Derivation (differential algebra)

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In mathematics, a derivation is a function on an algebra that generalizes certain features of the derivative operator. Specifically, given an algebra A over a ring or a field K, a K-derivation is a K-linear map D : AA that satisfies Leibniz's law:

More generally, if M is an A-bimodule, a K-linear map D : AM that satisfies the Leibniz law is also called a derivation. The collection of all K-derivations of A to itself is denoted by DerK(A). The collection of K-derivations of A into an A-module M is denoted by DerK(A, M).

Derivations occur in many different contexts in diverse areas of mathematics. The partial derivative with respect to a variable is an R-derivation on the algebra of real-valued differentiable functions on Rn. The Lie derivative with respect to a vector field is an R-derivation on the algebra of differentiable functions on a differentiable manifold; more generally it is a derivation on the tensor algebra of a manifold. It follows that the adjoint representation of a Lie algebra is a derivation on that algebra. The Pincherle derivative is an example of a derivation in abstract algebra. If the algebra A is noncommutative, then the commutator with respect to an element of the algebra A defines a linear endomorphism of A to itself, which is a derivation over K. That is,

where is the commutator with respect to . An algebra A equipped with a distinguished derivation d forms a differential algebra, and is itself a significant object of study in areas such as differential Galois theory.

Properties

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If A is a K-algebra, for K a ring, and D: AA is a K-derivation, then

  • If A has a unit 1, then D(1) = D(12) = 2D(1), so that D(1) = 0. Thus by K-linearity, D(k) = 0 for all kK.
  • If A is commutative, D(x2) = xD(x) + D(x)x = 2xD(x), and D(xn) = nxn−1D(x), by the Leibniz rule.
  • More generally, for any x1, x2, …, xnA, it follows by induction that
     
which is   if for all i, D(xi) commutes with  .
  • For n > 1, Dn is not a derivation, instead satisfying a higher-order Leibniz rule:
 
Moreover, if M is an A-bimodule, write
 
for the set of K-derivations from A to M.
 
since it is readily verified that the commutator of two derivations is again a derivation.
  • There is an A-module ΩA/K (called the Kähler differentials) with a K-derivation d: A → ΩA/K through which any derivation D: AM factors. That is, for any derivation D there is a A-module map φ with
 
The correspondence   is an isomorphism of A-modules:
 
  • If kK is a subring, then A inherits a k-algebra structure, so there is an inclusion
 
since any K-derivation is a fortiori a k-derivation.

Graded derivations

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Given a graded algebra A and a homogeneous linear map D of grade |D| on A, D is a homogeneous derivation if

 

for every homogeneous element a and every element b of A for a commutator factor ε = ±1. A graded derivation is sum of homogeneous derivations with the same ε.

If ε = 1, this definition reduces to the usual case. If ε = −1, however, then

 

for odd |D|, and D is called an anti-derivation.

Examples of anti-derivations include the exterior derivative and the interior product acting on differential forms.

Graded derivations of superalgebras (i.e. Z2-graded algebras) are often called superderivations.

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Hasse–Schmidt derivations are K-algebra homomorphisms

 

Composing further with the map which sends a formal power series   to the coefficient   gives a derivation.

See also

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References

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  • Bourbaki, Nicolas (1989), Algebra I, Elements of mathematics, Springer-Verlag, ISBN 3-540-64243-9.
  • Eisenbud, David (1999), Commutative algebra with a view toward algebraic geometry (3rd. ed.), Springer-Verlag, ISBN 978-0-387-94269-8.
  • Matsumura, Hideyuki (1970), Commutative algebra, Mathematics lecture note series, W. A. Benjamin, ISBN 978-0-8053-7025-6.
  • Kolař, Ivan; Slovák, Jan; Michor, Peter W. (1993), Natural operations in differential geometry, Springer-Verlag.