International Journal of Algebra, Vol. 4, 2010, no.

2, 71 - 79

α1 , α2 Near-Rings
S. Uma

Department of Mathematics
Kumaraguru College of Technology
Coimbatore, India
psumapadma@yahoo.co.in

R. Balakrishnan

Department of Mathematics
V.O.C. College
Tuticorin, India

T. Tamizh Chelvam

Department of Mathematics
Manonmaniam Sundaranar University
Tirunelveli, India
Abstract
In this paper we introduce the notion of α1 ,α2 near rings and study
some of their properties. Also we distinguish them by characterizing
them separately.

Mathematics Subject Classification: 16Y30

Keywords: α1 near ring, α2 near ring, sub directly irreducible, idempo-

tents, nilpotent

1 Introduction
Throughout this paper N stands for a right near ring (N, +, .) with at least
two elements. 0 denotes the identity element of the group (N,+) and we write
xy for x.y for any two elements x,y of N. If for each a in N, there exists b in N
such that a = aba, then N is known as a regular near ring. Analogous to this
concept we define α1 and α2 near rings. We distinguish them by furnishing
examples and also obtain their complete characterizations. For notations and
definitions we refer to Pilz[3].
72 S. Uma, R. Balakrishnan and T. Tamizh Chelvam

2 Preliminary Notes
In this section, we review some of the basic facts in near rings which are used
in subsequent sections.

Definition 2.1 (Def. 9.4 in Pilz[3]) A near ring N is said to be weak

commutative if xyz = xzy for every x,y,z in N.

Definition 2.2 (Theorem 1.60 in Pilz[3]) N is sub directly irreducible if

and only if the intersection of non zero ideals of N is non zero.

Definition 2.3 (Def. 1.31 in Pilz[3])A sub near ring M of N is called

invariant if MN ⊆ M and NM ⊆ M.

Lemma 2.4 (Corollary 9.38 in [3]) Every sub directly irreducible zero sym-
metric near ring N without nonzero nilpotents is integral. Every non-zero
idempotent is a right identity.( through out this paper E denotes the set of all
idempotents of N) .

Lemma 2.5 If N is a zero symmetric near ring then for any ideal I of N,
NI ⊆ I and hence NIN ⊆ I.

Proof: n(n’ + i) - nn’ ∈ I for any i in I and n,n’ in N.

Substituting n’=0 and using the hypothesis that N is zero-symmetric we get
N I ⊆ I. Also I N ⊆ I. Hence N I N ⊆ I N ⊆ I and the proof is complete.

Lemma 2.6 If N is a sub commutative near ring and E = 0 then idempo-

tents are central.

Proof: If N is a sub commutative near ring then Na = aN for every a ∈ N.

Let e ∈ E where E is the set of all idempotents of N as in Lemma 2.4. Now
Ne = eN implies for any n ∈ N ne = em and en = xe for some m, x in N

ene = e(ne) = e(em) = em = ne (1)

and
ene = (en)e = (xe)e = xe = en (2)

Now equations (1) and (2) imply en = ne and the desired result follows.
α1 , α2 near rings 73

3 α1 ,α2 near rings

In this section we define α1 and α2 near rings and give certain examples of
these new concepts.
Definition 3.1 Let N be a right near ring. If (1)for every a in N there
exists x in N such that a = xax then we say N is an α1 near ring.
(2) for every a in N-{0} there exists x in N-{0} such that x = xax then we say
N is an α2 near ring.

Example 3.2

(a) Let (N,+) be the Klein’s four group with multiplication defined as per
Scheme 18, p. 408, Pilz[3]
. 0 a b c
0 0 0 0 0
a a a a a
b 0 0 b b
c a a c c
Obviously (N, +, .) is a regular near ring. This near ring is α1 (since b0b = 0,
cac = a, bbb = b, ccc = c) as well as α2 (since aaa = a, cbc = c, aca = a).

(b) The near ring (N, +, .) defined on the Klein’s four group
N = { 0, a, b, c } where multiplication is defined as per scheme 2, p. 408,
Pilz[3]
. 0 a b c
0 0 0 0 0
a 0 0 a a
b 0 a b b
c 0 a c c
is an α1 near ring (since bab = ab = a, bbb = b, ccc = c, aoa = 0). However
it is neither α2 (since there is no x in N - { 0 } such that xax = x) nor regular.

