# proof for members of ideals

If $I$ is an ideal, could you show that if $x\in I$ and $y\notin$ I, then $x+y \notin I$? It seems like an intuitively obvious statement and yet my rigor is failing me. So if you could show me all the steps of the proof that would be much appreciated.

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If $x + y \in I$ and $x\in I$ then $x + y - x = y \in I$ contradiction. –  Tobias Kildetoft Jul 6 '12 at 6:38
This is really a fact about groups. –  Dylan Moreland Jul 6 '12 at 6:38
@Tobias Perhaps you could write that as an answer so the question can be marked as answered? –  Alex Becker Jul 6 '12 at 6:41

Assume for the sake of contradiction that $x\in I$, $y\not\in I$ and $x+y\in I$. Since $I$ is a subgroup of the additive group of the ring, we have that $y = (x+y) - x \in I$ which is a contradiction. As mentioned by Dylan Moreland, this is a general fact about subgroups of any group.

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Another way which I find useful in dealing with things like this: Suppose that $x \in I$, $y \notin I$ but $x + y \in I$. Then saying that $x + y \in I$ implies that $x + y = m$ for some $m \in I$. Rearrange to write $y = x - m$. Now $x \in I$ and $m \in I$. Since $I$ is an ideal and $m \in I$ we must have

$$(-1)\cdot m = -m$$

being in $I$. Furthermore $I$ being closed under addition means that $x + (-m) = x - m \in I$. However recall $y = x-m$ so this means $y \in I$ which contradicts the assumption that $y \notin I$.

$\hspace{6in}$ Q.E.D.

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This is a special case of the following complementary view of a subgroup.

Theorem $\$ Let $\rm\,G\,$ be a nonempty subset of an abelian group $\rm\,H,\,$ with complement set $\rm\,\bar G = H\backslash G.\,$ Then $\rm\,G\,$ is a subgroup of $\rm\,H\iff G + \bar G\, =\, \bar G.$

Proof $\$ $\rm\,G\,$ is a subgroup of $\rm\,H\iff G\,$ is closed under subtraction, so, complementing

$\begin{eqnarray} & &\ \ \rm G\text{ is a subgroup of }\, H\ fails\\ &\iff&\ \rm\ G\ -\ G\ \subseteq\, G\,\ \ fails\\ &\iff&\ \rm\ g_1\, -\ g_2 =\,\ \bar g\ \ \ for\ some\ \ g_1,g_2\in G,\ \ \bar g\in \bar G\\ &\iff&\ \rm\ g_2\, +\ \bar g\ \ =\,\ g_1\ for\ some\ \ g_1,g_2\in G,\ \ \bar g\in \bar G\\ &\iff&\ \rm\ G\ +\ \bar G\ \subseteq\ \bar G\ \ fails\qquad\ {\bf QED} \end{eqnarray}$

Instances of this are ubiquitous in concrete number systems, e.g. below. For many further examples see some of my prior posts here.

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