Tensor product of algebras

Tensor product of algebras

In mathematics, the tensor product of two "R"-algebras is also an "R"-algebra in a natural way. This gives us a tensor product of algebras. The special case "R" = Z gives us a tensor product of rings, since rings may be regarded as Z-algebras.

Let "R" be a commutative ring and let "A" and "B" be "R"-algebras. Since "A" and "B" may both be regarded as "R"-modules, we may form their tensor product:A otimes_R Bwhich is also an "R"-module. We can give the tensor product the structure of an algebra by defining:(a_1otimes b_1)(a_2otimes b_2) = a_1a_2otimes b_1b_2and then extending by linearity to all of "A"⊗"R""B". This product is easily seen to be "R"-bilinear, associative, and unital with an identity element given by 1"A"⊗1"B", where 1"A" and 1"B" are the identities of "A" and "B". If "A" and "B" are both commutative then the tensor product is as well.

The tensor product turns the category of all "R"-algebras into a symmetric monoidal category.

There are natural homomorphisms of "A" and "B" to "A"⊗"R""B" given by:amapsto aotimes 1_B:bmapsto 1_Aotimes bThese maps make the tensor product a coproduct in the category of commutative "R"-algebras. (The tensor product is "not" the coproduct in the category of all "R"-algebras. There the coproduct is given by a more general free product of algebras).

The tensor product of algebras is of constant use in algebraic geometry: working in the opposite category to that of commutative "R"-algebras, it provides pullbacks of affine schemes, otherwise known as fiber products.

ee also

*tensor product of modules
*tensor product of fields


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Tensor product of modules — In mathematics, the tensor product of modules is a construction that allows arguments about bilinear maps (roughly speaking, multiplication ) to be carried out in terms of linear maps (module homomorphisms). The module construction is analogous… …   Wikipedia

  • Tensor product — In mathematics, the tensor product, denoted by otimes, may be applied in different contexts to vectors, matrices, tensors, vector spaces, algebras, topological vector spaces, and modules. In each case the significance of the symbol is the same:… …   Wikipedia

  • Tensor product of fields — In abstract algebra, the theory of fields lacks a direct product: the direct product of two fields, considered as a ring is never itself a field. On the other hand it is often required to join two fields K and L, either in cases where K and L are …   Wikipedia

  • Tensor algebra — In mathematics, the tensor algebra of a vector space V , denoted T ( V ) or T bull;( V ), is the algebra of tensors on V (of any rank) with multiplication being the tensor product. It is the free algebra on V , in the sense of being left adjoint… …   Wikipedia

  • Product (mathematics) — In mathematics, a product is the result of multiplying, or an expression that identifies factors to be multiplied. The order in which real or complex numbers are multiplied has no bearing on the product; this is known as the commutative law of… …   Wikipedia

  • Representation theory of Hopf algebras — In abstract algebra, a representation of a Hopf algebra is a representation of its underlying associative algebra. That is, a representation of a Hopf algebra H over a field K is a K vector space V with an action H × V → V usually denoted by… …   Wikipedia

  • Glossary of tensor theory — This is a glossary of tensor theory. For expositions of tensor theory from different points of view, see:* Tensor * Classical treatment of tensors * Tensor (intrinsic definition) * Intermediate treatment of tensors * Application of tensor theory… …   Wikipedia

  • Crossed product — In mathematics, and more specifically in the theory of von Neumann algebras, a crossed product is a basic method of constructing a new von Neumann algebra from a von Neumann algebra acted on by a group. It is related to the semidirect product… …   Wikipedia

  • Cross product — This article is about the cross product of two vectors in three dimensional Euclidean space. For other uses, see Cross product (disambiguation). In mathematics, the cross product, vector product, or Gibbs vector product is a binary operation on… …   Wikipedia

  • Algebra (ring theory) — In mathematics, specifically in ring theory, an algebra over a commutative ring is a generalization of the concept of an algebra over a field, where the base field K is replaced by a commutative ring R .Any ring can be thought of as an algebra… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”