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 that satisfies Leibniz's law:
D(ab)=aD(b)+D(a)b.
More generally, if M is an A-bimodule, a K-linear map 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 .
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,
[FG,N]=[F,N]G+F[G,N],
[ ⋅ ,N]
N
If A is a K-algebra, for K a ring, and is a K-derivation, then
D(x1x2 … xn)=\sumix1 … xi-1D(xi)xi+1 … xn
which is if for all, commutes with
x1,x2,\ldots,xi-1
Dn(uv)=
n | |
\sum | |
k=0 |
\binom{n}{k} ⋅ Dn-k(u) ⋅ Dk(v).
Moreover, if M is an A-bimodule, write
\operatorname{Der}K(A,M)
for the set of K-derivations from A to M.
[D1,D2]=D1\circD2-D2\circD1.
since it is readily verified that the commutator of two derivations is again a derivation.
D:A\stackrel{d}{\longrightarrow}\OmegaA/K\stackrel{\varphi}{\longrightarrow}M
The correspondence
D\leftrightarrow\varphi
\operatorname{Der}K(A,M)\simeq\operatorname{Hom}A(\OmegaA/K,M)
\operatorname{Der}K(A,M)\subset\operatorname{Der}k(A,M),
since any K-derivation is a fortiori a k-derivation.
Given a graded algebra A and a homogeneous linear map D of grade on A, D is a homogeneous derivation if
{D(ab)=D(a)b+\varepsilon|a||D|aD(b)}
If, this definition reduces to the usual case. If, however, then
{D(ab)=D(a)b+(-1)|a|aD(b)}
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.
Hasse–Schmidt derivations are K-algebra homomorphisms
A\toA[[t]].
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a1