Special classes of semigroups
Encyclopedia
In mathematics
, a semigroup
is a nonempty set together with an associative binary operation
. A special class of semigroups is a class
of semigroup
s satisfying additional properties
or conditions. Thus the class of commutative semigroups consists of all those semigroups in which the binary operation satisfies the commutativity
property that ab = ba for all elements a and b in the semigroup.
The class of finite semigroups consists of those semigroups for which the underlying set has finite cardinality. Members of the class of Brandt semigroups are required to satisfy not just one condition but a set of additional properties. A large variety of special classes of semigroups have been defined though not all of them have been studied equally intensively.
In the algebra
ic theory
of semigroups, in constructing special classes, attention is focused only on those properties, restrictions and conditions which can be expressed in terms of the binary operations in the semigroups and occasionally on the cardinality and similar properties of subset
s of the underlying set. The underlying sets are not assumed to carry any other mathematical structure
s like order or topology
.
As in any algebraic theory, one of the main problems of the theory of semigroups is the classification of all semigroups and a complete description of their structure. In the case of semigroups, since the binary operation is required to satisfy only the associativity property the problem of classification is considered extremely difficult. Descriptions of structures have been obtained for certain special classes of semigroups. For example the structure of the sets of idempotents of regular semigroups is completely known. Structure descriptions are presented in terms of better known types of semigroups. The best known type of semigroup is the group
.
A (necessarily incomplete) list of various special classes of semigroups is presented below. To the extent possible the defining properties are formulated in terms of the binary operations in the semigroups. The references point to the locations from where the defining properties are sourced.
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, a semigroup
Semigroup
In mathematics, a semigroup is an algebraic structure consisting of a set together with an associative binary operation. A semigroup generalizes a monoid in that there might not exist an identity element...
is a nonempty set together with an associative binary operation
Binary operation
In mathematics, a binary operation is a calculation involving two operands, in other words, an operation whose arity is two. Examples include the familiar arithmetic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division....
. A special class of semigroups is a class
Class (set theory)
In set theory and its applications throughout mathematics, a class is a collection of sets which can be unambiguously defined by a property that all its members share. The precise definition of "class" depends on foundational context...
of semigroup
Semigroup
In mathematics, a semigroup is an algebraic structure consisting of a set together with an associative binary operation. A semigroup generalizes a monoid in that there might not exist an identity element...
s satisfying additional properties
Property (philosophy)
In modern philosophy, logic, and mathematics a property is an attribute of an object; a red object is said to have the property of redness. The property may be considered a form of object in its own right, able to possess other properties. A property however differs from individual objects in that...
or conditions. Thus the class of commutative semigroups consists of all those semigroups in which the binary operation satisfies the commutativity
Commutativity
In mathematics an operation is commutative if changing the order of the operands does not change the end result. It is a fundamental property of many binary operations, and many mathematical proofs depend on it...
property that ab = ba for all elements a and b in the semigroup.
The class of finite semigroups consists of those semigroups for which the underlying set has finite cardinality. Members of the class of Brandt semigroups are required to satisfy not just one condition but a set of additional properties. A large variety of special classes of semigroups have been defined though not all of them have been studied equally intensively.
In the algebra
Algebra
Algebra is the branch of mathematics concerning the study of the rules of operations and relations, and the constructions and concepts arising from them, including terms, polynomials, equations and algebraic structures...
ic theory
Theory
The English word theory was derived from a technical term in Ancient Greek philosophy. The word theoria, , meant "a looking at, viewing, beholding", and referring to contemplation or speculation, as opposed to action...
of semigroups, in constructing special classes, attention is focused only on those properties, restrictions and conditions which can be expressed in terms of the binary operations in the semigroups and occasionally on the cardinality and similar properties of subset
Subset
In mathematics, especially in set theory, a set A is a subset of a set B if A is "contained" inside B. A and B may coincide. The relationship of one set being a subset of another is called inclusion or sometimes containment...
s of the underlying set. The underlying sets are not assumed to carry any other mathematical structure
Structure
Structure is a fundamental, tangible or intangible notion referring to the recognition, observation, nature, and permanence of patterns and relationships of entities. This notion may itself be an object, such as a built structure, or an attribute, such as the structure of society...
s like order or topology
Topology
Topology is a major area of mathematics concerned with properties that are preserved under continuous deformations of objects, such as deformations that involve stretching, but no tearing or gluing...
.
