greg <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > Arnaud Delobelle wrote: > >> Neutral element is correct. But maybe its use is limited to >> mathematicians in the english-speaking word. > > I've only ever seen "identity element" in English mathematics. > "Neutral element" sounds like something my car's gearbox > might have...
I was an academic mathematician for several years (although not a very good one) and I can assure you that 'neutral element' is correct and understood. 'Unit element' is another common synonym. Unfortunately I can't find a reference in one of the few books in English that I have at home. Lang's "Algebra" does not seem to use the term and it's the only undergraduate book I've got. Wikipedia and other internet sources cite 'neutral element' as a synonym to 'identity element'. -- Arnaud -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
