Karl Jones: Created page with "In abstract algebra, '''ring theory''' is the study of rings—algebraic structures in which addition and multiplicati..."

2016-10-05T12:51:31Z

Created page with "In abstract algebra, '''ring theory''' is the study of rings—algebraic structures in which addition and multiplicati..."

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In [[abstract algebra]], '''ring theory''' is the study of [[Ring (mathematics)|rings]]—[[Algebraic structure|algebraic structures]] in which [[addition]] and [[multiplication]] are defined and have similar properties to those operations defined for the [[Integer|integers]].

== Description ==

Ring theory studies the structure of rings, their [[Algebra representation|representations]], or, in different language, [[Module (mathematics)|modules]], special classes of rings (group rings, division rings, universal enveloping algebras), as well as an array of properties that proved to be of interest both within the theory itself and for its applications, such as homological properties and polynomial identities.

Commutative rings are much better understood than noncommutative ones.

[[Algebraic geometry]] and [[algebraic number theory]], which provide many natural examples of commutative rings, have driven much of the development of commutative ring theory, which is now, under the name of [[commutative algebra]], a major area of modern mathematics.

Because these three fields (algebraic geometry, algebraic number theory and commutative algebra) are so intimately connected it is usually difficult and meaningless to decide which field a particular result belongs to.

For example, [[Hilbert's Nullstellensatz]] is a theorem which is fundamental for algebraic geometry, and is stated and proved in terms of commutative algebra.

Similarly, [[Fermat's last theorem]] is stated in terms of elementary arithmetic, which is a part of commutative algebra, but its proof involves deep results of both algebraic number theory and algebraic geometry.

Noncommutative rings are quite different in flavor, since more unusual behavior can arise. While the theory has developed in its own right, a fairly recent trend has sought to parallel the commutative development by building the theory of certain classes of noncommutative rings in a geometric fashion as if they were rings of functions on (non-existent) 'noncommutative spaces'. This trend started in the 1980s with the development of noncommutative geometry and with the discovery of quantum groups. It has led to a better understanding of noncommutative rings, especially noncommutative [[Noetherian ring|Noetherian rings]].

For the definitions of a ring and basic concepts and their properties, see [[Ring (mathematics)]].

== See also ==

* [[Abstract algebra]]
* [[Ring (mathematics)]]

== External links ==

* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_theory Ring theory] @ Wikipedia

[[Category:Mathematics]]

Ring theory - Revision history

Karl Jones: Created page with "In abstract algebra, '''ring theory''' is the study of rings—algebraic structures in which addition and multiplicati..."