Section 6.

1
1. The set K is closed under subtraction and multiplication, so is a subring. How-
ever, K does not have the absorption property: 2 K, and x Z[x], but 2x 6 K.

2. I is closed under subtraction and multiplication, so is a subring. To show

the absorption property, let p Z[x], g I, so g is a polynomial with even
constant term 2g0 , for some integer g0 . Then the constant term of pg is 2p0 g0 ,
where p0 is the constant term of p, and is even. Thus pg I, and I is an ideal
(the ring is commutative, so we neednt additionally check gp I).

4. J is closed under subtraction and multiplication,

so a subring of
M(R).But J
0 1 0 0
does not have the absorption property: M(R) and J,
0 0 0 1

0 1
but their product, namely 6 J.
0 0

10. Let (i1 , j1 ), (i2 , j2 ) I J. Then (i1 , j1 ) (i2 , j2 ) = (i1 i2 , j1 j2 ) I J;

and (i1 , j1 ) (i2 , j2 ) = (i1 i2 , j1 j2 ) I J. Thus I J is closed under subtraction
and multiplication, so a subring of RS. Now let (r, s) RS, and (i, j) I J.
Then (r, s) (i, j) = (ri, sj) I J, since ri I, sj J, I and J being ideals.
Similarly, (i, j) (r, s) I J. Thus I J has the absorption property in the
ring R S, so is an ideal of R S.

12(a). E.g. (2) and (2).

12(b). (4, 6) = {4a + 6b | a, b Z}, by definition. Since 2 = 1 4 + 1 6, we
have 2k = k 4 + k 6 (4, 6), for all k Z. Thus (2) (4, 6). However,
4a + 6b = 2(2a + 3b) (2), for all a, b Z. Thus (4, 6) (2). Putting these
together, (4, 6) = (2).
12(c). Argue as in (b). Any element of the ideal (6, 9, 15) is a combination of
6, 9, 15, so lies in the ideal (3), and since 3 = 1 6 + 1 9, every multiple of 3 lies
in the ideal (6, 9, 15). Hence (6, 9, 15) = (3).

13(a). 1R I and I an ideal, implies r = r 1R R for all r R, by the

absorption property. Thus R I, But I R, so I = R.
13(b). Let u I, u unit, with inverse v, say. By the absorption property, u I,
v R, implies 1R = u v I. Now apply part (a).

14.Suppose I 6= (OF ). Let x I, x 6= 0F . Since F is a field, x must be a

unit. By 13(b), I = F . Thus, either I = (0F ), or I = F .

18. Check that K is closed under subtraction and multiplication, so a subring.

Let a + b K, r R. Then (a + b)r = ar + br K, since ar I, br J, by
absorption propoerty of the ideals I, J. Similarly, r(a + b) K. Thus K is an
ideal. For i I, we can write i = i + 0 K. Thus I K; similarly J K.

19. (a) + (b) = {ma + nb | a, b Z}. Now argue as in 12(b): every element
of (a) + (b) lies in (d) since a, b are multiples of d: so (a) + (b) (d). On the
other hand, we know from the Euclidean algorithm that d = pa + qb for some
integers p, q, so that d, and every multiple of d, is an element of (a) + (b). Hence
(d) (a) + (b), and we deduce (a) + (b) = (d).

23. Check I is closed under subtraction and multiplication, so a subring. Now

let i I. The defining property of I tells us that it = 0R for every t J. Let
a R: we need to verify the absorption property, that ai and ia lie in I. Now
(ai)t = a(it) = 0R for all t J; thus ai I. Moreover, if t J, then at J, so
(ia)t = i(at) = 0R by defining property of I. Thus ia I. Hence I is an ideal.

25. Let k1 , k2 K. Then f (k1) = 0 = f (k2). So f (k1 k2 ) = f (k1 ) f (k2 ) = 0,

and f (k1 k2 ) f (k1 )f (k2) = 0. Thus k1 k2 K, k1 k2 K, and K is a subring.
Finally, let r R, k K. Then f (rk) = f (r)f (k) = 0, since f (k) = 0. Thus
rk K; similarly kr K. Hence K has the absorption property, and K is an
ideal.

28. Let r1 , r2 be nilpotent, with r1n1 = 0R , r2n2 = 0R , for positive integers n1 , n2 .

Expanding by the binomial theorem, (r1 r2 )N is a sum of terms that involve
r1k r2N k , k = 0, 1, 2, ...N. So if N > n1 +n2 , then either k > n1 , or N k > n2 , and
r1k r2N k = 0. Thus some power of r1 r2 is zero, and r1 r2 is nilpotent. Further,
(r1 r2 )(n1 n2 ) = 0R , so that r1 r2 is nilpotent. Hence the set of nilpotent elements is
closed under subtraction and multiplication, so a subring. Finally, let a R, and
r be nilpotent, with r n = 0R , say. Then (ar)n = an r n (the ring is commutative),
and so (ar)n = 0, and ar is nilpotent. Thus the subring of nilpotent elements has
the absorption property, so is an ideal.