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Quasi-identity

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conditional identity, Horn clause

Formulae of a first-order logical language of the form $$ (\forall x_1,\ldots,x_n)\,(A_1 \wedge \cdots \wedge A_p \rightarrow A) $$ where $A_1,\ldots,A_p$ and $A$ denote atomic formulae of the form $$ f = g\ \ \text{or}\ \ P(\alpha_1,\ldots,\alpha_m) $$ where $f,g,\alpha_1,\ldots,\alpha_m$ are terms in $x_1,\ldots,x_n$ and $P$ is a primitive predicate symbol. Quasi-varieties of algebraic systems are defined by quasi-identities (cf. Algebraic systems, quasi-variety of). An identity is a special case of a quasi-identity.


Comments

Quasi-identities are also commonly called Horn sentences or Horn clauses: see Horn clauses, theory of.

In this context, an "identity" is a formula $$ (\forall x_1,\ldots,x_n)\,( A) \ . $$

References

[a1] A. Horn, "On sentences which are true of direct unions of algebras" J. Symbol. Logic , 16 (1951) pp. 14–21
[a2] P.M. Cohn, "Universal algebra" , Reidel (1981) pp. 235
[b1] A.I. Mal'tsev, "Algebraic systems" , Springer (1973) (Translated from Russian)
How to Cite This Entry:
Quasi-identity. Encyclopedia of Mathematics. URL: http://encyclopediaofmath.org/index.php?title=Quasi-identity&oldid=39459
This article was adapted from an original article by O.A. Ivanova (originator), which appeared in Encyclopedia of Mathematics - ISBN 1402006098. See original article