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Difference between revisions of "Free associative algebra"

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(Category:Associative rings and algebras)
(Category:Associative rings and algebras)
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The algebra $k\langle X \rangle$ of polynomials over a field $k$ in non-commuting variables in $X$. The following universal property determines the algebra $k\langle X \rangle$ uniquely up to an isomorphism: There is a mapping $i : k \rightarrow k\langle X \rangle$ such that any mapping from $X$ into an associative algebra $A$ with a unit over $k$ can be factored through $k\langle X \rangle$ in a unique way. The basic properties of $k\langle X \rangle$ are:
 
The algebra $k\langle X \rangle$ of polynomials over a field $k$ in non-commuting variables in $X$. The following universal property determines the algebra $k\langle X \rangle$ uniquely up to an isomorphism: There is a mapping $i : k \rightarrow k\langle X \rangle$ such that any mapping from $X$ into an associative algebra $A$ with a unit over $k$ can be factored through $k\langle X \rangle$ in a unique way. The basic properties of $k\langle X \rangle$ are:
  
1) $k\langle X \rangle$ can be imbedded in a skew-field (the Mal'tsev–Neumann theorem);
+
1) $k\langle X \rangle$ can be imbedded in a [[skew-field]] (the Mal'tsev–Neumann theorem);
  
 
2) $k\langle X \rangle$ has a weak division algorithm, that is, the relation
 
2) $k\langle X \rangle$ has a weak division algorithm, that is, the relation
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(here $d(a)$ is the usual degree of a polynomial $a \in k\langle X \rangle$, $d(0) = -\infty$);
 
(here $d(a)$ is the usual degree of a polynomial $a \in k\langle X \rangle$, $d(0) = -\infty$);
  
3) $k\langle X \rangle$ is a left (respectively, right) free ideal ring (that is, any left (respectively, right) ideal of $k\langle X \rangle$ is a free module of uniquely determined rank);
+
3) $k\langle X \rangle$ is a left (respectively, right) [[free ideal ring]] (that is, any left (respectively, right) ideal of $k\langle X \rangle$ is a free module of uniquely determined rank);
  
 
4) the centralizer of any non-scalar element of $k\langle X \rangle$ (that is, the set of elements that commute with a given element) is isomorphic to the algebra of polynomials over $k$ in a single variable (Bergman's theorem).
 
4) the centralizer of any non-scalar element of $k\langle X \rangle$ (that is, the set of elements that commute with a given element) is isomorphic to the algebra of polynomials over $k$ in a single variable (Bergman's theorem).

Revision as of 17:32, 16 October 2014

The algebra $k\langle X \rangle$ of polynomials over a field $k$ in non-commuting variables in $X$. The following universal property determines the algebra $k\langle X \rangle$ uniquely up to an isomorphism: There is a mapping $i : k \rightarrow k\langle X \rangle$ such that any mapping from $X$ into an associative algebra $A$ with a unit over $k$ can be factored through $k\langle X \rangle$ in a unique way. The basic properties of $k\langle X \rangle$ are:

1) $k\langle X \rangle$ can be imbedded in a skew-field (the Mal'tsev–Neumann theorem);

2) $k\langle X \rangle$ has a weak division algorithm, that is, the relation $$ d \left({ \sum_{i=1}^n a_i b_i }\right) < \max_i \{ d(a_i) + d(b_i) \} $$ where $a_i, b_i \in k\langle X \rangle$, all the $a_i$ are non-zero ($i = 1,\ldots,n$), $d(a_1) \le \cdots \le d(a_n)$, always implies that there are an integer $r$, $1 < r \le n$, and elements $c_,\ldots,c_{r-1}$ such that $$ d\left({ a_r - \sum_{i=1}^{r-1} a_i c_i }\right) < d(a_r) $$ and $$ d(a_i) + d(c_i) < d(a_r),\ \ \ i=1,\ldots,r-1 $$ (here $d(a)$ is the usual degree of a polynomial $a \in k\langle X \rangle$, $d(0) = -\infty$);

3) $k\langle X \rangle$ is a left (respectively, right) free ideal ring (that is, any left (respectively, right) ideal of $k\langle X \rangle$ is a free module of uniquely determined rank);

4) the centralizer of any non-scalar element of $k\langle X \rangle$ (that is, the set of elements that commute with a given element) is isomorphic to the algebra of polynomials over $k$ in a single variable (Bergman's theorem).

References

[1] P.M. Cohn, "Universal algebra" , Reidel (1981)
[2] P.M. Cohn, "Free rings and their relations" , Acad. Press (1971)
How to Cite This Entry:
Free associative algebra. Encyclopedia of Mathematics. URL: http://encyclopediaofmath.org/index.php?title=Free_associative_algebra&oldid=33686
This article was adapted from an original article by L.A. Bokut (originator), which appeared in Encyclopedia of Mathematics - ISBN 1402006098. See original article