All Questions
Tagged with or ra.rings-and-algebras ra.rings-and-algebras
367 questions
41
votes
4
answers
33k
views
What is the intuition for the trace norm (nuclear norm)?
I will word this question in terms of linear operators acting on $\mathbb{C}^n$ for simplicity. Feel free to provide an answer in terms of more general Hilbert spaces if you think it makes more sense ...
- 529
38
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Groups whose complex irreducible representations are finite dimensional
By a complex irreducible representation of a group $G$, I mean a simple $\mathbb CG$-module. So my representations need not be unitary and we are working in the purely algebraic setting.
It is easy ...
- 38.6k
36
votes
17
answers
6k
views
Canonical examples of algebraic structures
Please list some examples of common examples of algebraic structures. I was thinking answers of the following form.
"When I read about a [insert structure here], I immediately think of [example]."
...
33
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What do cluster algebras tell us about Grassmannians?
One of the first examples of a cluster algebra given in Fomin and Zelevinsky's original paper is the homogeneous coordinate ring $\mathbb{C}[G_{2,n}]$ of the Grassmannian of planes in $\mathbb{C}^n$. ...
- 1,690
32
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Is this formal noncommutative power series identity known?
I recently discovered the following cute formal noncommutative power series identity: if $(x_i)_{i \in I}$ is some finite collection of noncommuting variables, then the formal power series
$$ 1 + \...
- 114k
32
votes
7
answers
6k
views
Consequences of not requiring ring homomorphisms to be unital?
As defined in many modern algebra books, a homomorphism of unital rings must preserve the unit elements: $f(1_R)=1_S$. But there has been a minority who do not require this, one prominent example ...
- 6,782
32
votes
7
answers
4k
views
"Sums-compact" objects = f.g. objects in categories of modules?
Hello,
Let us call an object of an additive category sumpact (contraction of "sums" and "compact") if taking $Hom$ from it (considered as functor from the category to $Ab$) commutes with coproducts. ...
- 5,562
31
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Are Conway's omnific integers the Grothendieck group of the ordinals under commutative addition?
This is a question in two parts.
Say that $\mathbf{On}$ is the proper class of all ordinal numbers in ZFC. We can define a binary operator over $\mathbf{On}$ which corresponds to the commutative ...
- 4,897
31
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Infinite-dimensional normed division algebras
Let's say a normed division algebra is a real vector space $A$ equipped with a bilinear product, an element $1$ such that $1a = a = a1$, and a norm obeying $|ab| = |a| |b|$.
There are only four ...
- 22.2k
30
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Is there a field $F$ which is isomorphic to $F(X,Y)$ but not to $F(X)$?
Is there a field $F$ such that $F \cong F(X,Y)$ as fields, but $F \not \cong F(X)$ as fields?
I know only an example of a field $F$ such that $F$ isomorphic to $F(x,y)$ : this is something like $F=k(...
- 1,742
29
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What are applications of commutativity theorems for rings?
Herstein's little book "Noncommutative Rings" has a chapter called Commutativity Theorems in which he proves results like Jacobson's theorem: if a ring (associative with identity, please) has the ...
- 50.6k
26
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Function of $(x_1,x_2,x_3,x_4)$ that factors in two ways as $\phi_1 (x_1 ,x_2 )\phi_2(x_3 ,x_4 )=\psi_1 (x_1,x_3)\psi_2(x_2,x_4)$
Suppose we have a function $f(x_1 ,x_2 ,x_3 ,x_4).$ We know that we can factor it in two ways as $f(x_1 ,x_2 ,x_3 ,x_4)=\phi_1 (x_1 ,x_2 )\phi_2(x_3 ,x_4 )=\psi_1 (x_1,x_3)\psi_2(x_2,x_4)$
Show that ...
- 519
25
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Koszul duality between Weyl and Clifford algebras?
Koszul duality
Given a finite-dimensional $k$-vector space $V$ (I am happy taking $k = \mathbb{C}$ anywhere in the following if it makes a difference) and a subspace $R \subseteq V \otimes V$, we can ...
- 8,559
25
votes
3
answers
13k
views
Why is a ring called a "ring"?
Why is a ring called "ring" (or Zahlring in German)? There seems to (naive) me nothing more ring-like to a ring than there is to a group or a field. I am particularly interested to learn why the ...
- 151k
24
votes
12
answers
3k
views
Constructions unique up to non-unique isomorphism
1) Fields have algebraic closures unique up to a non-unique isomorphism.
2) Nice spaces (without base point) have universal covering spaces unique up to a non-unique isomorphism.
3) Modules have ...
24
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Is $\widehat{\mathbb{Z}}[[t]]\cong\widehat{\mathbb{Z}}[[\widehat{\mathbb{Z}}]]$?
Let $\widehat{\mathbb{Z}}[[\widehat{\mathbb{Z}}]] := \varprojlim_{n,m}(\mathbb{Z}/n)[x]/(x^m-1)$ be the complete group algebra of the profinite free group of rank 1. In Corollary 5.9.2 of Ribes-...