(c) Near fields are α1 near rings ( 1n1 = n for all n in N) and α2 near rings
( n nn−1 = n−1 ).
−1

(d) Every Boolean near ring is α1 as well as α2 , since aaa = aa = a for

every a in N.

(e) The near ring (N, +, .) where (N,+) is the group of integers
modulo 6 and ’.’ is defined as per scheme 34, p. 409 of Pilz[3], is not regular.
74 S. Uma, R. Balakrishnan and T. Tamizh Chelvam

. 0 1 2 3 4 5
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1 0 5 1 0 5 1
2 0 4 2 0 4 2
3 0 3 3 0 3 3
4 0 2 4 0 2 4
5 0 1 5 0 1 5
It is neither α1 ( there is no x in N such that x3x = 3 ) nor α2 ( there is no x
in N-{0} such that x3x = x).

(f) We consider the near ring defined on the Klein’s four group
N = { 0, a , b , c } where ’.’ satisfies the following table as per scheme 21,
p.408 of Pilz[3] .

. 0 a b c
0 0 0 0 0
a a a a a
b 0 0 b 0
c a a c a
This is an α2 near ring as it satisfies ana = a for all n in N-{ 0 }. But it is not
regular. It is worth noting that it is not an α1 near ring.(since xcx = c for any
x in N).

Remark 3.3 From the above examples it is clear that the two concepts - α1
near ring and α2 near ring - are different from each other, one does not imply
the other in general and that these concepts do not imply regularity.

4 α1 near ring
In this section we study some of the important properties of α1 near rings and
give a complete characterization of such near rings.

Proposition 4.1 In an α1 near ring for every a in N there exists some x

in N such that (i) a2 x = x a2 (ii) a = xn a xn for all n ≥1

Proof : (i)Let N be an α1 near ring and a ∈ N. Then there exists x in N

such that a = xax. This implies xa2 = (xa)a = xa(xax) = (xax)ax = a(ax) =
a2 x. Hence x a2 = a2 x for every a in N and the result follows.
(ii)xax = x(xax)x = x2 a x2 = . . . = xn a xn for all n ≥ 1.
α1 , α2 near rings 75

Remark 4.2 Example 3.2(b) shows that an α1 near ring need not be regu-
lar. But the converse is established as in the following proposition.

Proposition 4.3 Let N be a regular near ring. If N is weak commutative

( as in Def. 2.1) then N is an α1 near ring.

Proof : Since N is regular for every a ∈ N, there exists b ∈ N such that

aba = a. Let x = ab then xax = (ab)a(ab) = (aba)ab = a(ab) = aba [since N
is weak commutative]. Consequently xax = a for every a in N and N becomes
an α1 near ring.

Proposition 4.4 Let N be a zero symmetric weak commutative α1 near

ring. Then for any a,b in N ab = 0 implies ba = 0

Proof : Suppose ab = 0 for a,b ∈ N. Since N is an α1 near ring there exists

x,y ∈ N such that xax = a and yby = b. Also since N is weak commutative
ba = (yby)(xax) = yb(yxa)x = yb(yax)x = y(bya)x2 = y(bay)x2 = (yba)yx2
= (yab) yx2 = y(ab)yx2 = y 0 yx2 [since ab = 0] = 0.

Proposition 4.5 Homomorphic image of an α1 near ring is also an α1

near ring.

Proof : The proof is straight forward.

Proposition 4.6 If I is an ideal of the α1 near ring N then N/I is also an

α1 near ring.

Proof : The function φ: N → N/I be defined by φ(x) = I + x is an

epimorphism. The rest of the proof is taken care of by proposition 4.5.

Proposition 4.7 Every α1 near ring N is isomorphic to a sub direct product

of sub directly irreducible α1 near rings.

Proof : By Theorem 1.62, p. 26 of Pilz[3] , N is isomorphic to a sub

direct product of sub directly irreducible near rings Ni ’s and each Ni is a
homomorphic image of N under the projection map πi . Now the desired result
follows from proposition 4.5.

