STUDY ON

SEMIRINGS
BY,
I.Pavithra
II M.Sc Maths
Introduction

 The American mathematician Harry Schultz Vandiver

(1882–1973) who used the term “semi-ring” in his 1934
paper entitled “Note on a simple type of algebra in which
cancellation law of addition does not hold”.

 The foundations of algebraic theory for semirings were laid

by Samuel Bourne and others in the l950’s.

 The concept of ideals for semirings was introduced by

Samuel Bourne.
 In the years between 1939 and 1956, Vandiver
published at least six more papers on semirings .

 Semirings is an independent algebraic structure.

 In the late 1960s, semirings were considered as a more

serious topic by researchers when real applications
were found for them.
 The Polish-born American mathematician
Samuel Eilenberg (1913–1998) and a couple
of other mathematicians started developing
formal languages and automata theory
systematically , which they have strong
connections to semirings
Definition
Let S be non-empty set with two binary operations
+ and . Then the algebraic structure (S,+, ) is called a
Semiring iff  a,b,cS.

(i) (S,+) is a commutative monoid with identity

element 0.

(a+b)+c = a+(b+c)

0+a = a+0 = a

a+b = b+a
(ii) (S, ) is a monoid with identity element 1.
(a.b).c = a.(b.c)
1.a = a.1= a
(iii) Multiplication left and right distributes over
addition.
a.(b+c) = a.b+a.c
(a+b).c = (a.c)+(b.c)
(iv) Multiplication by 0 annihilates R.
0a = a0 = 0
Example
( B={0,1},+, ) is a semiring whose + and . are
defined by,

+ 0 1 . 0 1
0 0 1 0 0 0
1 1 1 1 0 1
Semiring with identity ab+a=a
The additive and multiplicative
properties of semiring satisfying the
identity ab + a = a .
Definition
A semigroup (S, +) is said to be a band if
a + a = a, for all ‘a’ in S.

Definition
A semigroup (S, •) is said to be a band if a2 =
a, for all ‘a’ in S.
Theorem
Let (S, +, •) be a semiring satisfying the identity ab + a =
a, for all a, b in S. If S contains the multiplicative
identity 1, then (S, +) is a band.
Proof:
Given: (S, +, •) be a semiring satisfying the identity ab +
a = a, for all a, b in S.
Assume that S contains the multiplicative identity 1.
To Prove: (S, +) is a band.
Consider ab + a =a, for all a, b in S.
Taking b = 1
=> a.1 + a = a
=>a + a = a, for all ‘a’ in S
 (S, +) is a band.
Theorem
Let (S, +, •) be a semiring satisfying the identity ab + a = a,
for all a, b in S. Let S containing the multiplicative identity
1and (S, +) be commutative. Then (S, •) is commutative, if (S,
+) is not a rectangular band.
Theorem
Let (S, +, •) be a semiring satisfying the identity ab + a = a,
for all a, b in S. Then the following are true.
(i) If (S, •) is a band, then (S, +) is a band.
(ii) Converse is true if (S, +) is right cancellative.
Theorem
Let (S, +, •) be a zerosumfree semiring with additive identity
0.Then ab + a = a, for all a, b in S if and only if ab=0.
Theorem
Let (S, +, •) be a semiring satisfying the identity ab + a = a,
for all a, b in S. Let (S, +) be commutative and (S, •) is a
rectangular band. Then the following are true.
(i) ab = a and ba = b.
(ii) (S, +) is a band.
Theorem
Let (S, +, •) be a semiring satisfying the identity ab + a = a,
for all a, b in S. Let S containing the multiplicative identity 1
and (S, •) is left singular, then (S, +) is a right singular
semigroup.
Theorem
Let (S, +, •) be a zero square semiring, where 0 is the
additive identity. If S satisfies the identity ab + a = a, for
all a, b in S,then aba = 0 and bab= 0.
Theorem
Let (S, +, •) be a semiring satisfying the identity ab + a = a, for
all a, b in S. If (S, +) is a right singular semigroup, then (S, +) is
a rectangular band.
Theorem
Let (S, +, •) be a PRD semiring satisfying the identity ab + a =a,
for all a, b in S. Then 1 + a = a, for all ‘a’ in S.
Theorem
Let (S, +, •) be a Positive Rational Domain semiring satisfying
the identity ab + a = a, for all a, b in S. Then the following
are true.
(i) a + ab = b + ab, for all a, b in S.
(ii) a + a2 = a2 and a2 + a = a, for all ‘a’ in S.
Theorem
Let (S, +, •) be a semiring satisfying the identity ab
+ a = a, for all a, b in S. If (S, •) is a left regular
semigroup, then (S, +) is E – inverse semigroup.
Theorem
Let (S, +, •) be a semiring satisfying the identity ab
+ a = a, for all a, b in S. If S contains a multiplicative
identity which is also an additive identity, then (S, •)
is quasi separative.
 (,1) derivations on semirings

