Ring of Square Matrices over Field is Ring with Unity
Theorem
Let $F$ be a field.
Let $n \in \Z_{>0}$ be a (strictly) positive integer.
Let $\struct {\map {\MM_F} n, +, \times}$ denote the ring of square matrices of order $n$ over $F$.
Then $\struct {\map {\MM_F} n, +, \times}$ is a ring with unity, but is not a commutative ring.
Proof
We have by definition that a field is a division ring which is also commutative.
Hence $F$ is a commutative ring with unity.
So, from Ring of Square Matrices over Commutative Ring with Unity we have that $\struct {\map {\MM_F} n, +, \times}$ is a ring with unity.
From Matrix Multiplication is not Commutative, we have that $\struct {\map {\MM_F} n, +, \times}$ is not a commutative ring.
Hence the result.
$\blacksquare$
Notation
When referring to the operation of matrix multiplication in the context of the ring of square matrices:
- $\struct {\map {\MM_R} n, +, \times}$
we must have some symbol to represent it, and $\times$ does as well as any.
However, we do not use $\mathbf A \times \mathbf B$ for matrix multiplication $\mathbf A \mathbf B$, as it is understood to mean the vector cross product, which is something completely different.
Sources
- 1970: B. Hartley and T.O. Hawkes: Rings, Modules and Linear Algebra ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $1$: Rings - Definitions and Examples: $2$: Some examples of rings: Ring Example $7$