Checking the ring axioms
Statement
Determine whether each of the following is a ring under the usual operations:
(a) ;
(b) ;
(c) ;
(d) ;
(e) .
Hint
Check: is an abelian group, multiplication is associative, and distributivity holds. Commutativity of multiplication and existence of a unit are optional.
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Solution
(a) abelian group, multiplication associative and distributive. Unit . Commutative ring with unit.
(b) : abelian group, closed under multiplication (), associative and distributive. But no unit (1 is not in ). Commutative ring without unit (a pseudo-ring).
(c) is not a group (no additive inverses). Not a ring.
(d) : polynomial addition is an abelian group, multiplication associative/distributive. Unit . Commutative ring with unit.
(e) : abelian group under addition, matrix multiplication associative, distributive. Unit . Non-commutative for . Non-commutative ring with unit.
Conclusion. (a), (d), (e) are rings with unit; (b) is a ring without unit; (c) is not a ring.