 Square root of unity

A square root of unity is an element $x$ of a ring with identity satisfying $x^2=1$. In a field of characteristic different from two, the only possibilities are $1$ and $-1$: the difference of squares identity $(x-1)(x+1)=0$ has no other roots because a field has no zero divisors. In a general ring more solutions may occur; modulo eight the four residue classes $1,3,5,7$ all have square one.