Definition
Let (S,+, ·) be a semiring. A derivation on S
is a map d : S → S satisfying the following
conditions

1. d(x + y) = d(x) + d(y) ∀ x, y ∈ S.

2. d(xy) = d(x)y + x d(y), ∀ x, y ∈ S.

Example
Let S be a semiring. Let M2(S) ={ | a, b, c ∈ S}. Define d
: M2(S) → M2(S) is given by d[ ]= .Then d is a
derivation on M2(S).

Lemma
Let S b a Semiring and I be a Non zero ideal of S.Let d be a
Non-zero (, 1) derivation on S. If d(x + y − x − y) = 0 ∀ x, y ∈
I,then (x + y − x − y)d(z) = 0 ∀ x, y, z ∈ I.
Proof:
Given:S is a semiring and I be a non-zero ideal of S.
Also, d is a non-zero (,1) derivation on S.
Assume that d(x + y − x − y) = 0 ∀ x, y ∈ I.

To Prove: (x + y − x − y)d(z) = 0 ∀ x, y, z ∈ I.

Taking yz and xz instead of y and x, we have

d(xz + yz − xz − yz) = 0.

=> d((x + y − x − y)z) = 0. [since d is (,1)

derivation,d(xy)=(x)d(y)+d(x)y]

=>(x + y − x − y)d(z) + d(x + y − x − y)z = 0

[since by assumption d(x + y − x − y) = 0]

=>(x + y − x − y)d(z) = 0 ∀ x, y ∈ I.

Hence Proved.
Definition
Let  be an endomorphism on S.An additive map
d : SX is called a

1. (, 1) derivation if d(xy) = (x)d(y) + d(x)y

2. (1, ) derivation if d(xy) = xd(y) + d(x)(y)

Definition
An additive map d : S → X is called a two sided 
derivation if d is an (, 1) derivation as well as (1, )
derivation.
Lemma
Let S be a prime semiring and I be a non zero ideal of S.
let  be a non zero (,1) derivation on S. If x ∈ S and
d(I)x = 0 then x = 0.

Corollary
Let S be a prime semiring and I be a semigroup ideal

of S not containing zero. Let d be a twosided  derivation

on S such that (I) = I and if d acts as a homomorphism
on I then d = 0.
Theorem
Let S be an additively cancellative semiring and I a multiplicatively
subsemigroup of S. Let d be an (,1) derivation of S and (I) = I.
1. If d acts as a homomorphism on I then
d(x)yd(x) = d(x)yx = (x)yd(x) ∀ x, y ∈ I.
2. If d acts as an antihomomorphism, then
d(x)yd(x) = d(x)xy = y(x)d(x) ∀ x, y ∈ I

Theorem
Let S be an additively cancellative semiring and let I be a ideal of S which
contain zero. Let d be a twosided  derivation on S such that (I) = I and if
d acts as a homomorphism on I then d(I) = 0.
 Structures of some semirings

Multiplicatively subIdempotent
Semirings

BooleanSemirings
Definition
A semiring is said to be multiplicatively sub
idempotent semiring. If it satisfies the following
conditions.
(1.) (S, +) is semigroup
(2.) (S, +) is semigroup
(3.) a(b + c) = ab + ac, (b + c) a = ba + ca and
(4.) a + a2= a for all a, b in S.
Theorem
Let S be a multiplicatively sub idempotent semiring and
PRD. Then b + ab = b for all a, b in S.
Proof:
Suppose that S be a multiplicatively sub idempotent
semiring and PRD.
To Prove: b + ab = b for all a, b in S.
Consider a + a2 = a => a (1 + a) = a.1
=> (1 + a) = 1
=> (1 + a) b = 1.b
=> b + ab = b
Therefore, b + ab = b for all a, b in S.
Theorem
Let S be a multiplicatively sub idempotent semiring. If S contains the
multiplicative identity which is also additive identity, then (i) S is b-
lattice (ii) (S, +) is zeroid if (S, .) is left cancellative.

