The real numbers A set
with two binary operators and two special elements
s.t.








- Note: or means inclusive or in math.

Definition: A field is a set F with two binary operators
: F×F → F,
: F×F → F and two elements
s.t.





Examples







is not a field (counterexample)
|
|
|
Ex. 5
| + |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6
|
| 0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6
|
| 1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
0
|
| 2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
0 |
1
|
| 3 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
2
|
| 4 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3
|
| 5 |
5 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4
|
| 6 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5
|
|
Ex. 5
| × |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6
|
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0
|
| 1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
0
|
| 2 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
1 |
3 |
1
|
| 3 |
0 |
3 |
6 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
2
|
| 4 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
6 |
3
|
| 5 |
0 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
6 |
4 |
4
|
| 6 |
0 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
5
|
|
Theorem:
for
is a field iff (if and only if)
is a prime number
Tedious Theorem
"cancellation property"

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