Definition:Ring of Mappings
Definition
Let $\struct {R, +, \circ}$ be a ring.
Let $S$ be a set.
Let $R^S$ be the set of all mappings from $S$ to $R$.
The ring of mappings from $S$ to $R$ is the algebraic structure $\struct {R^S, +', \circ'}$ where $+'$ and $\circ'$ are the (pointwise) operations induced on $R^S$ by $+$ and $\circ$.
From Structure Induced by Ring Operations is Ring, $\struct {R^S, +', \circ'}$ is a ring.
Pointwise Addition
The pointwise operation $+'$ induced by $+$ on the ring of mappings from $S$ to $R$ is called pointwise addition and is defined as:
- $\forall f, g \in R^S: f +’ g \in R^S :$
- $\forall s \in S : \map {\paren {f +’ g}} x = \map f x + \map g x$
Pointwise Multiplication
The pointwise operation $\circ'$ induced by $\circ$ on the ring of mappings from $S$ to $R$ is called pointwise multiplication and is defined as:
- $\forall f, g \in R^S: f \circ’ g \in R^S :$
- $\forall s \in S : \map {\paren {f \circ’ g}} x = \map f x \circ \map g x$
Zero of Ring of Mappings
The zero of the ring of mappings is the constant mapping $f_0 : S \to R$ defined by:
- $\quad \forall s \in S : \map {f_0} x = 0$
where $0$ is the zero in $R$
Additive Inverse
The additive inverse in the ring of mappings is defined by:
- $\forall f \in R^S : -f \in R^S : \forall s \in S : \map {\paren {-f} } x = -\map f x$
Unity of Ring of Mappings
Let $\struct {R, +, \circ}$ be a ring with unity whose unity is $1$.
From Structure Induced by Ring with Unity Operations is Ring with Unity, the ring of mappings from $S$ to $R$ is a ring with unity whose unity is the constant mapping $f_1: S \to R$ defined as:
- $\quad \forall s \in S : \map {f_1} x = 1$
Units of Ring of Mappings with Unity
Let $\struct {R, +, \circ}$ be a ring with unity $1$.
Let $f : S \to U_R$ is a mapping into the set of units $U_R$ of $R$.
From Unit of Ring of Mappings iff Image is Subset of Ring Units:
- $f$ is a unit in the ring of mappings from $S$ to $R$
and:
- the inverse of $f$ is the mapping defined by:
- $f^{-1} \in R^S : \forall x \in S: \map {\paren {f^{-1} } } x = \map f x^{-1}$
Commutativity of Ring of Mappings
Let $\struct {R, +, \circ}$ be a commutative ring.
From Structure Induced by Commutative Ring Operations is Commutative Ring, the ring of mappings from $S$ to $R$ is a commutative ring.
Also denoted as
It is usual to use the same symbols for the induced operations on the ring of mappings from $S$ to $R$ as for the operations that induces them.