Math 330, Abstract Algebra I

Solutions to Homework 8 Problems

Chapter 13. Problem 14. Show that the nilpotent elements of a commutative ring form
a subring.
Solution: Let S be the set of nilpotent elements of a commutative ring. Since 0 S, S is
nonempty. So, suppose a, b S, then there exist positive integers h and k with ah = bk = 0.
Notice that if bk = 0, (b)k = 0 since for even k the two are equal and for odd k, they are
additive inverses (and the additive inverse of 0 is 0). Now, consider (a b)h+k :

h+k 
X
h + k h+ki
h+k
(a b)
=
a
(b)i
i
i=0


k 
h+k 
X
X
h + k h+ki
h + k h+ki
i
=
a
(b) +
a
(b)i
i
i
i=0

i=k+1

Since ah = 0 and (b)k = 0, and each term in the first summation is the product of ah with
some other ring element, and each term in the second summation is the product of (b)k
with some other ring element, each term in each sum is equal to 0, as is this sum. Hence,
(a b) S.
Now, let a and b be as above. Since R is a commutative ring, we can write (ab)h = ah bh =
0 bh = 0 = bh 0 = bh ah = (ba)h , hence ba = ab S. So, by the subring test, S is a subring
of R.
Chapter 13. Problem 42. Let R be a commutative ring with unity 1 and prime characteristic. If a R is nilpotent, prove that there is a positive integer k such that (1 + a)k = 1.

Solution: Let R be as specified above, and let p be the characteristic of R. Let a be a

nilpotent element of R with an = 0. Since p is prime, p > 1, and so we can find some
i
i
i
positive integer i with pi > n. Then, by Problem 41 part b) we have (1 + a)p = 1p + ap =
i
1 + an ap n = 1 + 0 = 1.
Chapter 14. Problem 34. Let R be a ring and let I be an ideal of R. Prove that the
factor ring R/I is commutative if and only if rs sr I for all r and s in R.
Solution: () Suppose R/I is a commutative ring. Let r, s R. Then rs + I = (r + I)(s +
I) = (s + I)(r + I) = sr + I, and adding the additive inverse of sr to both sides, we have
rs sr + I = sr sr + I = 0 + I = I. Hence, rs sr I.
() Let r + I and s + I be arbitrary elements of R/I. Now, suppose rs sr I. Then
rs sr + I = I, and rs + I = sr + I. But rs + I = (r + I)(s + I) and sr + I = (s + I)(r + I),
so we have (r + I)(s + I) = (s + I)(r + I) for these arbitrary elements of the ring R/I, hence
R/I is commutative.
Chapter 14. Problem 42. Let R be a commutative ring and let A be any ideal of R.
Show that the nil radical of A, N (A) = {r R|n Z s.t. rn A}, is an ideal of R.
Solution: Notice that any element of A will be an element of N (A), hence N (A) is nonempty.
Now, suppose a, b N (A). Then there exist positive integers h and k with ah , bk A. Notice

Math 330, Abstract Algebra I

Solutions to Homework 8 Problems

that if bk A, so is (b)k since for even k, (b)k = bk and for odd k, (b)k = bk , and A
is closed under additive inverses. Now, consider (a b)h+k :
h+k

(a b)


h+k 
X
h+k
i=0
k 
X
i=0

ah+ki (b)i



h+k 
X
h + k h+ki
h + k h+ki
i
a
(b) +
a
(b)i
i
i
i=k+1

Notice that every term in the first summation is the product of ah with some other ring
element and every term in the second summation is the product of (b)k with some other
ring element. Since A is an ideal of R and we know ah A and (b)k A, we know that
every term in each summation is contained in A, hence the sum itself is contained in A.
That is, (a b)h+k A, hence a b N (A).
Now, for a N (A) and some arbitrary element r R, we know that there is some
positive integer h with ah A. Since R is a commutative ring, we can write (ar)h = ah rh =
rh ah = (ra)h , which we know is an element of A, since ah A and A is an ideal. So, by the
ideal test N (A) is an ideal of R.
Chapter 14. Problem 56. Let R be a commutative ring with unity and let I be a proper
ideal with the property that every element of R that is not in I is a unit of R. Prove that I
is the unique maximal ideal of R.
Solution: Let R and I be given as above. Suppose A is an ideal of R with I A R (so
that I is properly contained in A). Then there is some element a A, a 6 I. Since a 6 I, a
must be a unit. So there is some a1 R, and the product of this ring element with a must
be contained in the ideal A: a a1 = 1 A. Since 1 is an element of A, A = R, hence I is
maximal.
Now, suppose B 6= I is a maximal ideal of R. As B is maximal and B 6= I, B is not a
subset of I (for then B ( I ( R implies that B is not maximal). Thus there must be an
element b B so that b 6 I, hence b is a unit. By the above argument, we see that B must
in fact be all of R, as B contains 1. Hence, B is not actually a maximal ideal, and I is, in
fact, the unique maximal ideal of R.