Solutions to Assignment 8

Math 412, Winter 2003

6.2.4 Let [a]n denote the congruence class of the integer a modulo n.

(a) Show that the map f : Z12 → Z4 that sends [a]12 to [a]4 is a well-defined,
surjective homomorphism.

To show that f is well defined, we need to show that whenever [a]12 = [b]12
in Z12 , then f ([a]12 ) = f ([b]12 ) in Z4 . If [a]12 = [b]12 , then a − b = 12t for
some t ∈ Z. Thus a − b = 4(3t) and hence f ([a]12 ) = [a]4 = [b]4 = f ([b]12 )
as required.
To show that f is a homomorphism, note that for any [a]12 , [b]12 ∈ Z12 ,
f ([a]12 + [b]12 ) = f ([a + b]12 ) = [a + b]4 = [a]4 + [b]4 = f ([a]12 ) + f ([b]12 ) and
f ([a]12 [b]12 ) = f ([ab]12 ) = [ab]4 = [a]4 [b]4 = f ([a]12 )f ([b]12 ) as required.
To show that f is surjective note that f [0]12 = [0]4 , f [1]12 = [1]4 , f [2]12 =
[2]4 , and f ([3]12 ) = [3]4 . Because we can hit everything in Z4 , f is a
surjection.

(b) Find the kernel of f .

An element [a]12 ∈ Z12 is in the kernel of f if and only if [a]4 = [0]4 , that
is, if 4 | a. The integers between zero and eleven which are divisible by 4
are {0, 4, 8}. So the kernel of f is the ideal generated by {0, 4, 8}.

6.2.8 (a) Let I = {0, 3} in Z6 . Verify that I is an ideal and show that Z6 /I ∼
= Z3 .

To verify that I is an ideal we note that it is a subring because it is closed

under subtraction and multiplication (the four possible subtractions are
0 − 0 = 0, 3 − 3 = 0, 3 − 0 = 3 and 0 − 3 = −3 = 3; the four possible
multiplications are 0 · 0 = 0, 3 · 3 = 9 = 3, 3 · 0 = 0, and 0 · 3 = 0). To
show further that I is an ideal we need to show that it is closed under
outside multiplication, namely, that 1a, 2a, 4a, and 5a are all in I for any
a ∈ I. This is clear if a = 0, so suppose that a = 3, whence we compute
that 1 · 3 = 3, 2 · 3 = 6 = 0, 4 · 3 = 12 = 0, and 5 · 3 = 15 = 3. Thus I
is an ideal. To show that Z6 /I ∼= Z3 , it is enough to show that there is a

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 surjective homomorphism from Z6 → Z3 , and that I is the kernel of this
map.
Let f : Z6 → Z3 be the map which sends [a]6 to [a]3 . To show that f
is well defined, we need to show that whenever [a]6 = [b]6 in Z6 , then
f ([a]6 ) = f ([b]6 ) in Z3 . If [a]6 = [b]6 , then a − b = 6t for some t ∈ Z. Thus
a − b = 3(2t) and hence f ([a]6 ) = [a]3 = [b]3 = f ([b]6 ) as required.
To show that f is a homomorphism, note that for any [a]6 , [b]6 ∈ Z6 ,
f ([a]6 + [b]6 ) = f ([a + b]6 ) = [a + b]3 = [a]3 + [b]3 = f ([a]6 ) + f ([b]6 ) and
f ([a]6 [b]6 ) = f ([ab]6 ) = [ab]3 = [a]3 [b]3 = f ([a]6 )f ([b]6 ) as required.
To show that f is surjective note that f [0]6 = [0]3 , f [1]6 = [1]3 , and
f [2]6 = [2]3 . Because we can hit everything in Z3 , f is a surjection.
An element [a]6 ∈ Z6 is in the kernel of f if and only if [a]3 = [0]3 , that
is, if 3 | a. The integers between zero and five which are divisible by 3
are {0, 3}. So the kernel of f is the ideal generated by {0, 3}, that is, the
kernel is I.
Now by the first isomorphism theorem, we conclude that Z/I ∼ = Z3 as
required.

(b) Let J = 0, 5 in Z10 . Verify that J is an ideal and show that Z10 /J ∼
= Z5 .

I can recopy the preceding proof (changing the numbers, of course!).

