Exercise · ZW-UNIT-OF-A-RING-004 · ★☆☆ Basic

What are the units of the ring \(\mathbb{Z}\) of integers?

Choose one option.

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  • D. \(1\) and \(-1\)

Explanation

An integer \(u\) has an integer inverse \(v\) with \(uv=1\) only if \(|u|=1\), so the units are \(1\) and \(-1\). For example, \(2\) is not a unit because \(1/2\) is not an integer.

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Review the concept: Unit of a ring

A unit of a ring \(R\) with identity \(1\) is an element \(u\) that has a multiplicative inverse \(v\) within \(R\).

\[uv=vu=1\]

More practice problems: unit of a ring

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