As in any algebraic theory, one of the main problems of the theory of semigroups is the classification of all semigroups and a complete description of their structure. In the case of semigroups, since the binary operation is required to satisfy only the associativity property the problem of classification is considered extremely difficult. Descriptions of structures have been obtained for certain special classes of semigroups. For example the structure of the sets of idempotents of regular semigroups is completely known. Structure descriptions are presented in terms of better known types of semigroups. The best known type of semigroup is the group
Group (mathematics)
In mathematics, a group is an algebraic structure consisting of a set together with an operation that combines any two of its elements to form a third element. To qualify as a group, the set and the operation must satisfy a few conditions called group axioms, namely closure, associativity, identity...
.
A (necessarily incomplete) list of various special classes of semigroups is presented below. To the extent possible the defining properties are formulated in terms of the binary operations in the semigroups. The references point to the locations from where the defining properties are sourced.
Notations
In describing the defining properties of the various special classes of semigroups, the following notational conventions are adopted.Notation | Meaning |
---|---|
S | Arbitrary semigroup |
E | Set of idempotents in S |
G | Group of units in S |
X | Arbitrary set |
a, b, c | Arbitrary elements of S |
x, y, z | Specific elements of S |
e, f. g | Arbitrary elements of E |
h | Specific element of E |
l, m, n | Arbitrary positive integers |
j, k | Specific positive integers |
0 | Zero element of S |
1 | Identity element of S |
S1 | S if 1 ∈ S; S ∪ { 1 } if 1 ∉ S |
L, R, H, D, J | Green's relations |
La, Ra, Ha, Da, Ja | Green classes containing a |
a ≤L ba ≤R ba ≤H b | S1a ⊆ S1b aS1 ⊆ bS1 S1a ⊆ S1b and aS1 ⊆ bS1 |
List of special classes of semigroups
Terminology | Defining property | Reference(s) |
---|---|---|
Finite semigroup |
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Empty semigroup Empty semigroup In mathematics, a semigroup with no elements is a semigroup in which the underlying set is the empty set. Many authors do not admit the existence of such a semigroup. For them a semigroup is by definition a non-empty set together with an associative binary operation. However not all authors insist... |
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Trivial semigroup Trivial semigroup In mathematics, a trivial semigroup is a semigroup for which the cardinality of the underlying set is one. The number of distinct nonisomorphic semigroups with one element is one... |
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Monoid Monoid In abstract algebra, a branch of mathematics, a monoid is an algebraic structure with a single associative binary operation and an identity element. Monoids are studied in semigroup theory as they are naturally semigroups with identity. Monoids occur in several branches of mathematics; for... |
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Gril p.3 |
Band Band (algebra) In mathematics, a band is a semigroup in which every element is idempotent . Bands were first studied and named by ; the lattice of varieties of bands was described independently in the early 1970s by Biryukov, Fennemore and Gerhard... (Idempotent semigroup) |
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C&P p.4 |
Idempotent semigroup(Band Band (algebra) In mathematics, a band is a semigroup in which every element is idempotent . Bands were first studied and named by ; the lattice of varieties of bands was described independently in the early 1970s by Biryukov, Fennemore and Gerhard... ) |
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C&P p.4 |
Semilattice Semilattice In mathematics, a join-semilattice is a partially ordered set which has a join for any nonempty finite subset. Dually, a meet-semilattice is a partially ordered set which has a meet for any nonempty finite subset... |
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C&P p.24 |
Commutative semigroup |
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C&P p.3 |
Archimedean Archimedean property In abstract algebra and analysis, the Archimedean property, named after the ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes of Syracuse, is a property held by some ordered or normed groups, fields, and other algebraic structures. Roughly speaking, it is the property of having no infinitely large or... commutative semigroup |
|
C&P p.131 |
Nowhere commutative semigroup Nowhere commutative semigroup In mathematics, a nowhere commutative semigroup is a semigroup S such that, for all a and b in S, if ab = ba then a = b... |
|
C&P p.26 |
Left weakly commutative |
|
Nagy p.59 |
Right weakly commutative |
|
Nagy p.59 |
Weakly commutative |
|
Nagy p.59 |
Conditionally commutative semigroup |
|
Nagy p.77 |
R-commutative semigroup |
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Nagy p.69–71 |
RC-commutative semigroup |
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Nagy p.93–107 |
L-commutative semigroup |
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Nagy p.69–71 |
LC-commutative semigroup |
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Nagy p.93–107 |
H-commutative semigroup |
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Nagy p.69–71 |
Quasi-commutative semigroup |
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Nagy p.109 |
Right commutative semigroup |
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Nagy p.137 |
Left commutative semigroup |
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Nagy p.137 |
Externally commutative semigroup |
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Nagy p.175 |
Medial semigroup |
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Nagy p.119 |
E-k semigroup (k fixed) |
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Nagy p.183 |
Exponential Exponential Exponential may refer to any of several mathematical topics related to exponentiation, including:*Exponential function, also:**Matrix exponential, the matrix analogue to the above*Exponential decay, decrease at a rate proportional to value... semigroup |
