Engel's theorem
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This fact is related to: Lie algebras
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Statement
Here are two versions. The first is the basic statement, and the second follows:
- Let
be a finite-dimensional vector space (over any field), and
a Lie subalgebra of
such that every element of
induces a nilpotent linear transformation on
. Then, there is a basis for
in which all elements of
are strictly upper triangular matrices.
- If
is a finite-dimensional Lie algebra over a field such that for any
,
is nilpotent, then
is a nilpotent Lie algebra. In other words, for finite-dimensional Lie algebras over a field, being an Engel Lie ring is equivalent to being a nilpotent Lie ring.
Related facts
- Lie's theorem: Analogous statement for solvable Lie algebras.
- Kolchin's theorem: Analogous statement for unipotent transformations in algebraic groups
- Lie-Kolchin theorem: Analogous statement for solvable groups.
- Kostrikin's theorem
- Zelmanov's theorem: Analogous statement for arbitrary Lie rings.
Facts
Engel's theorem does not say that any nilpotent Lie algebra inside can be given a basis where it is upper triangular. For instance, a one-dimensional Lie algebra is Abelian and hence nilpotent, yet one may not be able to change basis to make it strictly upper triangular.