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This is how I'm approaching it: let $R$ be a finite integral domain and I'm trying to show every element in $R$ has an inverse:

  • let $R-\{0\}=\{x_1,x_2,\ldots,x_k\}$,
  • then as $R$ is closed under multiplication $\prod_{n=1}^k\ x_i=x_j$,
  • therefore by canceling $x_j$ we get $x_1x_2\cdots x_{j-1}x_{j+1}\cdots x_k=1 $,
  • by commuting any of these elements to the front we find an inverse for first term, e.g. for $x_m$ we have $x_m(x_1\cdots x_{m-1}x_{m+1}\cdots x_{j-1}x_{j+1}\cdots x_k)=1$, where $(x_m)^{-1}=x_1\cdots x_{m-1}x_{m+1}\cdots x_{j-1}x_{j+1}\cdots x_k$.

As far as I can see this is correct, so we have found inverses for all $x_i\in R$ apart from $x_j$ if I am right so far. How would we find $(x_{j})^{-1}$?

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    The multiplication by a nonzero element, being injectve, is surjective.2011-09-07
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    So for $0 \neq a \in R$ the map $T:x\to ax$ is injective as $ker(T)=\{0\}$ (no zero divisors) and as R is finite it must be surjective. Therefore T is invertible, and every a must have an inverse?2011-09-07
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    Related to http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/60969/rings-zero-divisors2011-09-07
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    It follows from http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/14282212017-01-19

7 Answers 7

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Why to find the inverse of $xj$ Can't it be solved this way $(x1.x2...xk) - xj = 0$ Then $xj(x1..xj-1.xj+1..xk -1)=0$ As $xj$ is not a $0$ and $R$ is integral We get $x1..xj-1.xj+1..xk = 1$ Choosing an arbitrary $xm$ $Xm(x1..xm-1.xm+1..xj-1.xj+1..xk)=1$ So $xm$ has an inverse

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Remember that cancellation holds in domains. That is, if $c \neq 0$, then $ac = bc$ implies $a=b$. So, given $x$, consider $x, x^2, x^3,......$. Out of finiteness there would be a repetition sometime: $x^n = x^m$ for some $n >m$. Then, by cancellation, $x^{n-m} =1$, and $x$ has an inverse.

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    Unless, of course, $x$ is zero.2011-09-07
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    Indeed, as there are no zero divisors. So could we equally say for some $n$, $x=x^n$, or do we need to specify the m?2011-09-07
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    @Myerson: Well, of course. :) LHS: There is no need to specify an $m$. It is enough that some such $n$ and $m$ exist.2011-09-07
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    @George: sorry I meant do we know that for some product of $x$, say $x^n$, $x^n$ will equal $x$2011-09-07
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    @LHS: Eventually, yes. But as far as I can think, first one has to go through $n$ and $m$.2011-09-07
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    @George: Thank you, you have been very helpful! I'm glad we could improve on my method.2011-09-07
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    If you need to identify an $N$ for which you get a repetition for some $n, the number of elements of the domain (being finite) will suffice (as it is the number of non-zero elements plus 1, so in any collection there must be two the same).2011-09-07
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    Indeed, a posteriori, since we know that we already have a field, the nonzero elements form a multiplicative group of order $N-1$, so we have in fact $x^N =x$.2011-09-07
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Your proof is completable. Put $\rm\:u = x_j\ne 0.\:$ Either $\rm\:u^2 = u\:\ (so\:\ u = 1)\: $ or $\rm\: u^2 = x_{\:k}\mid 1\:$ so $\rm\:u\mid 1.\:$ Therefore all nonzero elements of $\rm\:R\:$ are units. $\:$ (note $\rm\ u^2 \ne 0\:$ by $\rm\:u\ne 0\:$). $\ $ QED

In fact one can generalize such pigeonhole-based ideas. The Theorem below is one simple way. Note that the above proof is just the special case when $\rm\:R\:$ is a domain and $\rm\:|\cal N|$ $ = 1\:.$

Theorem $\ $ If all but finitely many elements of a ring $\rm\:R\:$ are units or zero-divisors (incuding $0$), then all elements of $\rm\:R\:$ are units or zero-divisors.

