# Field maths

1. Feb 19, 2008

### karnten07

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Let F be a field. For any a,b $$\in$$ F, b$$\neq$$0, we write a/b for ab^-1. Prove the following statements for any a, a' $$\in$$F and b, b' $$\in$$ F\{0}:

i.) a/b = a'/b' if and only if ab' =a'b
ii.) a/b +a'/b' = (ab'+a'b)/bb'
iii.) (a/b)(a'/b') = aa'/bb'
iv.) (a/b)/a'/b') = ab'/a'b (if in addition a'$$\neq$$0)

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

I'm struggling to understand how i am to prove these statements. What am i to take the dashes to mean, because they are often used to show inverses? So for the first one:

a/b=ab^-1 which = a^-1b = a'/b'?

2. Feb 19, 2008

### EnumaElish

My guess is a dash means "alternative value." For example, a = 1, and a' = 2.

3. Feb 19, 2008

### karnten07

I also thought that, i will go with that and see what i come up with, thanks

4. Feb 19, 2008

### karnten07

Does ab^-1 mean a.b^-1 or (a.b)^-1? I think it might be the former.

If it is, i get:

i) a.b^-1 = a'.b'^-1 when written out fully. So if ab' = a'b, then rearranged gives a= a'b/b' and a' = ab'/b. So inserting them into a.b^-1 = a'.b'^-1 we get:

a'b.b^-1/b' = ab.b^-1/b

and then we get indentity elements leaving a'/b' = a/b

Is this right?