4. Image and Kernel of homomorphism. Let f: R ? > S be a ring homomorphism. Prove that ker (f) is an ideal of R. Solution Consider ker(f) as a subring of R Let y belong to ker(f) and x belong to R. Then f(xy)=f(x)f(y)=f(x)0=0 Thus, f(xy)=0 that is xy belongs to ker(f) Hence, ker(f) is an ideal of R.