Intersection of All Subrings Containing Subset is Smallest

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Theorem

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

Let $S \subseteq R$ be a subset of $R$.

Let $L$ be the intersection of the set of all subrings of $R$ containing $S$.


Then $L$ is the smallest subring of $R$ containing $S$.


Proof

From Intersection of Subrings is Subring, $L$ is indeed a subring of $R$.

Let $T$ be a subring of $R$ containing $S$.


Let $x, y \in L$.

By the Subring Test, we have that:

\(\ds x - y\) \(\in\) \(\ds L\)
\(\ds x \circ y\) \(\in\) \(\ds L\)

By Intersection is Largest Subset, it follows that $x, y \in T$.


But $T$ is also a subring of $R$.

So, by the Subring Test again, we have that:

\(\ds x - y\) \(\in\) \(\ds T\)
\(\ds x \circ y\) \(\in\) \(\ds T\)

So by definition of subset, $L \subseteq T$.

$\blacksquare$


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