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Regular elements in ring [tough one]

Source: IMS 2008

May 10, 2008
group theoryabstract algebraRing Theorysuperior algebraregular element

Problem Statement

Prove that there does not exist a ring with exactly 5 regular elements. (a a is called a regular element if ax \equal{} 0 or xa \equal{} 0 implies x \equal{} 0.) A ring is not necessarily commutative, does not necessarily contain unity element, or is not necessarily finite.