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Nagy p.183 |
WE-k semigroup (k fixed) |
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Nagy p.199 |
Weakly exponential Exponential Exponential may refer to any of several mathematical topics related to exponentiation, including:*Exponential function, also:**Matrix exponential, the matrix analogue to the above*Exponential decay, decrease at a rate proportional to value... semigroup |
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Nagy p.215 |
Cancellative semigroup Cancellative semigroup In mathematics, a cancellative semigroup is a semigroup having the cancellation property. In intuitive terms, the cancellation property asserts that from an equality of the form a · b = a · c, where · is a binary operation, one can cancel the element a and deduce the equality b = c... |
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C&P p.3 |
Right cancellative semigroup Cancellative semigroup In mathematics, a cancellative semigroup is a semigroup having the cancellation property. In intuitive terms, the cancellation property asserts that from an equality of the form a · b = a · c, where · is a binary operation, one can cancel the element a and deduce the equality b = c... |
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C&P p.3 |
Left cancellative semigroup Cancellative semigroup In mathematics, a cancellative semigroup is a semigroup having the cancellation property. In intuitive terms, the cancellation property asserts that from an equality of the form a · b = a · c, where · is a binary operation, one can cancel the element a and deduce the equality b = c... |
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C&P p.3 |
E-inversive Inversive Inversive activities are processes which self internalise the action concerned. For example a person who has an Inversive personality internalises his emotions from any exterior source... semigroup |
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C&P p.98 |
Regular semigroup Regular semigroup A regular semigroup is a semigroup S in which every element is regular, i.e., for each element a, there exists an element x such that axa = a. Regular semigroups are one of the most-studied classes of semigroups, and their structure is particularly amenable to study via Green's relations.- Origins... |
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C&P p.26 |
Intra-regular semigroup |
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C&P p.121 |
Left regular semigroup |
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C&P p.121 |
Right regular semigroup |
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C&P p.121 |
Completely regular semigroup Completely regular semigroup In mathematics, a completely regular semigroup is a semigroup in which every element is in some subgroup of the semigroup. The class of completely regular semigroups forms an important subclass of the class of regular semigroups, the class of inverse semigroups being another such subclass... (Clifford semigroup) |
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Gril p.75 |
k-regular semigroup (k fixed) |
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Hari |
π-regular semigroup (Quasi regular semigroup, Eventually regular semigroup) |
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Edwa |
Eventually regular semigroup (π-regular semigroup, Quasi regular semigroup) |
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Edwa |
Quasi-regular semigroup (π-regular semigroup, Eventually regular semigroup) |
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Shum |
Primitive semigroup |
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C&P p.26 |
Unit regular semigroup |
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Tvm |
Strongly unit regular semigroup |
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Tvm |
Orthodox semigroup |
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Gril p.57 |
Inverse semigroup Inverse semigroup In mathematics, an inverse semigroup S is a semigroup in which every element x in S has a unique inversey in S in the sense that x = xyx and y = yxy... |
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C&P p.28 |
Left inverse semigroup (R-unipotent) |
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Gril p.382 |
Right inverse semigroup(L-unipotent) |
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Gril p.382 |
Locally inverse semigroup (Pseudoinverse semigroup) |
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Gril p.352 |
M-inversive semigroup |
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C&P p.98 |
Pseudoinverse semigroup(Locally inverse semigroup) |
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Gril p.352 |
Abundant semigroups |
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Chen |
Rpp-semigroup(Right principal projective semigroup) |
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Shum |
Lpp-semigroup(Left principal projective semigroup) |
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Shum |
Null semigroup Null semigroup In mathematics, a null semigroup is a semigroup with an absorbing element, called zero, in which the product of any two elements is zero... (Zero semigroup) |
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C&P p.4 |
Zero semigroup(Null semigroup Null semigroup In mathematics, a null semigroup is a semigroup with an absorbing element, called zero, in which the product of any two elements is zero... ) |
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C&P p.4 |
Left zero semigroup |
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C&P p.4 |
Right zero semigroup |
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C&P p.4 |
Unipotent semigroup |
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C&P p.21 |
Left reductive semigroup |
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C&P p.9 |
Right reductive semigroup |
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C&P p.4 |
Reductive semigroup |
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C&P p.4 |
Separative semigroup |
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C&P p.130–131 |
