This is another past exam question. Define \( (I:J)\; =\; \{ r \in R\; |\; rJ \subseteq I \}\; =\; \{ r \in R\; |\; \forall j \in J \;:\; rj \in I\} \). For I,J,K ideals of R, where R is a commutative ring, prove that: (a) (I:J) is an ideal of R (b) I∩J is an ideal of R (c) (I: (J+K)) = (I:J)∩(I:K) Well, you have to figure out what the elements of I, J, and K look like; say r[sub]1[/sub] ∈ R -> r[sub]1[/sub]j ∈ I, when j ∈ J. Then show that r[sub]1[/sub]j - r[sub]2[/sub]j, say, is in (I:J), and that r[sub]1[/sub]j r[sub]2[/sub]j is in (I:J). That's for the (a) question. Have I got the idea here, or what?
The definition says that for elements r[sub]1[/sub], r[sub]2[/sub] ∈ R, j ∈ J, r[sub]1[/sub] and r[sub]2[/sub] are in (I:J) when r[sub]1[/sub]j, r[sub]2[/sub]j ∈ I, right? So I need to show that r[sub]1[/sub] - r[sub]2[/sub] is also in (I:J) when (r[sub]1[/sub] - r[sub]2[/sub])j ∈ I, and that (r[sub]1[/sub]r[sub]2[/sub])j ∈ I, so r[sub]1[/sub]r[sub]2[/sub] is in (I:J)?
If (I:J) is an ideal of R, R/A (where A = (I:J)) is the ring of cosets {r + A | r ∈ R} such that for s,t ∈ R, (s + A)(t + A) = st + A = 0 + A when s ∈ A or t ∈ A, i.e. when s = aj or t = aj for some a in R and j in J. I still can't see how any of that helps to prove A = (I:J) is an ideal. Do I try to prove that R/A is a coset ring and so A is an ideal (if multiplication is 'well defined')? Just a hint might be all I need.
Damn, I nearly got it. The answer for part (a) is as follows: Let a,b ∈ (I:J) such that aj, bj ∈ I, ∀j ∈ J. So aj - bj = (a-b)j ∈ I, and hence a - b ∈ (I:J) ........(1) Let r ∈ R, such that (ra)j ∈ I, ∀j ∈ J. So r(aj) ∈ I since aj ∈ I (and because I is an ideal of R). So that ra ∈ (I:J) ...............................................(2) Therefore, by (1) and (2), (I:J) is an ideal of R.