# Are rings closed under addition and multiplication?

I've looked at a couple sources and neither of them state that rings are closed under addition and multiplication. For whatever reason, however, I believe that rings are defined to be closed under addition and multiplication. Am I correct? If so, why do authors not bother with this (in my opinion) crucial property?

• Can you tell us some source? – Paul K Jan 8 at 16:43
• @PaulK Wikipedia and Introduction to Abstract Algebra 6th Edition by Neal H. McCoy and Gerald J. Janusz – PiKindOfGuy Jan 8 at 16:45
• At least in Wikipedia it is stated implicitly by saying that addition and multiplication are binary operations. – Paul K Jan 8 at 16:46
• Closure is part of the definition of a binary operation. When we say a ring is a set $R$ with an operation $+$, we implicitly mean $+$ is a map from $R\times R$ to $R$. – Wojowu Jan 8 at 16:47
• Thanks to both of you. The first answer here works for me and I'm waiting for enough time to pass so that I can accept it. – PiKindOfGuy Jan 8 at 16:48

99.999% of authors all include this property, at least implicitly.

Perhaps you are just not understanding where it appears implicitly.

"Closure" is implicit in the definition of a binary operation, so that is why most authors do not bother to mention it. It is not really important, it is just taken for granted that the reader understands the definition of binary operations on a set are necessarily "closed under the operation."

While it is often used as an axiom for a binary operation on $$X$$ itself, it is useful to describe subsets of $$X$$ and their relation to the binary operation with "closure." Namely, a subset can be closed (or not) under the binary operation. That's why it becomes convenient to say things like "A subgroup $$H$$ of $$G$$ is a subset which is closed under the binary operation and inversion."