We furnish below a characterization of α1 near ring.

Theorem 4.8 N is an α1 near ring if and only if every a in N can be

written as a = u + v where u ∈ N0 and v ∈ Nc and
u = x0 (nx + m) - x0 a xc , v = x0 a xc + xc , x = x0 + xc ∈ N0 ⊕ Nc where
x0 ,n ∈ N0 and xc , m ∈ Nc . Further more u ∈ N0 and v ∈ Nc .
76 S. Uma, R. Balakrishnan and T. Tamizh Chelvam

Proof : For the ’only if’ part, let a ∈ N. Since N is α1 there exists x in N
such that a = xax also by using Peirce decomposition we can write
a = n + m, and x = x0 + xc where x ∈ N, n, x0 ∈ N0 and m, xc ∈ Nc .
Now a = (x0 + xc ) (n + m) x
= (x0 + xc ) (nx + mx )
= (x0 + xc ) (nx + m), since m ∈ Nc
= x0 (nx + m)+ xc (nx + m )
= x0 (nx + m)+ xc , since xc ∈ Nc
= x0 (nx + m) - x0 a xc + x0 a xc + xc ,
= u + v where u = x0 (nx + m )- x0 axc and v = x0 axc + xc
Now u 0 = [x0 (nx + m) - x0 a xc ]0
= x0 (nx + m)0 - x0 a xc 0
= x0 (nx0 + m0) - x0 a xc 0
= x0 (nx0 + m) - x0 a xc , Since m,xc ∈ Nc
= x0 (nxc + mxc )- x0 a xc , since x0= xc and m∈ Nc
= 0.
Therefore u ∈ N0 .
And v0 = [x0 a xc + xc ]0
= x0 a xc 0 + xc 0
= x0 a xc + xc , since xc ∈ Nc
= v.
Therefore v ∈ Nc .
Thus a = u + v where u ∈ N0 and v ∈ Nc . This completes the proof of the
’only if ’part.
For the ’if part’ we assume for every a in N with a = u + v where u ∈ N0 ,
v ∈ Nc with u = x0 [nx + m ] - x0 a xc and v = x0 a xc + xc
where x = x0 + xc , x0 ,n ∈ N0 and xc ,m ∈ Nc
We shall show that N is an α1 near ring.
Now a = u + v
= x0 (nx + m) - x0 a xc + x0 a xc + xc
= x0 (nx + mx) + xc , since m ∈ Nc
= x0 (n + m)x + xc ,
= x0 a x + xc ax, since xc ∈ Nc
= (x0 + xc )ax
= x a x.
Thus for every a in N, a = xax for some x in N. i.e. N is an α1 near ring.

5 α2 near ring
Throughout this section N denotes an α2 near ring. And N ∗ = N - {0}
In this section we study some of the important properties and a characteriza-
tion of α2 near rings.
α1 , α2 near rings 77

Proposition 5.1 In an α2 near ring E = { 0 }.

Proof : Let N be an α2 near ring. So for every a in N ∗ there exists an x

in N ∗ such that xax = x. Here (ax)2 = ax(ax) = a(xax) = ax and (xa)2 =
xa(xa) = (xax)a = xa.
i.e. ax and xa are idempotents and hence E = { 0 }.

As in proposition 4.3, we have the following result.

Proposition 5.2 Every regular near ring is an α2 near ring.

Proof : Let N be a regular near ring. Hence for every a in N there exist a,b
in N such that aba = a. Let x = bab. Now xax = (bab)a(bab) = b(aba)bab
= b(a)bab = b(aba)b = bab = x. This proves that every regular near ring is
an α2 near ring.

Remark 5.3 Example 3.2(f ) confirms that the converse of the above result
is not true.

Remark 5.4 Proposition 4.5 shows that a homomorphic image of an α1

near ring is an α1 near ring. It is worth noting that a homomorphic image of
an α2 near ring need not be so, however it is preserved under isomorphisms.