- 7,527
24
votes
4
answers
3k
views
does the "convolution theorem" apply to weaker algebraic structures?
The Convolution Theorem is often exploited to compute the convolution of two sequences efficiently: take the (discrete) Fourier transform of each sequence, multiply them, and then perform the inverse ...
- 3,267
24
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Does any textbook take this approach to the isomorphism theorems?
Below, I present an outline of a proof of the first isomorphism theorem for groups. This is how I usually think of the first isomorphism theorem for ______________, but groups will get the points ...
- 12.1k
23
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Codes, lattices, vertex operator algebras
At the end of "Notes on Chapter 1" in the Preface to the Third Edition of Sphere packings, lattices and groups, Conway and Sloane write the following:
Finally, we cannot resist calling attention to ...
- 2,150
22
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Nice algebraic statements independent from ZF + V=L (constructibility)
Background and motivation
I've always been fascinated about algebraic statements independent from ZFC set theory. One such fascinating example comes from considering $\rm{Ext}^1_\mathbb{Z}(A,\mathbb{Z}...
user1437
22
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Freeness of a Z[x]-module
Definition: Call a mapping $f: \mathbb{Z} \rightarrow \mathbb{Z}$
a generalized polynomial if for any distinct integers $m$ and $n$
we have $(m - n)|(f(m)-f(n))$.
It is easy to check that polynomial ...
- 19.6k
22
votes
4
answers
1k
views
What is a Kelley ring?
I've heard that in some book by someone named Kelley, perhaps an early edition of John L. Kelley's General Topology, the author gave a definition of a ring which turned out to be weaker than the usual ...
- 22.2k
22
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Why are ring actions much harder to find than group actions?
I admit freely that the following question is a bit of a fishing expedition inspired by this lovely "definition" of a module as found on Wikipedia:
A module is a ring action on an abelian group.
...
- 15.5k
21
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Can one show the equivalence of the abstract and classical Jordan decompositions for simple Lie algebras without complete reducibility?
The following fact is basic in the theory of complex Lie algebras:
Theorem. Let ${\mathfrak g} \subset {\mathfrak gl}_n({\bf C})$ be a simple Lie algebra, and let $x \in {\mathfrak g}$. Let $x = ...
- 114k
21
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Is there any non-commutative ring such that every element other than the identity is a zero divisor?
A (unital) ring $R$ with the property that every element other than the identity $1_R$ is a (two-sided) zero divisor, seems to be commonly called a "$0$-ring" or "$\mathcal O$-ring"...
- 10.5k
21
votes
10
answers
4k
views
Why do we associate a graph to a ring? [closed]
I don't know if it is suitable for MathOverflow, if not please direct it to suitable sites.
I don't understand the following:
I find that there are many ways a graph is associated with an algebraic ...
21
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Is there a "categorical" description of Grothendieck's algebra of differential operators?
First, pick a commutative ring $k$ as the "ground field". Everything I say will be $k$-linear, e.g. "algebra" means "unital associative algebra over $k$". Then recall the following construction due ...
- 54.6k
20
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is every compact topological ring a profinite ring?
There are a lot of compact (Hausdorff) groups, whereas every compact field is finite. What about rings? Is there a classification theorem for compact rings? If you take a cofiltered limit of finite ...
- 2,200
19
votes
1
answer
754
views
$\Lambda$-Ring Structures on $\mathbb A^2$
A $\Lambda$-ring structure on a torsion-free ring over $\mathbb Z$ is a commuting family of endomorphisms $\psi_p$ satisfying $\psi_p(x) \equiv x^p$ mod $p$.
One $\Lambda$-ring structure on $\mathbb ...
- 148k
19
votes
3
answers
13k
views
Künneth formula for cohomology
$\DeclareMathOperator\Hom{Hom}$Is there an algebraic Künneth formula for cohomology?
More precisely assume $A_{*}, B_{*}$ are chain complexes of free $R$-modules ($R$ is a $PID$) and $M, N$ are $R$-...
- 1,357
19
votes
2
answers
702
views
Besides $F_q$, for which rings $R$ is $K_i(R)$ completely known?
With the exception of finite fields and "trivial examples", which rings $R$ are such that Quillen's algebraic $K$ groups $K_i(R)$ are completely known for all $i\geq 0$?
Here, by "trivial examples" ...
user1437
18
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Is a complete homogeneous symmetric polynomial irreducible?
Let $S=\mathbb{C}[x_1,x_2,\dots,x_n]$ be a polynomial ring. Let $n \geq 3$. Let $h_a$ denotes the complete homogeneous symmetric polynomial of degree $a$.
$$ h_a=\text{ sum of all monomials of degree }...
