Cancellative set in a semiring that is not multiplicatively closed

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the properties of cancellative elements in a semiring that is not multiplicatively closed. Participants explore definitions related to semigroups, monoids, and semirings, and specifically focus on the implications of cancellative elements within these structures.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant defines a semigroup, commutative semigroup, monoid, and commutative monoid, establishing foundational concepts for the discussion.
  • A semiring is defined as a structure that includes a commutative monoid and a semigroup, with distributivity between the two operations.
  • The concept of cancellable elements is introduced, with the assertion that the set of cancellable elements, Can(R), is a submonoid of (R,+) but may not be multiplicatively closed.
  • Another participant suggests that the lack of closure in Can(R) may stem from the independence of the operations + and . within R.
  • In contrast, a different participant argues that the distributivity condition implies a connection between the two operations, potentially affecting closure.
  • A further point is raised about considering elements in Can(R) that satisfy an additional condition, proposing that these elements could form a semiring.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether the lack of multiplicative closure in Can(R) is due to the independence of the operations or the implications of distributivity. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the existence of canonical examples of semirings with non-closed cancellative elements.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not resolve the assumptions regarding the relationship between the operations in the semiring and how they affect the closure of cancellative elements. There are also unresolved mathematical steps related to the proposed conditions for elements in Can(R).

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Definition: A semigroup is a pair (R,op) where R is a set an op is a binary operation that is closed and associative. A commutative semigroup is a semigroup where op satisfies for all a,b in R, op(a,b) = op(b,a). A monoid is a semigroup where with an identity,e, for op, satisfying for all r in R, op(r,e)=op(e,r)=r. A commutative monoid is a semigroup satisfying the monoid and commutative semigroup laws.

Definition:
A semiring (rig) is a triple (R,+,.) where (R,+) is a commutative monoid, and (R,.) is a semigroup, and where distributivity holds;i.e.
a(b+c) = ab+ac and (b+c)a = ba+ca.

Definition:
Let R=(R,+,.) be a semiring. A cancellable element r satisfies
r+a = r+b implies a = b.
The set of all cancellable elements in R is denoted Can(R).

It is an easy exercise to show that Can(R) is a submonoid of (R,+). However, it does not seem to be multiplicatively closed. If anyone knows or can sketch a proof that would be great! Are there any canonical examples of Rigs, where the cancellative elements are not multiplicatively closed.
 
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As there may not be any connection between + and . of R, Can(R) need not be closed.
 
But there is a connection: distributivity.
 
Consider those r in Can(R) which satisfy the additional condition that ra=rb implies a=b. They form a semiring.
 

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