Proof $\ $ Suppose the finite set $\rm\:\cal N\:$ of nonunit non-zero-divisors is nonempty. Let $\rm\: r\in \cal N.\,$ Then all positive powers $\rm\:r^n\:$ are also in $\rm\:\cal N\:$ since powering preserves the property of being a nonunit and non-zero-divisor (if $\rm\ a\,r^n = 0\:$ then, since non-zerodivisors are cancellable, we deduce $\rm\:a = 0\:$ by cancelling the $\rm\:n\:$ factors of $\rm\:r).\,$ So pigeonholing the powers $\rm\:r^n\:$ into the finite set $\rm\,\cal N$ yields $\rm\:m>n\:$ such that $\rm\:r^m = r^n,\ $ so $\,\rm\:r^n(r^{m-n} - 1) = 0\:.\:$ As $\rm r^n\in\cal N$ it is not a zero-divisor so we can cancel it, which, finally, yields that $\rm\:r^{m-n}=1,\:$ so $\rm\:r\:$ is a unit, contradiction. $\ $ QED

Corollary $\ $ Every element of a finite ring is either a unit or a zero-divisor (including $0$).
Therefore a finite integral domain is a field.

For a less trivial example see my proof here that generalizes (to "fewunit" rings) Euclid's classic constructive proof that there are infinitely many primes. Such ideas generalize to monoids and will come to the fore when one learns algebraic local-global methods, esp. localization of rings.

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    Thanks! that's satisfying to know2011-09-07
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    @LHS Kudos to you for devising *your own* proof. It's a nice alternative to the frequently regurgitated well-known proofs in the other answers (which, alas, do not even address your question, i.e. your method of proof). Please see my comment posted below your question.2011-09-07
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    Thanks Bill! I only post here if i'm completely stuck -and it is much more satisfying to work out your own way. See response comment.2011-09-07
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    @LHS I wish that we had many more questions like yours above. I actually learned a little something by reflecting on your method of proof - which happens only very rarely here. Keep striving to find *your own* proofs before consulting the "standard" proofs. That is one of the best ways to learn mathematics. Then, someday, one of your own proofs may be the standard proof.2011-09-07
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    That means a lot! Our lecturers tell us the same thing, I always try, and if I get something that looks promising I will post it along with the question :) Haha possibly, lets hope! I do need to coauthor a paper with my Erdős number 1 tutor at some point!2011-09-07
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    Nice addition! I am certainly understanding ring theory better than last term now..2011-09-08
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It sufficies to prove that there exists $1\in R$ such that $a1=1a=a$ for any $a\in R$, and that every $a\neq 0$ is invertible in $R$. So let $R=\{a_1,\dots,a_n\}$ with the $a_i$'s pairwise distinct. Let $a=a_k\neq 0$. Then the elements $$aa_1,aa_2,\dots, aa_n$$ are also pairwise distinct (if $aa_i=aa_j$ with $i\neq j$ then $a(a_i-a_j)=0$ wich forces $a_i=a_j$ since we are in an integral domain and $a\neq 0$). But then the map $\Psi:R\to R$ defined by $$\Psi(a_i)=aa_i$$ is injective by what we have proved before. Since $R$ is finite it is also surjective, then it is a bijection. This means that every element of $R$ can be written as $aa_i$ for some element $a_i\in R$. In particular $a$ itself can be written in this way: there exixsts $a_{i_0}\in R$ such that $a=aa_{i_0}=a_{i_0}a$.

Now we claim that $a_{i_0}$ is the unit element of $R$: indeed let $x=aa_i$ any element in $R$. Then $$x=aa_i=(aa_{i_0})a_i=(a_{i_0}a)a_i=a_{i_0}(aa_i)=a_{i_0}x$$ and also $$x=a_ia=a_i(aa_{i_0})=(a_ia)a_{i_0}=xa_{i_0}.$$ We shall denote this element $a_{i_0}$ with $1$. Now, from the fact that $1$ is in $R$, $1$ can be written as $1=aa_j$ for some $a_j\in R$. But then $a$ is invertible in $R$.