Reversible semigroup |
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C&P p.34 |
Right reversible semigroup |
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C&P p.34 |
Left reversible semigroup |
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C&P p.34 |
Aperiodic semigroup (Groupfree semigroup, Combinatorial semigroup) |
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Gril p.119 |
ω-semigroup |
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Gril p.233–238 |
Clifford semigroup(Completely regular semigroup Completely regular semigroup In mathematics, a completely regular semigroup is a semigroup in which every element is in some subgroup of the semigroup. The class of completely regular semigroups forms an important subclass of the class of regular semigroups, the class of inverse semigroups being another such subclass... ) |
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Gril p.211–215 |
Left Clifford semigroup(LC-semigroup) |
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Shum |
Right Clifford semigroup(RC-semigroup) |
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Shum |
LC-semigroup (Left Clifford semigroup) |
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Shum |
RC-semigroup(Right Clifford semigroup) |
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Shum |
Orthogroup |
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Shum |
Combinatorial semigroup (Aperiodic semigroup,Groupfree semigroup) |
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Gril p.119 |
Complete commutative semigroup |
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Gril p.110 |
Nilsemigroup |
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Gril p.99 |
Elementary semigroup |
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Gril p.111 |
E-unitary semigroup |
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Gril p.245 |
Finitely presented semigroup |
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Gril p.134 |
Fundamental semigroup |
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Gril p.88 |
Groupfree semigroup (Aperiodic semigroup, Combinatorial semigroup) |
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Gril p.119 |
Idempotent generated semigroup |
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Gril p.328 |
Locally finite semigroup |
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Gril p.161 |
N-semigroup |
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Gril p.100 |
L-unipotent semigroup (Right inverse semigroup) |
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Gril p.362 |
R-unipotent semigroup (Left inverse semigroup) |
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Gril p.362 |
Left simple semigroup |
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Gril p.57 |
Right simple semigroup |
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Gril p.57 |
Subelementary semigroup |
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Gril p.134 |
Symmetric semigroup(Full transformation semigroup Transformation semigroup In algebra and theoretical computer science, an action or act of a semigroup on a set is a rule which associates to each element of the semigroup a transformation of the set in such a way that the product of two elements of the semigroup is associated with the composite of the two corresponding... ) |
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C&P p.2 |
Weakly reductive semigroup |
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C&P p.11 |
Right unambiguous semigroup |
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Gril p.170 |
Left unambiguous semigroup |
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Gril p.170 |
Unambiguous semigroup |
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Gril p.170 |
Left 0-unambiguous |
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Gril p.178 |
Right 0-unambiguous |
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Gril p.178 |
0-unambiguous semigroup |
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Gril p.178 |
Left Putcha semigroup |
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Nagy p.35 |
Right Putcha semigroup |
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Nagy p.35 |
Putcha semigroup |
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Nagy p.35 |
Bisimple semigroup(D-simple semigroup) |
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C&P p.49 |
0-bisimple semigroup |
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C&P p.76 |
Completely simple semigroup |
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C&P p.76 |
Completely 0-simple semigroup |
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C&P p.76 |
D-simple semigroup(Bisimple semigroup) |
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C&P p.49 |
Semisimple semigroup |
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C&P p.71–75 |
Simple semigroup |
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C&P p.5 |
0-simple semigroup |
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C&P p.67 |
Left 0-simple semigroup |
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C&P p.67 |
Right 0-simple semigroup |
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C&P p.67 |
Cyclic semigroup (Monogenic semigroup Monogenic semigroup In mathematics, a monogenic semigroup is a semigroup generated by a set containing only a single element. Monogenic semigroups are also called cyclic semigroups.-Structure:... ) |
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C&P p.19 |
Monogenic semigroup Monogenic semigroup In mathematics, a monogenic semigroup is a semigroup generated by a set containing only a single element. Monogenic semigroups are also called cyclic semigroups.-Structure:... (Cyclic semigroup) |
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C&P p.19 |
Periodic semigroup |
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C&P p.20 |
Bicyclic semigroup Bicyclic semigroup In mathematics, the bicyclic semigroup is an algebraic object important for the structure theory of semigroups. Although it is in fact a monoid, it is usually referred to as simply a semigroup. The first published description of this object was given by Evgenii Lyapin in 1953. Alfred H... |
