Difference between revisions of "Characteristic"
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| − | In [[algebra]], the '''characteristic''' of a [[ring (mathematics)|ring]] ''R'' is the least [[natural number]] ''n'' such that, for all ''r'' in ''R'', ''n'' * ''r'' = 0. If no such natural number exists, the ring has characteristic 0. | + | In [[algebra]], the '''characteristic''' of a [[ring (mathematics)|ring]] ''R'' is the least [[natural number]] ''n'' such that, for all ''r'' in ''R'', ''n'' * ''r'' = 0. If no such natural number exists, the ring has characteristic 0. The characteristic of a [[field_(mathematics)|field]] must be either 0 or a [[prime number]]. |
==Examples== | ==Examples== | ||
Revision as of 09:26, November 16, 2008
In algebra, the characteristic of a ring R is the least natural number n such that, for all r in R, n * r = 0. If no such natural number exists, the ring has characteristic 0. The characteristic of a field must be either 0 or a prime number.
Examples
- - the set of the integers - has characteristic 0.
- has characteristic 6:
0 = 0 = 0+0+0+0+0+0 1+1+1+1+1+1 = 0 = 1+1+1+1+1+1 2+2+2 = 0 = 2+2+2+2+2+2 3+3 = 0 = 3+3+3+3+3+3 4+4+4 = 0 = 4+4+4+4+4+4 5+5+5+5+5+5 = 0 = 5+5+5+5+5+5