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Identity: Let $R$ be a ring and $x \in R$. Then $x^2=(-x)^2.$

It's exam marking time here, and one of the students used the above identity in a proof. The identity is true, but I can't think of a straightforward proof of this.

Question: Is there a short proof of this identity? (Note: $R$ might not have a multiplicative identity.)

Here's a proof generated by Prover9, which makes me think there might not be a shorter proof. However, this might not necessarily be true, since Prover9 can only work with the ring theory axioms I input (and would have to prove any auxiliary lemmata we would take for granted).

============================== PROOF =================================  % Proof 1 at 0.01 (+ 0.00) seconds. % Length of proof is 26. % Level of proof is 10. % Maximum clause weight is 16. % Given clauses 30.  1 x * x = -x * -x # label(non_clause) # label(goal).  [goal]. 2 x + (y + z) = (x + y) + z.  [assumption]. 3 (x + y) + z = x + (y + z).  [copy(2),flip(a)]. 4 x + 0 = x.  [assumption]. 5 0 + x = x.  [assumption]. 6 x + -x = 0.  [assumption]. 8 x + y = y + x.  [assumption]. 10 x * (y + z) = (x * y) + (x * z).  [assumption]. 11 (x + y) * z = (x * z) + (y * z).  [assumption]. 12 -c1 * -c1 != c1 * c1.  [deny(1)]. 13 x + (-x + y) = y.  [para(6(a,1),3(a,1,1)),rewrite([5(2)]),flip(a)]. 18 (x * 0) + (x * y) = x * y.  [para(5(a,1),10(a,1,2)),flip(a)]. 19 (x * y) + (x * -y) = x * 0.  [para(6(a,1),10(a,1,2)),flip(a)]. 24 --x = x.  [para(6(a,1),13(a,1,2)),rewrite([4(2)]),flip(a)]. 25 x + (y + -x) = y.  [para(8(a,1),13(a,1,2))]. 27 (x * y) + ((-x * y) + (z * y)) = z * y.  [para(13(a,1),11(a,1,1)),rewrite([11(5)]),flip(a)]. 33 -x + (y + x) = y.  [para(24(a,1),25(a,1,2,2))]. 40 x + -(x + y) = -y.  [para(33(a,1),33(a,1,2)),rewrite([8(3)])]. 57 -(x + y) = -y + -x.  [para(33(a,1),40(a,1,2,1)),flip(a)]. 69 x * 0 = 0.  [para(18(a,1),33(a,1,2)),rewrite([8(4),6(4)]),flip(a)]. 70 (x * y) + (x * -y) = 0.  [back_rewrite(19),rewrite([69(6)])]. 78 -(x * -y) = x * y.  [para(70(a,1),33(a,1,2)),rewrite([8(5),5(5)])]. 87 x * -y = -(x * y).  [para(78(a,1),24(a,1,1)),flip(a)]. 88 -(-c1 * c1) != c1 * c1.  [back_rewrite(12),rewrite([87(5)])]. 101 -(-x * y) = x * y.  [para(27(a,1),33(a,1,2)),rewrite([57(5),8(8),13(8)])]. 102 $F.  [resolve(101,a,88,a)].  ============================== end of proof ========================== 

5 Answers 5

21

Let $\rm\:y=x\:$ in the Law of Signs: $\rm\:xy = xy+(x+-x)(-y) = x(y+-y) + (-x)(-y) = (-x)(-y)$

Remark $\ $ The proof has the following conceptual intepretation: $\rm\:xy = (-x)(-y)\:$ since they are both additive inverses of $\rm\:x(-y)\:$ hence are equal by uniqueness of inverses. As I frequently emphasize, uniqueness theorems provide powerful tools for proving equalities.

  • 1
    Boy do you emphasize on that often! Nice link... you made your point!2012-11-01
12

\begin{align} 0=(x-x)^2 &= x^2+x(-x)+(-x)x+(-x)^2 \\ &= x^2+x(-x)+(-x)x+x^2-x^2+(-x)^2 \\ &= x(x-x)+(-x+x)x-x^2+(-x)^2 \\ &= -x^2+(-x)^2 \end{align}

  • 0
    I agree, it is very insightful (sorry, I'm retracting your "accepted answer", but at least, since you hinted at it, I feel less guilty).2012-11-01
6

what about $x^2-(-x)^2 = (x-(-x))*(x+(-x)) = (x-(-x))*0 = 0$ ?

3

We have:

$ (-x) * x + x * x = 0 * x = 0 $

Therefore:

$ -(x * x) = (-x) * x $

Similarly:

$ -(x * x) = x * (-x) $

Apply these results to $(-x) * (-x)$ To get what you want:

$ (-x) * (-x) = -(x * (-x)) = -(-(x * x)) = x * x $

2

Another approach: The proof is easy if the ring has identity, and if not, the ring can always be embedded in a ring with identity. If the statement is true in the larger ring, it's true in the original subring.