(a) Show that $F$ does not have a nonzero zero divisor.
Seeking a contradiction, suppose that $x$ is a nonzero zero divisor of the field $F$. This means that there exists a nonzero element $y\in F$ such that
\[yx=0.\]
Since $y$ is a nonzero element in $F$, we have the inverse $y^{-1}$ in $F$.
Hence we have
\begin{align*}
0=y^{-1}\cdot 0=y^{-1}(yx)=(y^{-1}y)x=x.
\end{align*}
This is a contradiction because $x$ is a nonzero element.
We conclude that the field $F$ does not have a nonzero zero divisor.
(Remark that it follows that a field is an integral domain.)
(b) Prove that the direct product $R\times S$ cannot be a field.
Since $R$ and $S$ have identities, the direct product $R\times S$ contains nonzero elements $(1,0)$ and $(0,1)$.
The product of these elements is
\[(1,0)\cdot (0,1)=(1\cdot 0, \, 0\cdot 1)=(0,0).\]
Similarly we also have
\[(0,1)\cdot (1,0)=(0,0).\]
It follows that $(1,0)$ is a nonzero zero divisor of $R\times S$. By part (a), a field does not have a nonzero zero divisor.
Hence $R\times S$ is never a field.
If Every Proper Ideal of a Commutative Ring is a Prime Ideal, then It is a Field.
Let $R$ be a commutative ring with $1$.
Prove that if every proper ideal of $R$ is a prime ideal, then $R$ is a field.
Proof.
As the zero ideal $(0)$ of $R$ is a proper ideal, it is a prime ideal by assumption.
Hence $R=R/\{0\}$ is an integral […]
Finite Integral Domain is a Field
Show that any finite integral domain $R$ is a field.
Definition.
A commutative ring $R$ with $1\neq 0$ is called an integral domain if it has no zero divisors.
That is, if $ab=0$ for $a, b \in R$, then either $a=0$ or $b=0$.
Proof.
We give two proofs.
Proof […]
Every Ideal of the Direct Product of Rings is the Direct Product of Ideals
Let $R$ and $S$ be rings with $1\neq 0$.
Prove that every ideal of the direct product $R\times S$ is of the form $I\times J$, where $I$ is an ideal of $R$, and $J$ is an ideal of $S$.
Proof.
Let $K$ be an ideal of the direct product $R\times […]
If a Prime Ideal Contains No Nonzero Zero Divisors, then the Ring is an Integral Domain
Let $R$ be a commutative ring. Suppose that $P$ is a prime ideal of $R$ containing no nonzero zero divisor. Then show that the ring $R$ is an integral domain.
Definitions: zero divisor, integral domain
An element $a$ of a commutative ring $R$ is called a zero divisor […]
Is the Quotient Ring of an Integral Domain still an Integral Domain?
Let $R$ be an integral domain and let $I$ be an ideal of $R$.
Is the quotient ring $R/I$ an integral domain?
Definition (Integral Domain).
Let $R$ be a commutative ring.
An element $a$ in $R$ is called a zero divisor if there exists $b\neq 0$ in $R$ such that […]
Torsion Submodule, Integral Domain, and Zero Divisors
Let $R$ be a ring with $1$. An element of the $R$-module $M$ is called a torsion element if $rm=0$ for some nonzero element $r\in R$.
The set of torsion elements is denoted
\[\Tor(M)=\{m \in M \mid rm=0 \text{ for some nonzero} r\in R\}.\]
(a) Prove that if $R$ is an […]
Every Integral Domain Artinian Ring is a Field
Let $R$ be a ring with $1$. Suppose that $R$ is an integral domain and an Artinian ring.
Prove that $R$ is a field.
Definition (Artinian ring).
A ring $R$ is called Artinian if it satisfies the defending chain condition on ideals.
That is, whenever we have […]