Zero element: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
imported>Peter Schmitt (It is more helpful to have an explanation than a simple disambiguation) |
mNo edit summary |
||
| (2 intermediate revisions by one other user not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{ | {{subpages}} | ||
In algebra, the term '''zero element''' is used with two meanings, | In algebra, the term '''zero element''' is used with two meanings, | ||
| Line 18: | Line 18: | ||
One-sided zero elements need not be unique. | One-sided zero elements need not be unique. | ||
[[Category:Suggestion Bot Tag]] | |||
Latest revision as of 12:00, 10 November 2024
In algebra, the term zero element is used with two meanings, both in analogy to the number zero.
- For an additively written binary operation, z is a zero element if (for all g)
- z + g = g = g + z
- i.e., it is the (unique) neutral element for this operation.
- For a multiplicatively written binary operation, a is a zero element if (for all g)
- ag = g = ga
- i.e., it is the (unique) absorbing element for this operation.
In rings (not only the real or complex numbers) 0 is the zero element in both senses.
In addition to these "two-sided" zero elements, (one-sided) left or right zero elements are also considered for which only one of the two identities is valid for all g.
One-sided zero elements need not be unique.