Integer-valued polynomials on commutative rings and modules

Abstract

The ring of integer-valued polynomials on an arbitrary integral domain is well-studied. In this paper we initiate and provide motivation for the study of integer-valued polynomials on commutative rings and modules. Several examples are computed, including the integer-valued polynomials over the ring $R[T_1,\ldots, T_n]/(T_1(T_1-r_1), \ldots, T_n(T_n-r_n))$ for any commutative ring $R$ and any elements $r_1, \ldots, r_n$ of $R$, as well as the integer-valued polynomials over the Nagata idealization $R(+)M$ of $M$ over $R$, where $M$ is an $R$-module such that every non-zerodivisor on $M$ is a non-zerodivisor of $R$.