Planar zero-divisor graphs (Q2460826)

The authors answer two questions about zero divisor graphs posed by \textit{S.~Akbari, H. R.~Maimani} and \textit{S.~Yassemi} [J. Algebra 270, No. 1, 169--180 (2003; Zbl 1032.13014)] and \textit{D.~Anderson, A.~Frazier, A.~Lauve} and \textit{S.~Livingston} [Lect. Notes Pure Appl. Math. 220, 61--72 (2001; Zbl 1035.13004)], respectively. To be specific, they show that a local ring of cardinality 32, which is not a field, has a non-planar zero divisor graph. This complements the work of Akbari et al., who established the result for cardinality greater than 32. Next, the authors determine all the finite commutative local rings with planar zero divisor graphs, answering a question by Anderson et al. They make use of Kuratowski's Theorem, which states that a graph is planar if and only if it does not contain a subgraph of \(K_5\) or \(K_{3,3}\). They also use the characterization of \textit{B.~Corbas} and \textit{G. D.~William} [J. Algebra 231, No. 2, 677--704 (2000; Zbl 1017.16014)] of rings of order \(p^5\).