Prime ring

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In abstract algebra, a nonzero ring R is a prime ring if for any two elements a and b of R, arb = 0 for all r in R implies that either a = 0 or b = 0. This definition can be regarded as a simultaneous generalization of both integral domains and simple rings.

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Although this article discusses the above definition, prime ring may also refer to the minimal non-zero subring of a field, which is generated by its identity element 1, and determined by its characteristic. For a characteristic 0 field, the prime ring is the integers, and for a characteristic p field (with p a prime number) the prime ring is the finite field of order p (cf. Prime field). [1]

Equivalent definitions

A ring R is prime if and only if the zero ideal {0} is a prime ideal in the noncommutative sense.

This being the case, the equivalent conditions for prime ideals yield the following equivalent conditions for R to be a prime ring:

Using these conditions it can be checked that the following are equivalent to R being a prime ring:

Examples

Properties

Notes

  1. Page 90 of Lang, Serge (1993), Algebra (Third ed.), Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley, ISBN   978-0-201-55540-0, Zbl   0848.13001

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prime ideal</span> Ideal in a ring which has properties similar to prime elements

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Semiprime ring</span> Generalizations of prime ideals and prime rings

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