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Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Intro abstract algebra along with basic set theory
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[QUOTE="stripes, post: 4509399, member: 76657"] [h2]Homework Statement [/h2] An interesting example of a ring: Begin with a nonempty set X and form the power set of X, P(X), which is the set of all subsets of X. On P(X), define addition + and multiplication × as follows: For A, B in P(X): A × B = A ∩ B A + B = (A\B) ∪ (B\A), where as usual A\B = {a in A | a not in B} I have to answer the following. I have [B]bolded[/B] the questions i am having trouble on. the rest i have answered and just want to make sure I'm right. (a)Show there exists an element 0 in P(X) such that A + 0 = A for all A in P(X). (b)[B]Show that for all A in P(X), there exists an element -A in P(X) so that A + (-A) = 0 (0 is from part (a)).[/B] (c)[B]Show A×(B + C) = A×B + A×C for all A, B, C in P(X).[/B] (d) In fact this is a commutative ring with (multiplicative) identity. What element in P(X), not the zero 0 element, when multiplied by any A in P(X), gives you A itself? (e)What are the zero divisors in this ring, if any? What are the units in this ring, if any? [h2]Homework Equations[/h2] -- [h2]The Attempt at a Solution[/h2] (a) The 0 element is the empty set. The empty set is a subset of all sets, therefore given any set X, the empty set is an element of the power set P(X). A + ∅ = (A\∅) ∪ (∅\A) = A ∪ ∅ = A. (b) [B]This one troubles me.[/B] Suppose there exists such an additive inverse, let's find it. For an A in P(X), let the inverse of A be B. It exists if (A\B) ∪ (B\A) = ∅ implies we must have (A\B) = (B\A) = ∅. (A\B) = ∅ implies A is a subset of B. (B\A) = ∅ implies B is a subset of A. These two previous statements imply A = B. So this guarantees that for every A, there exists an additive inverse of A, which actually happens to be itself, which is always in P(X) by definition. Can a ring element be its own additive inverse? (c)[B]Not sure where to start.[/B] (d) The set X itself, which generates the power set P(X), is the mult. identity. The question doesn't ask that we prove this. It just asks what is the the identity. (e) every element in P(X) except X and ∅ is a zero divisor. This is because there will always exist an element so that their intersection is disjoint. This element is simply A\X. X is not a zero divisor because X\X = ∅ which cannot be a zero divisor. Again an explanation isn't needed here but i thought i would throw it in on this forum. There is only one unit, which is X itself. [/QUOTE]
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Intro abstract algebra along with basic set theory
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