Theorem
Let S be a semiring in which 1 is multiplicative identity. If (S,+) is
zeroid then an + ab = ab for all n ≥ 1.

Proposition
Suppose S is multiplicatively subidempotent and mono semiring. Then
a2n = a2 for n > 1 and a2n+ 1 = a for all a in S and n ≥1.
Theorem
If S is a multiplicatively subidempotent semiring and (S, •) is
right singular semigroup, then (S, +) is a band.
Proposition
Assume that S is multiplicatively subidempotent and mono
semiring. Then
(a) (S, •) is a left regular semigroup, if (S, +) is commutative.
(b) axa = a + axa.
(c) (S, +) is periodic.
(d) Square of every element in S is additively idempotent.
Proposition
If S is a multiplicatively subidempotent semiring and (S, +) is
lateral zero, then x + axn = x for all a, x in S.
Definition
A Semiring S is said to be a Boolean Semiring
provided a2 = a for every aS. (or) A semiring S is
said to be a Boolean Semiring provided every
element of S is an idempotent.
Theorem
Let S be a boolean Semiring and a,bS and weak
commutative a  b then ab = ba.
Proof:
Let S be a boolean semiring and a,bS and weak
commutative a  b
To Prove :ab=ba.
a  b => a = ba
Now a = ba
Multiply b on both sides, we get,
ab = bab
Since S is weak commutative, ab = bba = ba
Therefore ab = ba.
Theorem
If S is a weak commutative boolean Semiring then (S,) is a
partially ordered set.

Theorem
A boolean Semiring S and ab = 0 then ba =0 and asb = 0 for all s
 S.

Theorem
Let (S,+, . ) be a zeroid semiring with multiplicative identity 1
and cancellative then S is boolean Semiring and (a + b )n = (a
+ b).
Theorem
Let (S,+, . ) be a zeroid semiring with
multiplicative identity 1 and cancellative then S
is boolean Semiring and (a + b )n = (a + b).
Theorem
Let S be an ordering on boolean semiring
contains 1. Suppose S has the greatest element
then 1 is the multiplicative identity.
Applications
 Semiring constitute a fairly natural generalization of
rings, with broad applications in the mathematical
foundation of computer science.
 Also, semiring theory has many applications to other
branches.
 For example, automata theory, optimization theory,
algebra of formal process, combinatorial
optimization, Baysian networks and belief
propagation.
Bibliography
 M.Amala, “On the additive and Multiplicative structures
of idempotent semirings”,International Journal of
Research,2016.
 S.P.Nirmala Devi and Mahadevan Chandramouleeswaran,
“(,1) derivations on semirings”(International journal of
pure and Applied Mathematics,2014.
 Y.Monickarchana and N.Sulochana, “Some studies on
semirings”,International journal of mathematics trends
and technology,2013.
 M. Amala, N. Sulochana, and T.Vasanthi, “ A study
on the Classes of Semirings and Ordered
Semirings,Research India publications.

 A. K. Bhuniyab andM. K. Sena , “Recent

Developments of Semirings”,Researchgate,2010.

 Abeda Sultana, Kanak Ray Chowdhury, A F M

Khodadad Khan, Nirmal Kanti Mitra,” Some
Structural Properties of Semirings”,Annals of Pure
and Applied mathematics,2014.
Websites
 http://www.ripublication.com
A study on the Classes of Semirings and Ordered Semirings.
 https://www.researchgate.net
(,1) derivations on semirings.
 http://www.ijmttjournal.org
Some studies on semirings.
 www.indusedu.org
On the additive and multiplicative structures of semirings.
 www.researchmathssci.org
Some structural properties of Semirings
Conclusion:
Semirings not only have significant applications
in different fields but are fairly interesting
generalizations of two broadly studied algebraic
structures that is rings and bounded distributive
lattices . The number of publications in the field of
semiring theory, the beauty of the semirings and their
broad applications in different areas of science should
convince us that today semiring theory is an
established one and its development, even
in pure mathematics, is valuable and important.