- 446
18
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Two infinite dimensional algebras such that the center of their tensor product is bigger than the tensor product of their centers
I am searching for two infinite dimensional algebras such that the center of their tensor product is bigger than the tensor product of their centers. Who knows of such examples? Thanks a lot.
- 181
18
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Bass' stable range condition for principal ideal domains
In his algebraic K-Theory book Bass gives the following property on a ring $R$ and a number $n$:
For every $n$ elements $v_1, \ldots, v_n$ that generate the unit ideal there are numbers $r_1, \ldots ...
- 245
17
votes
0
answers
704
views
When is the determinant an $8$-th power?
I am working over $\mathbb{R}$ (though most of the story goes over any field). I am looking for linear spaces of matrices such that the restriction of the determinant to this spaces can be written (...
- 7,300
17
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Hlawka inequality for determinants of positive definite matrices
It is mentioned here that if $A, B, C\in M_{n}(\mathbb C)$ are positive semidefinite, then $$\det (A+B+C)+\det C\ge \det (A+C)+\det (B+C)$$ (quoted from this article) and the special case ($C=\bf 0$) $...
- 13.4k
16
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Are there only finitely many associative algebras of fixed dimension?
Given an algebraically closed field $F$, for any positive integer $n$, are there always only finitely many non-isomorphic (noncommutative) associative algebras (possibly without identity) with ...
- 724
16
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Are there other semidirect product/crossed products in other areas
Suppose $(O, G, \alpha)$ is a triple where $O$ is some mathematical object, $G$ is a group and $\alpha : G \rightarrow Aut(O)$. Many different areas of mathematics study such triples. However, I only ...
- 3,984
16
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Two rings...are they isomorphic?
Edit: I have reverted my question to its original version (which Bjorn Pooenen answered correctly) as requested in the comments.
Consider the local rings
$$R = \mathbb{C}[[x,y,z]]/\langle xy+xz+yz\...
- 2,537
15
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Automorphisms of $P(\Bbb N)$
I believe I've proved that the power semigroup of non-negative integers with addition has a trivial automorphism group. The proof is a bit long, completely elementary and rather unremarkable (as the ...
- 1,445
15
votes
2
answers
2k
views
When is bar-cobar duality an equivalence?
Let $A$ be an augmented differential graded algebra over a field $k$. I will write $BA$ for its bar construction (whose homology is $Tor^A(k, k)$). This is a co-augmented differential graded ...
- 4,133
15
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Are wild problems related to undecidable ones?
In representation theory, there is a well-known notion of a wild classification problem (such problems have been discussed often on this forum, for example, here). In logic, there is a notion of an ...
- 5,654
15
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is every poset the poset of prime ideals of a ring?
The answer to this question, as it is, is trivially false, for one necessary condition is the existence of maximal element(s), i.e., maximal ideals exist and are prime.
My question was inspired from ...
- 899
15
votes
1
answer
759
views
How many traces are there on Temperley-Lieb, Fuss-Catalan, Iwahori-Hecke, Birman-Wenzl-Murakami-Kauffman, ... algebras?
There is a theorem (I believe by Ocneanu) that the Markov trace on the tower of Temperley-Lieb algebras is (essentially) unique.
What about just traces on separate algebras? That is, take one of them,...
- 18.4k
15
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Exact sequence of monoids
What is the right definition of an exact sequence of monoid homomorphisms?
I can't seem to find a consistent in my searches; indeed Balmer (Remark 2.6,
http://www.math.ucla.edu/~balmer/Pubfile/...
- 3,009
14
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Obstructions for a group to be the multiplicative group of a field [duplicate]
It is well known that every finite multiplicative subgroup of a field is cyclic.
I somehow got interested in a possible reverse implication:
Assume we have an abelian group $G$ whose every finite ...
- 6,741
14
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Do these matrix rings have non-zero elements that are neither units nor zero divisors?
First, a disclaimer: This is a repost of a question I asked on stackexchange (no answer there).
Let $R$ be a commutative ring (with $1$) and $R^{n \times n}$ be the ring of $n \times n$ matrices with ...
- 1,197
14
votes
3
answers
610
views
Polynomial Rings
Let $R$ and $S$ be non-zero rings with identity. Is it possible to have $R[x] \cong S[[x]]$ ?
user30230
13
votes
1
answer
797
views
Is $\mathbb{Q}_p \otimes_{\mathbb{Q}}\mathbb{Q}_p $ coherent?
Let $\mathbb{Q}_p$ denote the field of fractions of $\mathbb{Z}_p$. By the answers to this quesition the tensor product $\mathbb{Q}_p \otimes_{\mathbb{Q}} \mathbb{Q}_p$ cannot be a Noetherian ring (...
- 3,785
13
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Why not _co_free modules?
Let $R$ be a ring, and $R\text{-Mod}$ its category of all left modules. There is a "forgetful" functor $\operatorname{Forget}: R\text{-Mod} \to \text{AbGp}$, which is additive, continuous, and ...
- 54.6k