Modular representation ring ($R_k(G)$)

The modular representation ring is the Grothendieck group of finite-dimensional group representations, with relations $[V]=[U]+[W]$ for every short exact sequence $0\to U\to V\to W\to 0$, and multiplication $[V][W]=[V{\otimes }_{k}W]$ using the tensor product of group representations. The Jordan–Hölder theorem makes the classes of simple modules a free integral basis. Tensoring over a field is exact, so this multiplication is well defined. When $k$ is a splitting field for finite group representations, Brauer characters identify $\mathbb{C}{\otimes }_{\mathbb{Z}}{R}_k(G)$ with the algebra of complex class functions on p-regular elements. The splitting hypothesis is essential: ${\mathbb{F}}_2{C}_3\cong {\mathbb{F}}_2\times {\mathbb{F}}_4$ has two simple modules, although $C_3$ has three $2$-regular conjugacy classes.