Proof : Let (N, +) be the Klein’s four group with

N = { 0, a , b , c } and ’+’ satisfying the following table

+ 0 a b c
0 0 a b c
a a 0 c b
b b c 0 a
c c b a 0

We consider two near rings (N, +, *) where ’*’ satisfies the following table as
per scheme 23, p.408 of [3].

* 0 a b c
0 0 0 0 0
a a a a a
b b b b b
c c c c c
and (N, +, .) where ’.’ is defined as per scheme 22, p.408 of Pilz[3].
78 S. Uma, R. Balakrishnan and T. Tamizh Chelvam

. 0 a b c
0 0 0 0 0
a a a a a
b 0 0 0 0
c a a a a

The mapping f : N → N defined as f(0) = 0, f(a) = a, f(b) = 0, f(c) = a is

a homomorphism. Here (N, +, *) is an α2 near ring but (N, +, .) is not. This
example is an evidence for the Remark 5.4.

Definition 5.5 A sub near ring M of a near ring N is called an α2 sub near
ring if for every a in M ∗ there exists an x in M ∗ such that xax = x.

Proposition 5.6 Let N be an α2 near ring then

(i)every invariant subgroup M of N ( as in Def. 2.3) is also an α2 sub near
ring.
(ii)Every ideal I of a zero symmetric α2 near ring N is also an α2 sub near
ring.

Proof : (i)Let a ∈ M ∗ . Since N is an α2 near ring there exists x in N ∗ such

that x = xax. Now M is an invariant subgroup of N implies xax ∈ M.
i.e. x ∈ M. Consequently M is an α2 sub near ring.
(ii) Let I be an ideal of the zero symmetric α2 near ring N. Let a ∈ I ∗ .
Since N is an α2 near ring there exist x ∈ N ∗ such that xax = x.
Now xax ∈ N ∗ I ∗ N ∗ ⊆ I ∗ [ By Lemma 2.5 ]. The desired result now follows.

We characterize α2 near ring in the following theorem.

Theorem 5.7 A near ring N is α2 if and only if every N-subgroup contains

a non zero idempotent.

Proof : Suppose N be an α2 near ring. If M is a N- subgroup and a ∈ M

then there exists x ∈ N such that xax = x = 0. As in the proof of Proposition
5.1 we see that xa ∈ M is an idempotent and xa = 0.
For the ’if part’ let a ∈ N. Clearly Na is an N-subgroup of N. Now, by hypothesis
Na contains a non zero idempotent e. Then e = ba for some b in N. Suppose
x = bab. Clearly then x = 0.
We have xax = bab a (bab) = ba ba ba b = e e e b = e b =(ba)b = x and
this completes the proof.

We conclude our discussion with the following theorem.

α1 , α2 near rings 79

Theorem 5.8 Let N be a sub commutative α2 near ring. Then the following
are equivalent
(i)N be an integral near ring.
(ii)N is a near field.
(iii) N is a zero symmetric reduced sub directly irreducible near ring

Proof : (i) ⇒ (ii) Suppose N be an α2 near ring. Then by Proposition 5.2

E= {0} and by Lemma 2.4 each non zero idempotent is a right identity of N.
Since N is sub commutative, Lemma 2.6 demands that ef = fe for any two non
zero idempotents e,f of N. Also f = fe = ef = e. Thus N has a unique non-zero
idempotent e. It follows that e is the identity of N.
Again since N is α2 for every a in N ∗ there exists x ∈ N ∗ such that x = xax.
Further ax and xa are idempotent (by Proposition 5.1). Consequently ax =
xa = e and N becomes a near field.
(ii) ⇒ (iii) is obvious.
(iii) ⇒ (i) follows from Lemma 2.4.

References
[1] Dheena.P, A note on a paper of Lee, Journal of Indian Math. Soc. 53
(1988) 227 - 229

[2] Henry E. Heartherly, Regular Near Rings, Journal of Indian Math.

Soc. 38 (1974) 345 - 354

[3] Pilz Günter, Near-Rings, North Holland, Amsterdam, 1983.

[4] S.Suryanarayanan and N. Ganesan, Stable and Pseudo stable Near-

rings, Indian J.Pure and Appl. Math. 19(12) December 1988, 1206 -
1216.

Received: August, 2009