Chapter 26: Problem 26
Let \(R\) be a commutative ring and let \(a \in R\). Show that \(I_{a}=\\{x \in R \mid a x=0\\}\) is an ideal of \(R\).
Short Answer
Expert verified
The set \(I_a\) is an ideal of \(R\) because it satisfies the properties of a subring, absorption, and closure.
Step by step solution
01
Verify Subset Criterion
To show that a set is an ideal, we first need to establish that it is a subset of the ring. Since all elements of \(I_a\) are defined as \(x \in R\) such that \(a \cdot x = 0\), it is clear that \(I_a \subseteq R\). Thus, the subset criterion is satisfied.
02
Check for Additive Closure
For two elements \(x, y \in I_a\), we must have \(x + y \in I_a\). Since \(a \cdot x = 0\) and \(a \cdot y = 0\), it follows that:\[a \cdot (x + y) = a \cdot x + a \cdot y = 0 + 0 = 0.\]Hence, \(x + y \in I_a\), meaning the set is closed under addition.
03
Confirm Existence of Additive Inverse
For any \(x \in I_a\), we need \(-x \in I_a\). Since \(a \cdot x = 0\), it follows that:\[a \cdot (-x) = -(a \cdot x) = -0 = 0.\]Thus, \(-x \in I_a\), confirming the existence of additive inverses.
04
Verify Absorption by Ring Multiplication
For \(r \in R\) and \(x \in I_a\), we need to show \(r \cdot x \in I_a\). Since \(a \cdot x = 0\), then for any \(r \in R\),\[a \cdot (r \cdot x) = r \cdot (a \cdot x) = r \cdot 0 = 0.\]Therefore, \(r \cdot x \in I_a\), satisfying the absorption property.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Commutative Ring
A commutative ring is a fascinating structure from algebra that expands the concept of both addition and multiplication outside of basic number systems. In a commutative ring, operations of addition and multiplication have versatile rules. Here's what you need to know:
- For **addition**, any two elements added together remain within the ring, and the process is both associative (grouping doesn't matter) and commutative (order doesn't matter).
- For **multiplication**, the operations are similar. However, commutativity means that changing the order of multiplication does not alter the result. This is a key feature and is crucial in ring theory, setting commutative rings apart from more complex structures where this might not hold.
Additive Closure
Additive closure is a basic yet important concept in algebra when dealing with subsets of rings. It refers to the idea that when you add two elements from a subset, the sum is still a part of the subset. Let's break it down:
- Consider two elements, say **x** and **y**, within a subset. Add them together, and you'll find their sum also belongs to the subset.
- This property is crucial for structures to qualify as subgroups of a ring, particularly when proving if a subset is an ideal.
Subset Criterion
The subset criterion is the groundwork for determining if a set is an ideal in a mathematical ring. It is one of the simplest yet essential rules:
- A subset of a ring must naturally belong to the larger ring set from which it derives.
- Verification requires checking that every element of the subset comes from the original set—in our scenario, all elements \( x \) in \( I_a \) arise from \( R \) itself, since \( I_a = \{x \in R \mid a \cdot x = 0 \} \).
Additive Inverse
The concept of an additive inverse is critical in algebra, particularly when discussing group and ring operations. An additive inverse relates to each element coupled with a unique counterpart, such that:
- When an element is added to its inverse, it results in the neutral element of addition, which is zero.
- For any element **x**, its inverse is **-x**, and their sum is \( x + (-x) = 0 \).