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In this paper, we continue the program initiated by I. Beck's now classical paper concerning zero-divisor graphs of commutative rings. After the success of much research regarding zero-divisor graphs, many authors have turned their attention to studying divisor graphs of non-zero elements in the ring, the so called irreducible divisor graph. In this paper, we construct several different associated irreducible divisor graphs of a commutative ring with unity using various choices for the definition of irreducible and atomic in the literature. We continue pursuing the program of exploiting the interaction between algebraic structures and associated graphs to further our understanding of both objects. Factorization in rings with zero-divisors is considerably more complicated than integral domains; however, we find that many of the same techniques can be extended to rings with zero-divisors. This allows us to not only find graph theoretic characterizations of many of the finite factorization properties that commutative rings may possess, but also understand graph theoretic properties of graphs associated with certain commutative rings satisfying nice factorization properties., Comment: 21 pages, in review

Recently there has been a flurry of research on generalized factorization techniques in both integral domains and rings with zero-divisors, namely $\tau$-factorization. There are several ways that authors have studied factorization in rings with zero-divisors. This paper focuses on the method of regular factorizations introduced by D.D. Anderson and S. Valdes-Leon. We investigate how one can extend the notion of $\tau$-factorization to commutative rings with zero-divisors by using the regular factorization approach. The study of regular factorization is particularly effective because the distinct notions of associate and irreducible coincide for regular elements. We also note that the popular U-factorization developed by C.R. Fletcher also coincides since every regular divisor is essential. This will greatly simplify many of the cumbersome finite factorization definitions that exist in the literature when studying factorization in rings with zero-divisors., Comment: 18 pages, in review

Much work has been done on generalized factorization techniques in integral domains, namely $\tau$-factorization. There has also been substantial progress made in investigating factorization in commutative rings with zero-divisors. There are many ways authors have decided to study factorization when zero-divisors present. This paper focuses on the method $\tau$-complete factorizations developed by D.D. Anderson and A. Frazier. There is a natural way to extend $\tau$-complete factorization to commutative rings with zero-divisors. $\tau$-complete factorization is a natural way to think of refining factorizations into smaller pieces until one simply cannot refine any further. We see that this notion translates well into the case of commutative rings with zero-divisors and there is an interesting relationship between the $\tau$-complete finite factorization properties and the original $\tau$-finite factorization properties in rings with zero-divisors developed by the author in 2012., Comment: 17 pages, in review

In 1988, I. Beck introduced the notion of a zero-divisor graph of a commutative rings with $1$. There have been several generalizations in recent years. In particular, in 2007 J. Coykendall and J. Maney developed the irreducible divisor graph. Much work has been done on generalized factorization, especially $\tau$-factorization. The goal of this paper is to synthesize the notions of $\tau$-factorization and irreducible divisor graphs in domains. We will define a $\tau$-irreducible divisor graph for non-zero non-unit elements of a domain. We show that by studying $\tau$-irreducible divisor graphs, we find equivalent characterizations of several finite $\tau$-factorization properties., Comment: 17 pages, 2 figures, to appear in Communications in Algebra

Recently substantial progress has been made on generalized factorization techniques in integral domains, in particular $\tau$-factorization. There has also been advances made in investigating factorization in commutative rings with zero-divisors. One approach which has been found to be very successful is that of U-factorization introduced by C.R. Fletcher. We seek to synthesize work done in these two areas by generalizing $\tau$-factorization to rings with zero-divisors by using the notion of U-factorization., Comment: 16 pages, to appear in Rocky Mountain Journal of Mathematics

Much work has been done on generalized factorization techniques in integral domains, namely $\tau$-factorization. There has also been substantial progress made in investigating factorization in commutative rings with zero-divisors. This paper seeks to synthesize work done in these two areas and extend the notion of $\tau$-factorization to commutative rings that need not be domains. In addition, we look into particular types of $\tau$ relations, which are interesting when there are zero-divisors present. We then proceed to classify commutative rings that satisfy the finite factorization properties given in this paper., Comment: 14 pages, to appear Houston Journal of Mathematics