Exercise · ZW-POLYNOMIAL-RING-005 · ★☆☆ Basic

Which statement about \(\mathbb{Z}[x]\) is true?

Choose one option.

Show answer
  • B. is an integral domain

Explanation

The product of two nonzero polynomials with integer coefficients has as leading coefficient the product of the leading ones, which is nonzero; so there are no zero divisors. It is not a field, since \(x\) has no inverse.

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Review the concept: Polynomial ring

The polynomial ring \(R[x]\) over a commutative ring \(R\) with identity consists of the finite sums of terms \(a_ix^i\), with coefficients \(a_i\in R\) and an indeterminate \(x\).

\[\Big(\sum_i a_ix^i\Big)\Big(\sum_j b_jx^j\Big)=\sum_k\Big(\sum_{i+j=k}a_ib_j\Big)x^k\]

More practice problems: polynomial ring

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