Two characterisations of groups amongst monoids

DOI10.1016/J.JPAA.2017.05.005MaRDI QIDQ1678265zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors Andrea Montoli, Diana Rodelo, Tim Van der Linden

Publication date 14 November 2017

Published in Journal of Pure and Applied Algebra (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/1606.08649

zbMATH Keywords

categorical algebraMalt'sev objectmonoidprotomodular object

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Equational classes, universal algebra in model theory (03C05) Categories of algebras (08C05) Categorical algebra (18E99) Category of groups (20J15)

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to solve a problem proposed by Dominique Bourn: to provide a categorical-algebraic characterisation of groups amongst monoids and of rings amongst semirings. In the case of monoids, our solution is given by the following equivalent conditions: (i) $G$ is a group; (ii) $G$ is a Mal'tsev object, i.e., the category of points over $G$ in the category of monoids is unital; (iii) $G$ is a protomodular object, i.e., all points over $G$ are stably strong. We similarly characterise rings in the category of semirings. On the way we develop a local or object-wise approach to certain important conditions occurring in categorical algebra. This leads to a basic theory involving what we call unital and strongly unital objects, subtractive objects, Mal'tsev objects and protomodular objects. We explore some of the connections between these new notions and give examples and counterexamples.

Review text

The article addresses a question of D. Bourn, about a categorical-algebraic characterisation of groups amongst monoids and of rings amongst semirings. In particular, the authors want to find a characterisation of non-abelian groups inside the category of monoids in categorical-algebraic terms. Therefore, they develop a local approach to certain important conditions occurring in categorical algebra. They introduce the notions of unital and strongly unital objects, subtractive objects, Mal'tsev objects and protomodular objects, and they show that a Mal'tsev object in the category of monoids is a group. The main result in the article asserts that a monoid is a group if and only if it is a protomodular object, and if and only if it is a Mal'tsev object. Similarly, the authors characterise rings in the category of seminrings.

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Cited in

(23)

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