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C&P p.43–46 |
Full transformation semigroup TX(Symmetric semigroup) |
Map (mathematics) In most of mathematics and in some related technical fields, the term mapping, usually shortened to map, is either a synonym for function, or denotes a particular kind of function which is important in that branch, or denotes something conceptually similar to a function.In graph theory, a map is a... of X into itself with composition of mappings as binary operation Binary operation In mathematics, a binary operation is a calculation involving two operands, in other words, an operation whose arity is two. Examples include the familiar arithmetic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.... . |
C&P p.2 |
Rectangular semigroup |
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C&P p.97 |
Symmetric inverse semigroup IX |
Partial function In mathematics, a partial function from X to Y is a function ƒ: X' → Y, where X' is a subset of X. It generalizes the concept of a function by not forcing f to map every element of X to an element of Y . If X' = X, then ƒ is called a total function and is equivalent to a function... of X. |
C&P p.29 |
Brandt semigroup Brandt semigroup In mathematics, Brandt semigroups are completely 0-simple inverse semigroups. In other words, they are semigroups without proper ideal and which are also inverse semigroups. They are build in the same way that completely 0-simple semigroups:... |
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C&P p.101 |
Free semigroup Free semigroup In abstract algebra, the free monoid on a set A is the monoid whose elements are all the finite sequences of zero or more elements from A. It is usually denoted A∗. The identity element is the unique sequence of zero elements, often called the empty string and denoted by ε or λ, and the... FX |
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Gril p.18 |
Rees matrix Matrix (mathematics) In mathematics, a matrix is a rectangular array of numbers, symbols, or expressions. The individual items in a matrix are called its elements or entries. An example of a matrix with six elements isMatrices of the same size can be added or subtracted element by element... semigroup |
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C&P p.88 |
Semigroup of linear transformation Linear transformation In mathematics, a linear map, linear mapping, linear transformation, or linear operator is a function between two vector spaces that preserves the operations of vector addition and scalar multiplication. As a result, it always maps straight lines to straight lines or 0... s |
Linear transformation In mathematics, a linear map, linear mapping, linear transformation, or linear operator is a function between two vector spaces that preserves the operations of vector addition and scalar multiplication. As a result, it always maps straight lines to straight lines or 0... s of a vector space Vector space A vector space is a mathematical structure formed by a collection of vectors: objects that may be added together and multiplied by numbers, called scalars in this context. Scalars are often taken to be real numbers, but one may also consider vector spaces with scalar multiplication by complex... V over a field Field (mathematics) In abstract algebra, a field is a commutative ring whose nonzero elements form a group under multiplication. As such it is an algebraic structure with notions of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, satisfying certain axioms... F under composition of functions. |
C&P p.57 |
Semigroup of binary relation Binary relation In mathematics, a binary relation on a set A is a collection of ordered pairs of elements of A. In other words, it is a subset of the Cartesian product A2 = . More generally, a binary relation between two sets A and B is a subset of... s BX |
Binary relation In mathematics, a binary relation on a set A is a collection of ordered pairs of elements of A. In other words, it is a subset of the Cartesian product A2 = . More generally, a binary relation between two sets A and B is a subset of... s on X under composition Composition of relations In mathematics, the composition of binary relations is a concept of forming a new relation from two given relations R and S, having as its most well-known special case the composition of functions.- Definition :... |
C&P p.13 |
Numerical semigroup Numerical semigroup In mathematics, a numerical semigroup is a special kind of a semigroup. Its underlying set is the set of all nonnegative integers except a finite number and the binary operation is the operation of addition of integers. Also, the integer 0 must be an element of the semigroup... |
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Delg |
Semigroup with involution Semigroup with involution In mathematics, in semigroup theory, an involution in a semigroup is a transformation of the semigroup which is its own inverse and which is an anti-automorphism of the semigroup. A semigroup in which an involution is defined is called a semigroup with involution... (*-semigroup) |
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Howi |
*-semigroup(Semigroup with involution Semigroup with involution In mathematics, in semigroup theory, an involution in a semigroup is a transformation of the semigroup which is its own inverse and which is an anti-automorphism of the semigroup. A semigroup in which an involution is defined is called a semigroup with involution... ) |
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Howi |
Baer–Levi semigroup |
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C&P II Ch.8 |
U-semigroup |
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Howi p.102 |
I-semigroup |
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Howi p.102 |
Group Group (mathematics) In mathematics, a group is an algebraic structure consisting of a set together with an operation that combines any two of its elements to form a third element. To qualify as a group, the set and the operation must satisfy a few conditions called group axioms, namely closure, associativity, identity... |
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