Difference between revisions of "Zero divisor"

 
m
 
(One intermediate revision by one other user not shown)
Line 2: Line 2:
  
 
For example, in the ring of [[integer]]s taken [[modular arithmetic | modulo]] 6, 2 is a zero divisor because <math>2 \cdot 3 \equiv 0 \pmod 6</math>.  However, 5 is ''not'' a zero divisor mod 6 because the only solution to the equation <math>5x \equiv 0 \pmod 6</math> is <math>x \equiv 0 \pmod 6</math>.
 
For example, in the ring of [[integer]]s taken [[modular arithmetic | modulo]] 6, 2 is a zero divisor because <math>2 \cdot 3 \equiv 0 \pmod 6</math>.  However, 5 is ''not'' a zero divisor mod 6 because the only solution to the equation <math>5x \equiv 0 \pmod 6</math> is <math>x \equiv 0 \pmod 6</math>.
 +
 +
1 is not a zero divisor in any ring.
  
 
A ring with no zero divisors is called an [[integral domain]].
 
A ring with no zero divisors is called an [[integral domain]].
Line 10: Line 12:
  
 
{{stub}}
 
{{stub}}
 +
[[Category:Ring theory]]

Latest revision as of 17:25, 5 September 2008

In a ring $R$, a nonzero element $a\in R$ is said to be a zero divisor if there exists a nonzero $b \in R$ such that $a\cdot b = 0$.

For example, in the ring of integers taken modulo 6, 2 is a zero divisor because $2 \cdot 3 \equiv 0 \pmod 6$. However, 5 is not a zero divisor mod 6 because the only solution to the equation $5x \equiv 0 \pmod 6$ is $x \equiv 0 \pmod 6$.

1 is not a zero divisor in any ring.

A ring with no zero divisors is called an integral domain.


See also

This article is a stub. Help us out by expanding it.