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1. Show that every nonzero element of Zn is a unit (element with multiplicative inverse) or a
zero-divisor.
Solution. Suppose k Zn . If gcd(k, n) = 1, then there is x, y Z such that kx + ny = 1.
Thus, x is the inverse of k in Zn . If gcd(k, n) = d > 1. Then n/d Zn is nonzero such that
k(n/d) = 0 Zn so that k is a zero divisor. The conclusion follows.
3. (a) Given an example of a commutative ring without zero-divisors that is not an integral
domain.
(b) Find two elements a and b in a ring such that a, b are zero-divisors, a + b is a unit.
Solution. (a) 2Z. (b) 2, 3 Z6 .
4. (a) Give an example to show that the characteristic of a subring of a ring R may be different
from that of R.
(b) Show that the characteristic of a subdomain of an integral domain D is the same as that
of D.
(a) Z2 Z2 has unity (1, 1), but the subring Z {0} has unit (1, 0).
(b) Suppose D has unit 1, and a subdomain D has unity 1. Then 11 = 1 in D and 11 = 1 in
D. So, 1(1 1) = 0 implies that 1 = 1.
1
(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+nj = 0
j
j=0
6. 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.
7. Suppose R is a commutative ring with unity and charR = p, where p is a prime. Show that
: R R defined by (x) = xp is a ring homomorphism.
Solution. Note that for k = 1, . . . , p1, kp = p!/(k!(pk)!) 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, (x + y) = (x + y)p = pj=0 pj xj y pj = xp + y p = (x) + (y),
P
8. Let R1 and R2 be rings, and : R1 R2 be a ring homomorphism such that (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 (1) is a unity of (R1 ).
(b) Show that the conclusion in (a) may fail if R2 has zero-divisors.
Solution. (a) Since (R) 6= {00 }, there is x R such that (x) 6= 00 . Now for any z R2 ,
(x)(1)z = (x1)z = (x) so that (1)z = z by left cancellation, and z(1)(x) = z(1x) =
z(x) so that z(1) = z by right cancellation. Thus, (1)z = z(1) = z for all z R2 ; (1)
is the identity in R2 .
(b) Suppose : Z Z Z such that (n) = (n, 0). Then (1) = (1, 0) is not the unity in
Z Z.