Section 4.

3(a) All polynomials {a0 + a1 x + a2 x2 + a3 x3 | ai Z2 }, namely,

{0, 1, x, 1 + x, x2 , 1 + x2 , x + x2 , 1 + x + x2 , x3 , 1 + x3 , x + x3 , 1 + x + x3 , x2 + x3 ,

1 + x2 + x3 , x + x2 + x3 , 1 + x + x2 + x3 },

a total of 16.
6(a). Yes: closed under subtraction and multiplication.
6(b). No: not closed under subtraction (eg (x2 + x) (x2 + 1) is not of degree 2).
6(c). No: not closed under multiplication. For example, the product of two poly-
nomials of degree k is not of degree at most k.
6(d). Yes: closed under subtraction and multiplication.
6(e). No: not closed under multiplication.
8. 1R (a0 + a1 x + + an xn ) = (1R a0 ) + (1R a1 )x + + (1R an )xn =
a0 + a1 x + + an xn ; and similarly with multiplication by 1R on the right. Thus
1R is the identity of R[x].
10. Write f (x) = f0 + + fn xn , g(x) = g0 + + gm xm , where fn , gm 6= 0R , and
where without loss of generality, n m. If n > m, then f (x) + g(x) = (f0 + g0 ) +
+ (fm + gm )xm + + fn xn , and deg(f (x) + g(x)) = n =max(deg(f (x), g(x)).
If n = m, then f (x) + g(x) = (f0 + g0 ) + + (fn + gn )xn and the degree of f + g
is less than, or equal n, depending on whether fn + gn is zero, or non-zero. Hence
the result.
11. Suppose F is a field. Then x has an inverse u(x), say, with xu(x) = 1. Taking
degrees (remember we are working over a field, which is necessarily an integral
domain), 1 + deg(u) = 0, giving deg(u) = 1, impossible. Therefore F cannot
be a field.
12. Suppose f (x) is a unit. Then there exists g(x) F [x] with f (x)g(x) = 1.
Taking degrees, deg(f ) + deg(g) = 0. Since the degree is non-negative, this forces
deg(f ) = 0. Conversely, suppose f (x) 6= 0, and deg(f (x)) = 0. Then f (x) F

1
and is non-zero, so has an inverse g F . Then g considered as a polynomial of
degree 0 in F [x] is an inverse for f (x).
13. Suppose (a0 + + an xn )(b0 + + bm xm ) = 0 with b0 + + bm xm 6= 0. After
multiplying and comparing coefficients of xm+n , we get an bm = 0, yet an 6= 0 and
bm 6= 0. Thus an is a zero-divisor.
16. From the addition and multiplication of polynomials, the constant term of
f (x) + g(x) is simply the sum of the constant terms of f, g; and similarly for the
constant term in their product. Hence is a homomorphism. Given r R, then
for example the polynomial r + x maps to r by ; so is onto.
18. D is not a homomorphism, because D(f g) 6= D(f )D(g), in general. Specifi-
cally, consider f (x) = g(x) = x2 : then D(f g) = D(x4 ) = 4x3 , yet D(f )D(g) =
(2x)(2x) = 4x2 .