Am Freitag 19 Februar 2010 10:42:59 schrieb Hans Aberg: > On 19 Feb 2010, at 00:55, Daniel Fischer wrote: > >> I'd always assumed "ring" was generalised from Z[n]. > > > > As in "cyclic group", arrange the numbers in a ring like on a > > clockface? > > Maybe. As far as I know, the term "ring" (in the mathematical sense) > > first > > appears in chapter 9 - Die Zahlringe des Körpers - of Hilbert's "Die > > Theorie der algebraischen Zahlkörper". Unfortunately, Hilbert gives > > no hint > > why he chose that name (Dedekind, who coined the term "Körper", called > > these structures "Ordnung" [order]). > > The Wikipedia article "Ring" says he used it for a specific one where > the elements somehow cycled back. > > Hans
Yes. And I deem a) the english wikipedia a more reliable source of information [concerning things mathematical] than the german, b) Harvey Cohn more trustworthy than either wikipedia. But a quick look at Hilbert's paper didn't reveal the property Cohn mentioned (according to wp) and no explanation of Hilbert why he chose the term. So I remain in doubt. Cheers, Daniel _______________________________________________ Haskell-Cafe mailing list Haskell-Cafe@haskell.org http://www.haskell.org/mailman/listinfo/haskell-cafe