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    I may not have made myself clear enough, but the definition of an Integral Domain I am using has $a1=1a=1$ $\forall a \in R$ as an axiom2011-09-07
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    ok.. so the proof is even simpler than mine. However as far as I remember from my first algebra course, an integral domain is a commutative ring without $0$ divisors, and a commutative ring need not have the unit element. But, again, this just make your life easier so my proof holds with weaker assumptions.2011-09-07
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    You're certainly right about the commutative ring definition, from what I can see integral domains don't have to defined with 1, but are normally assumed to have it. Thanks very much, it's very helpful!2011-09-07
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    In current usage, the phrase integral domain almost universally refers to a commutative ring with nonzero 1 (and without zero divisors, of course).2011-09-07
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Simple arguments have already been given. Let us do a technological one.

Let $A$ be a finite integral commutative domain. It is an artinian, so its radical $\mathrm{rad}(A)$ is nilpotent—in particular, the non-zero elements of $\mathrm{rad}(A)$ are themselves nilpotent: since $A$ is a domain, this means that $\mathrm{rad}(A)=0$. It follows that $A$ is semisimple, so it is a direct product of matrix rings over division rings. It is a domain, so there can only be one factor; it is is commutative, so that factor must be a ring of $1\times 1$ matrices over a commutative division ring. In all, $A$ must be a field.

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    In Germany you would call this "mit Kanonen auf Spatzen schießen" :-)2011-10-31
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    Actually, using the Artinian property, this is even easier: Since $A$ is Artinian (by finiteness), it has dimension 0. On the other hand, the 0 ideal is a prime ideal (by virtue of being an integral domain), so it is the maximal ideal, and $A$ is hence local. Thus, $A^\times = A \setminus \{ 0 \}$...2012-03-14
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In fact, we can go a bit farther, and say that if $R$ is a finite commutative ring that has elements that are not zero-divisors, then $R$ has an identity. Furthermore, every nonzero element of $R$ is either a unit or a zero-divisor.

To see why, pick $a\in R\setminus\{0\}$ with $a$ not a zero-divisor. As $R$ is finite, the set $\{a,a^2,a^3,...\}$ must also be finite, whence there exist $m,n\in \mathbb{N}$ with $m and $a^m=a^n$.

We will now show that $a^{n-m}$ serves as an identity for $R$. Pick any $x\in R$. Then $a^m=a^n$ implies $a^mx=a^nx$, whence $a^m(a^{n-m}x-x)=0$. Now, since $a$ is not a zero divisor, it is clear that $a^m$ is not a zero-divisor. Thus, the only way we can have $a^m(a^{n-m}x-x)=0$ is if $a^{n-m}x-x=0$ or $a^{n-m}x=x$. Therefore $a^{n-m}=1_R$, and $R$ has an identity.

In fact, the proof of why any nonzero zero-divisor is a unit essentially follows from the same argument as above (letting $x=1$ now that we know that $R$ has an identity): if $a\in R\setminus\{0\}$ is not a zero-divisor, then there exist $0 with $a^m=a^n\,\Rightarrow\,a^m(a^{n-m}-1)=0\,\Rightarrow\,a^{n-m}=1$ (since, again, if $a$ is not a zero-divisor, then neither can $a^m$ be a zero-divisor). Therefore, every nonzero element of $R$ is either a zero-divisor or a unit.

From here, it directly follows that every finite integral domain is a field, since integral domains have no zero-divisors.

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Here is another proof.For any $a\in R$ with $a\neq0$ consider the function $f_a:R\longrightarrow R$ defined by $f_a(x)=ax$ it is injective because $R$ is a domain, now 'cause $R$ is finite then $f_a$ is surjective because is injective, there is an element $b\in R$ which $f_a(b)=1$, then $ab=1$. Also is important to mention the Wedderburn theorem that proves that the ring is commutative.

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    Regarding the last bit: I think most people here require integral domains to be commutative, but that is a good theorem.2011-09-08
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    yes, this proof is given as a corollary on p228 in Dummit & Foote 3rd edition2018-11-22