[Math] Artin-Wedderburn decomposition of a particular group ring

abstract-algebragroup-ringsnoncommutative-algebrarepresentation-theory

I am trying to do a question from an algebra qualifying exam:

Decompose the group ring $\mathbb{F}_5[S_3]$ as a product of simple rings.

By Maschke's theorem since $\mathrm{char}(\mathbb{F}_5) \nmid |S_3|$ (i.e. $5\nmid 6$) we know $\mathbb{F}_5[S_3]$ is semisimple so by the Artin-Wedderburn theorem and the fact that the group ring is finite we have $\mathbb{F}_5[S_3]=\Pi_i M_{n_i}(K_i)$ for some fields $K_i$ containing $\mathbb{F}_5$.

Now $|\mathbb{F}_5[S_3]|=5^6$ and $\mathbb{F}_5[S_3]$ is noncommutative so we must have at least one $n_i\geq 2$ and we only have room to have $M_2(\mathbb{F}_5)$. So $\mathbb{F}_5[S_3]$ is isomorphic to $\mathbb{F}_5\times\mathbb{F}_5\times M_2(\mathbb{F}_5)$ or $\mathbb{F}_{25}\times M_2(\mathbb{F}_5)$.

But here I'm stuck. How can I tell which one is correct? I've thought about perhaps using units (you can calculate how many units there are in each of the products above) but I don't know to find all the units of $\mathbb{F}_5[S_3]$. Any ideas?

Best Answer

Here's my attempt at answering my own question based on the hints.

Let $x=\sum_{g\in S_3} g$. Then $yx=x$ and $xy=x$ for all $y\in S_3$ so $\mathbb{F}_5\cdot x=\{0,x,2x,3x,4x\}$ is a 2-sided ideal (elements of $\mathbb{F}_5[S_3]$ are sums of $y$'s so just act as a sum of identities).

But ideals of $\mathbb{F}_5[S_3]$ are $\mathbb{F}_5[S_3]$-submodules of $\mathbb{F}_5[S_3]$. Then $\mathbb{F}_5[S_3]$ is semisimple so each submodule is a direct summand, so there exists a term in the product isomorphic to $\mathbb{F}_5$.

So from the choices above we only have $\mathbb{F}_5\times \mathbb{F}_5 \times M_2(\mathbb{F}_5)$.