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Exercise 571Algebra › Rings and fieldsHigh schoolAdded 3 Nov 2026

Zero divisors

#zero divisors#examples#rings

Statement

Find all zero divisors in each ring:

(a) Z/6Z\mathbb{Z}/6\mathbb{Z};
(b) Z/7Z\mathbb{Z}/7\mathbb{Z};
(c) M2(R)M_2(\mathbb{R}).

Hint

aa is a zero divisor if a≠0a\neq0 and there exists b≠0b\neq0 with ab=0ab=0 (or ba=0ba=0).

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Solution

(a) Z/6Z\mathbb{Z}/6\mathbb{Z}. 2ˉ⋅3ˉ=6ˉ=0ˉ\bar2\cdot\bar3=\bar6=\bar0, so 2ˉ\bar2 and 3ˉ\bar3 are zero divisors. Also 4ˉ⋅3ˉ=12ˉ=0ˉ\bar4\cdot\bar3=\bar{12}=\bar0. Zero divisors: 2ˉ,3ˉ,4ˉ\bar2,\bar3,\bar4.

(b) Z/7Z\mathbb{Z}/7\mathbb{Z}: 77 prime, so every nonzero element is invertible, hence no zero divisors. No zero divisors (field).

(c) M2(R)M_2(\mathbb{R}): (1000)(0001)=(0000)\begin{pmatrix}1&0\\0&0\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}0&0\\0&1\end{pmatrix}=\begin{pmatrix}0&0\\0&0\end{pmatrix}, so non-invertible nonzero matrices are zero divisors.

Conclusion. (a) has zero divisors 2,3,42,3,4; (b) has none; (c) has many (all non-invertible nonzero matrices).