95e96edd   
   From: nebusj-@-rpi-.edu   
      
   Doug Elrod  writes:   
      
   >On Aug 5, 4:05=A0pm, Michael  wrote:   
   >> > =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 Well, I don't know. =A0Who's going to be the multiplica=   
   >tive   
   >> > identity element for your group? =A0   
   >>   
   >> I'm sorry, but what is that?   
      
   >Either it's a math joke, or a subtle reference to the many Tom Servos   
   >found on the Satellite of Love.  It's a wonder he wasn't always   
   >tripping on himself! ;-)   
      
   	Ah, the multiplicative identity element is the unique element   
   in a group which, when left-multiplied or right-multiplied by any   
   other element results in that other element.  It's essential to any   
   proper group structure.  Note that it's not required that all elements   
   have a multiplicative inverse, although if you have both a multiplicative   
   and an additive identity you may have a good ring, or even a field.   
   If you get really wild you might set up your own algebra or even --   
   dare we dream? -- a Banach space.   
      
      
   >-Doug Elrod (dre1@cornell.edu)   
   >  I'm a Servo, you're a Servo, wouldn't you like to be a Servo, too?   
      
   	Oh, I don't know.  That's a lot of underwear to keep track of,   
   after all.   
      
   --   
   								Joseph Nebus   
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)