On two properties of the augmentation ideal \(I(G)\). (Q2263067)

Let \(R\) be a commutative ring with unity and \(G\) be a commutative group. Denote by \(I(G)\) the augmentation ideal of the group ring \(RG\), i.e. \(I(G)\) is the kernel of the homomorphism of \(RG\) onto \(R\) which sends each group element to 1. Recall that an ideal \(I\) of \(R\) is pure if for every \(a\in I\) there exists \(b\in I\) such that \(ab=a\). One main result of this paper proves that \(I(G)\) is pure if and only if \(G\) is torsion and the order of each element of \(G\) is a unit in \(R\). An \(R\)-module \(M\) is said to be \(p\)-injective if every homomorphism onto \(M\) of a principal ideal of \(R\) extends to \(R\). An ideal of \(R\) is \(p\)-injective if it is \(p\)-injective as an \(R\)-module. It is proved that every \(p\)-injective ideal is pure while the converse need not be true. For a group ring \(RG\) it is proved that if the augmentation ideal \(I(G)\) is \(p\)-injective, then \(R\) is \(p\)-injective, \(G\) is torsion and the order of each element of \(G\) is a unit of \(R\). The converse statement is proved if \(RG\) is \(p\)-injective. Finally, suppose that \(R\) is the factor ring \(Z/nZ\) and \(G\) is the cyclic group of order \(m\). If \((m,n)=1\), then the authors prove that \(I(G)\) is \(p\)-injective if and only if \(RG\) is \(p\)-injective.