Let R be a commutative ring. Let
I
and
J
be ideals of
R
. Let
I-J={x-y|xinI,yinJ}
and
IJ={xy|xinI,yinJ}
. Then (a.)
I-J
is an ideal and
I
is an ideal in
R
(b.)
I-J
is an ideal and IJ need not be an ideal in R (c.)
I-J
need not be an ideal but IJ is an ideal in R (d.) Neither
I-J
nor
IJ
need to be an ideal in R .