Pointed protomodularity via natural imaginary subtractions (Q1020964)

Let \(\mathcal C\) be a pointed finitely complete category. A quadruple \((X,Y,a,s)\) is an approximate subtraction if \(X\) and \(Y\) are objects of \(\mathcal C\), \(a:X\to Y\), \(s:X\times X\to Y\) are morphisms of \(\mathcal C\) such that \(s\circ (1_X\times 0)=a\) and \(a\circ 0=s\circ (1_X\times 1_X)\). The category \( \mathcal C\) is subtractive if any internal binary relation on an object X of \(\mathcal C\) containing \((1_X,1_X)\) and \((1_X,0)\) also contains \((0,1_X)\). A characterization of subtractive categories in terms of special approximate subtractions is given. An analogous characterization of protomodular pointed categories with finite coproducts in terms of special approximate subtractions is presented. This emphasizes similarities and distinctions between protomodular pointed categories with finite coproducts and additive categories.