Alternative algebra

In abstract algebra, an alternative algebra is an algebra in which multiplication need not be associative, only alternative. That is, one must have

• $x(xy)=(xx)y$
• $(yx)x=y(xx)$

for all x and y in the algebra. Every associative algebra is obviously alternative, but so too are some strictly nonassociative algebras such as the octonions. The sedenions, on the other hand, are not alternative.

The associator

Alternative algebras are so named because they are precisely the algebras for which the associator is alternating. The associator is a trilinear map given by

$[x,y,z]=(xy)z-x(yz)$

By definition a multilinear map is alternating if it vanishes whenever two of it arguments are equal. The left and right alternative identities for an algebra are equivalent to

$[x,x,y]=0$

$[y,x,x]=0.$

Both of these identities together imply that the associator is totally skew-symmetric. That is,

$[x_{\sigma (1)},x_{\sigma (2)},x_{\sigma (3)}]=\operatorname {sgn}(\sigma )[x_{1},x_{2},x_{3}]$

for any permutation σ. It follows that

$[x,y,x]=0$

for all x and y. This is equivalent to the so-called flexible identity

$(xy)x=x(yx).$

The associator is therefore alternating. Conversely, any algebra whose associator is alternating is clearly alternative. By symmetry, any algebra which satisfies any two of:

• left alternative identity: $x(xy)=(xx)y$
• right alternative identity: $(yx)x=y(xx)$
• flexible identity: $(xy)x=x(yx).$

is alternative and therefore satisfies all three identities.

An alternating associator is always totally skew-symmetric. The converse holds so long as the characteristic of the base field is not 2.

Properties

Artin's theorem states that in an alternative algebra the subalgebra generated by any two elements is associative. Conversely, any algebra for which this is true is clearly alternative. It follows that expressions involving only two variables can be written without parenthesis unambiguously in an alternative algebra. A generalization of Artin's theorem states that whenever three elements $x,y,z$ in an alternative algebra associate (i.e. $[x,y,z]=0$) the subalgebra generated by those elements is associative.

A corollary of Artin's theorem is that alternative algebras are power-associative, that is, the subalgebra generated by a single element is associative. The converse need not hold: the sedenions are power-associative but not alternative.

The Moufang identities

• $a(x(ay))=(axa)y$
• $((xa)y)a=x(aya)$
• $(ax)(ya)=a(xy)a$

hold in any alternative algebra.

In a unital alternative algebra, multiplicative inverses are unique whenever they exist. Moreover, for any invertible element $x$ and all $y$ one has

$y=x^{-1}(xy).$

This is equivalent to saying the associator $[x^{-1},x,y]$ vanishes for all such $x$ and $y$. If $x$ and $y$ are invertible then $xy$ is also invertible with inverse $(xy)^{-1}=y^{-1}x^{-1}$. The set of all invertible elements is therefore closed under multiplication and forms a Moufang loop. This loop of units in an alternative ring or algebra is analogous to the group of units in an associative ring or algebra.

References

• Schafer, Richard D. (1995). An Introduction to Nonassociative Algebras. New York: Dover Publications. ISBN 0-486-68813-5.