Total ring of fractions

In abstract algebra, the total quotient ring or total ring of fractions is a construction that generalizes the notion of the field of fractions of an integral domain to commutative rings R that may have zero divisors. The construction embeds R in a larger ring, giving every non-zero-divisor of R an inverse in the larger ring. If the homomorphism from R to the new ring is to be injective, no further elements can be given an inverse.

Definition

Let be a commutative ring and let be the set of elements that are not zero divisors in ; then is a multiplicatively closed set. Hence we may localize the ring at the set to obtain the total quotient ring.
If is a domain, then and the total quotient ring is the same as the field of fractions. This justifies the notation, which is sometimes used for the field of fractions as well, since there is no ambiguity in the case of a domain.
Since in the construction contains no zero divisors, the natural map is injective, so the total quotient ring is an extension of.

For a product ring, the total quotient ring is the product of total quotient rings. In particular, if A and B are integral domains, it is the product of quotient fields.
For the ring of holomorphic functions on an open set D of complex numbers, the total quotient ring is the ring of meromorphic functions on D, even if D is not connected.
In an Artinian ring, all elements are units or zero divisors. Hence the set of non-zero-divisors is the group of units of the ring,, and so. But since all these elements already have inverses,.
In a commutative von Neumann regular ring R, the same thing happens. Suppose a in R is not a zero divisor. Then in a von Neumann regular ring a = axa for some x in R, giving the equation a = 0. Since a is not a zero divisor, xa = 1, showing a is a unit. Here again,.
In algebraic geometry one considers a sheaf of total quotient rings on a scheme, and this may be used to give the definition of a Cartier divisor.

Proof: Every element of Q is either a unit or a zero divisor. Thus, any proper ideal I of Q is contained in the set of zero divisors of Q; that set equals the union of the minimal prime ideals since Q is reduced. By prime avoidance, I must be contained in some. Hence, the ideals are maximal ideals of Q. Also, their intersection is zero. Thus, by the Chinese remainder theorem applied to Q,
Let S be the multiplicatively closed set of non-zero-divisors of A. By exactness of localization,
which is already a field and so must be.

If is a commutative ring and is any multiplicatively closed set in, the localization can still be constructed, but the ring homomorphism from to might fail to be injective. For example, if, then is the trivial ring.