To verify that J is an ideal we note that it is a subring because it is closed
under subtraction and multiplication (the four possible subtractions are
0 − 0 = 0, 5 − 5 = 0, 5 − 0 = 5 and 0 − 5 = −5 = 5; the four possible
multiplications are 0 · 0 = 0, 5 · 5 = 25 = 5, 5 · 0 = 0, and 0 · 5 = 0). To
show further that J is an ideal we need to show that it is closed under
outside multiplication, namely, that 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, 6a, 7a, 8a, and 9a are
all in J for any a ∈ J. This is clear if a = 0, so suppose that a = 5, whence
we compute that 1 · 5 = 5, 2 · 5 = 10 = 0, 3 · 5 = 15 = 5, 4 · 5 = 20 = 0,
6 · 5 = 30 = 0, 7 · 5 = 35 = 5, 8 · 5 = 40 = 0, and 9 · 5 = 45 = 5. Thus J
is an ideal. To show that Z10 /I ∼ = Z5 , it is enough to show that there is a
surjective homomorphism from Z10 → Z5 , and that J is the kernel of this
map.
Let f : Z10 → Z5 be the map which sends [a]10 to [a]5 . To show that f
is well defined, we need to show that whenever [a]10 = [b]10 in Z10 , then
f ([a]10 ) = f ([b]10 ) in Z5 . If [a]10 = [b]10 , then a − b = 10t for some t ∈ Z.
Thus a − b = 5(2t) and hence f ([a]10 ) = [a]5 = [b]5 = f ([b]10 ) as required.
To show that f is a homomorphism, note that for any [a]10 , [b]10 ∈ Z10 ,
f ([a]10 + [b]10 ) = f ([a + b]10 ) = [a + b]5 = [a]5 + [b]5 = f ([a]10 ) + f ([b]10 ) and
f ([a]10 [b]10 ) = f ([ab]10 ) = [ab]5 = [a]5 [b]5 = f ([a]10 )f ([b]10 ) as required.
To show that f is surjective note that f ([0]10 ) = [0]5 , f ([1]10 ) = [1]5 ,
f ([2]10 ) = [2]5 , f ([3]10 ) = [3]5 , and f ([4]10 ) = [4]5 . Because we can hit
everything in Z5 , f is a surjection.

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 An element [a]10 ∈ Z10 is in the kernel of f if and only if [a]5 = [0]5 , that
is, if 5 | a. The integers between zero and nine which are divisible by 5
are {0, 5}. So the kernel of f is the ideal generated by {0, 5}, that is, the
kernel is J.
Now by the first isomorphism theorem, we conclude that Z/J ∼ = Z5 as
required.

6.2.12 (a) Let f : R → S be a surjective homomorphism of rings and let I be an

ideal in R. Prove that f (I) is an ideal in S, where f (I) = {s ∈ S | s =
f (a) for some a ∈ I}.

Suppose that r1 , r2 are in f (I). Thus there are a1 , a2 ∈ I ⊂ R such that

f (a1 ) = r1 , and f (a2 ) = r2 . We know, however, that a1 − a2 ∈ I, and
thus r1 − r2 = f (a1 ) − f (a2 ) = f (a1 − a2 ) ∈ f (I). Thus f (I) is closed
under subtraction. Similarly, if s ∈ S, then there is an r ∈ R such that
f (r) = s (we are using here that f is surjective). So, with the same
notation as above, if a1 ∈ f (I), then sa1 = f (r)f (r1 ) = f (rr1 ) ∈ f (I)
(because rr1 ∈ I), and we conclude that f (I) is closed under inside-outside
multiplication. We know that if I is closed under subtraction and inside
multiplication then it is a subring, and furthermore that if I is closed under
outside multiplication then it is an ideal, so this completes the proof.

(b) Show by example that part (a) may be false if f is not surjective.

Suppose that R = Z and S = Q while f is the map f : Z → Q given by

f (a) = a1 .
To show that f is a homomorphism, note that for any a, b ∈ Z, f (a + b) =
a+b
1
= a1 + 1b = f (a) + f (b), and f (ab) = ab
1
= a1 1b = f (a)f (b) as required.
Now note that f is certainly not surjective because 12 is not a1 for some
a ∈ Z. So consider the ideal I = (2) ⊂ Z. We know that 1 6∈ I, so
1
1
6∈ f (I). But 21 ∈ f (I) so if f (I) is an ideal, then 12 · 21 = 11 ∈ f (I). This
is a contradiction, and we conclude that f (I) is not an ideal in this case.

6.2.18 Let I 6= R be an ideal in a commutative ring T R with identity. Prove that R/I
is an integral domain if and only if whenever ab ∈ I, either a ∈ I or b ∈ I.

We will use extensively in this proof that a = 0 as elements of R/I is the same
as saying that a ≡ 0 (mod I) which is the same as saying that a − 0 = a ∈ I.
Now suppose that R/I is an integral domain. Now whenever ab ∈ I, this means
that ab = 0 ∈ R/I, so either a = 0 or b = 0. But a = 0 or b = 0 means exactly
that a ∈ I or b ∈ I.

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 The converse is similar. Suppose that I is such that whenever ab ∈ I then
either a ∈ I or b ∈ I. Now if ab = 0 in R/I we know that ab ∈ I, and hence by
hypothesis, either a or b is in I. But this means exactly that either a or b is 0
in R/I.

6.3.4 Let R be a commutative ring with identity. Prove that R is an integral domain
if and only if (0R ) is a prime ideal.

Note that R/(0) is isomorphic to the ring R. This follows directly from theorem
6.12. That is, the map π : R → R/(0) is a surjective homomorphism with kernel
(0). By theorem 6.11, the kernel is (0) implies that π is an injection. So π is
an isomorphism. This exercise then follows directly from theorem 6.14 (that is,
because R ≡ R(0), (0) is a prime ideal if and only if R/(0) ≡ R is an integral
domain).