ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Mathematical ring

Hello kiddo! A mathematical ring is like a playground where you can play with numbers.

Imagine you have a bunch of color pencils and a blank sheet of paper. One day, you learn how to add and subtract by coloring or erasing the patterns on the paper using those color pencils. But then you realize that some patterns you create cannot be undone, because the colors mix and become a new color.

This is where a ring comes in handy! A ring is like a special set of rules for playing with numbers where you can add, subtract, and even multiply or divide without worrying about mixing the colors. In a ring, there are two special numbers called "identity elements," which are like the starting point of your game.

One identity element is called "zero" and it's like an empty space that doesn't affect the color of your patterns. The other identity element is like a "one" that makes your patterns look the same, like when you use a transparent color pencil.

In a ring, you can also do cool tricks like switching the order of the numbers without changing the result, or even find a special number that makes any number you multiply with it become one.

So, a ring is a special kind of playground where you can play with numbers without worrying about mixing colors, use zero and one to make your games more fun, and do cool tricks with the rules of the game. Isn't that awesome?