ R | a + K = K}
= {a ∈ R | a ∈ K}
= K. 

Question.Pg.141]
Let φ be a homomorphism of R into R0 . Then φ is 1-1 iff Ker φ = {0}.

(⇒) Suppose φ is 1-1. Then

Ker φ = {x ∈ R | φ(x) = 00 }
= {x ∈ R | φ(x) = φ(0)} since φ is homo.
= {x ∈ R | x = 0} since φ is 1-1.
= {0}.
Math 13 / 17
(⇐) Suppose Ker φ = {0}. To show φ is 1-1: Suppose φ(x) = φ(y)
where x, y ∈ R. Then

φ(x) − φ(y) = 00

φ(x) + φ(−y) = 00 since φ is homo.

φ(x − y) = 00

x − y = 0 since φ is homo.

x = y.

Thus φ is 1-1.#
homo + one-one = mono.
homo + one-one + onto = isomo.
If there is an isomorphism of R onto R0 then R and R0 are isomorphic.
The isomorphism of R onto R is called automorphism of R.
Math 14 / 17
Question [Pg.141]
Show that φ : C → C defined by φ(a + ib) = a − ib where a, b ∈ R, is an
automorphism of C onto itself.

To show φ is 1 − 1 : Suppose φ(a + ib) = φ(a1 + ib1 ) where

a, b, a1 , b1 ∈ R. Then

a − ib = a1 − ib1

a = a1 and b = b1

Thus a + ib = a1 + ib1 so that φ is 1-1. For any a + ib ∈ C there exists an

element a − ib ∈ C such that φ(a − ib) = a + ib. Thus φ is onto.

Math 15 / 17
To show φ is homo: For any a + ib, a1 + ib1 ∈ C,
φ(a + ib + a1 + ib1 ) = φ(a + a1 + i(b + b1 ))
= a + a1 − i(b + b1 )
= a + a1 − ib − ib1
= a − ib + a1 − ib1
= φ(a + ib) + φ(a1 + ib1 ).

and φ((a + ib)(a1 + ib1 )) = φ(aa1 − bb1 + i(ab1 + ba1 ))

= aa1 − bb1 − i(ab1 + ba1 )
= aa1 − bb1 − iab1 − iba1
= aa1 − iab1 − iba1 − bb1
= (a − ib)(a1 − ib1 )
= φ(a + ib)φ(a1 + ib1 ).

Thus φ is an automorphism of C onto itself.

Math 16 / 17
The End

Math 17 / 17