# Definition:Right Module

## Definition

Let $\struct {R, +_R, \times_R}$ be a ring.

Let $\struct {G, +_G}$ be an abelian group.

A right module over $R$ is an $R$-algebraic structure $\struct {G, +_G, \circ}_R$ with one operation $\circ$, the (right) ring action, which satisfies the right module axioms:

 $(\text {RM} 1)$ $:$ Scalar Multiplication Right Distributes over Module Addition $\ds \forall \lambda \in R: \forall x, y \in G:$ $\ds \paren {x +_G y} \circ \lambda$ $\ds =$ $\ds \paren {x \circ \lambda} +_G \paren {y \circ \lambda}$ $(\text {RM} 2)$ $:$ Scalar Multiplication Left Distributes over Scalar Addition $\ds \forall \lambda, \mu \in R: \forall x \in G:$ $\ds x \circ \paren {\lambda +_R \mu}$ $\ds =$ $\ds \paren {x \circ \lambda} +_G \paren {x\circ \mu}$ $(\text {RM} 3)$ $:$ Associativity of Scalar Multiplication $\ds \forall \lambda, \mu \in R: \forall x \in G:$ $\ds x \circ \paren {\lambda \times_R \mu}$ $\ds =$ $\ds \paren {x \circ \lambda} \circ \mu$

## Left vs Right Modules

In the case of a commutative ring, the difference between a left module and a right module is little more than a notational difference. See:

But this is not the case for a ring that is not commutative. From:

it is known that it is not sufficient to simply reverse the scalar multiplication to get a module of the other ‘side’.

From:

to obtain a module of the other ‘side’ it is, in general, also necessary to reverse the product of the ring.

From:

a left module induces a right module and vice-versa if and only if actions are commutative.

## Also see

• Results about modules can be found here.