1 Answer
The term **"ring"** in mathematics comes from the idea that the set of numbers or objects forms a structure that "loops" around in a way similar to a circle.
Historically, the name **"ring"** (or **"Zahlring"** in German, meaning "number ring") was introduced by the German mathematician **David Hilbert** in the late 19th century. He used it to describe sets of numbers where addition, subtraction, and multiplication could be performed while maintaining certain properties.
The name likely comes from how numbers in modular arithmetic (like clock arithmetic) repeat in a circular fashion, forming a kind of "ring" structure. Over time, the term was generalized to algebraic structures that follow similar rules.
So, even though a ring in math doesn’t have to look like a physical ring, the name reflects its closed and cyclic properties in certain cases.
Historically, the name **"ring"** (or **"Zahlring"** in German, meaning "number ring") was introduced by the German mathematician **David Hilbert** in the late 19th century. He used it to describe sets of numbers where addition, subtraction, and multiplication could be performed while maintaining certain properties.
The name likely comes from how numbers in modular arithmetic (like clock arithmetic) repeat in a circular fashion, forming a kind of "ring" structure. Over time, the term was generalized to algebraic structures that follow similar rules.
So, even though a ring in math doesn’t have to look like a physical ring, the name reflects its closed and cyclic properties in certain cases.