Binary operation on magma determines neutral element: Difference between revisions

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(New page: ==Statement== Suppose <math>(S,*)</math> is a magma (set <math>S</math> with associative binary operation <math>*</math>). Then, if there exists a neutral element for <math>*</mat...)
 
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==Statement==
==Statement==


Suppose <math>(S,*)</math> is a [[magma]] (set <math>S</math> with associative binary operation <math>*</math>). Then, if there exists a [[neutral element]] for <math>*</math> (i.e., an element <math>e</math> such that <math>e * a = a * e = a</math> for all <math>a \in S</math>), the element <math>e</math> is uniquely determined by <math>*</math>.
Suppose <math>(S,*)</math> is a [[magma]] (set <math>S</math> with binary operation <math>*</math>). Then, if there exists a [[neutral element]] for <math>*</math> (i.e., an element <math>e</math> such that <math>e * a = a * e = a</math> for all <math>a \in S</math>), the element <math>e</math> is uniquely determined by <math>*</math>.


In other words, a magma can have at most one two-sided neutral element.
In other words, a magma can have at most one two-sided neutral element.
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[[Equality of left and right neutral element]]
[[Equality of left and right neutral element]]
==Related facts==
In the case that <math>*</math> is associative, this says that the identity element (neutral element) of a [[monoid]] is completely determined by the binary operation. This yields the fact that [[monoids form a non-full subcategory of semigroups]].

Latest revision as of 03:52, 6 July 2019

Statement

Suppose (S,*) is a magma (set S with binary operation *). Then, if there exists a neutral element for * (i.e., an element e such that e*a=a*e=a for all a∈S), the element e is uniquely determined by *.

In other words, a magma can have at most one two-sided neutral element.

Facts used

Equality of left and right neutral element

Related facts

In the case that * is associative, this says that the identity element (neutral element) of a monoid is completely determined by the binary operation. This yields the fact that monoids form a non-full subcategory of semigroups.