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Exercise 570Algebra › Rings and fieldsL1Added 3 Nov 2026

Integral domains

#integral domain#examples#cancellation

Statement

Show that Z\mathbb{Z}, R[X]\mathbb{R}[X], and Z/pZ\mathbb{Z}/p\mathbb{Z} (for pp prime) are integral domains. Show that Z/6Z\mathbb{Z}/6\mathbb{Z} is not.

Hint

An integral domain is a commutative ring with unit and no zero divisors.

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Solution

Z\mathbb{Z}. Commutative with unit, and ab=0⇒a=0ab=0\Rightarrow a=0 or b=0b=0 (for integers). Integral domain.

R[X]\mathbb{R}[X]. Commutative with unit, and the product of two nonzero polynomials is nonzero (degree adds). Integral domain.

Z/pZ\mathbb{Z}/p\mathbb{Z}. For pp prime, if aˉbˉ=0ˉ\bar a\bar b=\bar0, then p∣abp\mid ab, so p∣ap\mid a or p∣bp\mid b (Euclid's lemma). Hence aˉ=0ˉ\bar a=\bar0 or bˉ=0ˉ\bar b=\bar0. Integral domain.

Z/6Z\mathbb{Z}/6\mathbb{Z}. 2ˉ⋅3ˉ=0ˉ\bar2\cdot\bar3=\bar0 with 2ˉ,3ˉ≠0ˉ\bar2,\bar3\neq\bar0. Not an integral domain.

Conclusion. The cancellation law holds in integral domains: ab=acab=ac and a≠0a\neq0 imply b=cb=c.