First isomorphism theorem (rings): Let φ:RS\varphi:R\to S be a . Then the induced map

φˉ:R/ker(φ)im(φ),r+ker(φ)φ(r),\bar\varphi: R/\ker(\varphi)\longrightarrow \operatorname{im}(\varphi),\qquad r+\ker(\varphi)\longmapsto \varphi(r),

is a , where ker(φ)\ker(\varphi) is the and im(φ)\operatorname{im}(\varphi) is the .

Remarks

This identifies the universal quotient determined by φ\varphi with the concrete subring realized as its image, and is the basic tool behind “modding out by relations” in ring constructions.