# How to show that every Boolean ring is commutative?

A ring $R$ is a Boolean ring provided that $a^2=a$ for every $a \in R$. How can we show that every Boolean ring is commutative?

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Every Boolean ring is of characteristic 2, since $a+a=(a+a)^2=a^2+a^2+a^2+a^2=a+a+a+a\implies a+a=0$.
Now, for any $x,y$ in the ring
$x+y=(x+y)^2=x^2+xy+yx+y^2=x+y+xy+yx$, so $xy+yx=0$ and hence $xy+(xy+yx)=xy$. But since the ring has characteristic 2, $yx=xy$.

I always like to know where these problems come from, their history. This was first proved in a paper by Stone in 1936. Here’s a link to that paper for anyone who is interested:

His proof is in the first full paragraph on p. 40.

Of course, this is an old chestnut: if you are interested in typical generalizations of this commutativity theorem in a wider, more structural context (to associative, unitary rings) I suggest reading T.Y. Lam’s beautiful Springer GTM 131 “A First Course in Noncommutative Rings”, Chapter 4, §12, in particular the Jacobson-Herstein Theorem (12.9), p. 209: A (unitary, associative) ring $R$ is commutative iff for any $a,b\in R$ one always has $(ab-ba)^{n+1}=ab-ba$ for some $n\in\mathbb N$ ($n$ generally depending on $a,b$). (Further, using Artin’s theorem concerning diassociativity of alternative algebrae, associativity of $R$ may be weakened to alternativity.) Cp. also the exercises given, in particular Ex. 9. Note that the Boolean case is special, as that the ring considered needn’t be unitary a-priori. Kind regards – Stephan F. Kroneck.

Plug $a = x + y$.

HINT $\rm\quad\ \ A = X+Y\ \ \Rightarrow\ \ X\ Y = – Y\ X\:.\$ But $\rm -1 = 1\$ via $\rm\ A = -1$

As Yuval points out $(x+y)^{2} = x+y$ which implies $x^{2} + y^{2} + x \cdot y + y \cdot x = x+y$. Now from this you have $x \cdot y + y \cdot x =0$.

We want to show that $xy = yx$ for all $x,y \in R$. We know that $(x+y)^2 = x+y$. So $(x+y)^2 = (x+y)(x+y) = xx+xy+yx+yy = x+xy+yx+y = x+x^2y^2+y^2x^2+y$. This equals $x+(xy)+(yx) + y = x+y$ so that $xy = yx$.

When you get to the part where ab=-ba
ab =-ba (1)
Pre-multiply a to both sides
a(ab)=a(-ba)
a^2b=a-ba
ab=a-ba (2)
Post-multiply a to (1)
(ab)a=(-ba)a
aba=-ba^2
aba=-ba (3)
.
.
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From (2) & (3), you can deduce that ab=ba

If $a,b\in R$,
\begin{align}
2ba
&=4ba-2ba\\
&=4(ba)^2-2ba\\
&=(2ba)^2-2ba\\
&=2ba-2ba\\
&=0,
\end{align}
so
\begin{align}
ab
&=ab+0\\
&=ab+2ba\\
&=[ab+ba]+ba\\
&=[(a+b)^2-a^2-b^2]+ba\\
&=[(a+b)-a-b]+ba\\
&=0+ba\\
&=ba.
\end{align}