Boolean lattice
In this entry, the notions of a Boolean lattice, a Boolean algebra, and a Boolean ring are defined, compared and contrasted.
Boolean Lattices
A Boolean lattice B is a distributive lattice in which for each element
x∈B there exists a complement
x′∈B such that
x∧x′ | =0 | ||
x∨x′ | =1 | ||
(x′)′ | =x | ||
(x∧y)′ | =x′∨y′ | ||
(x∨y)′ | =x′∧y′ |
In other words, a Boolean lattice is the same as a complemented distributive lattice. A morphism between two Boolean lattices is just a lattice homomorphism
(so that 0,1 and ′ may not be preserved).
Boolean Algebras
A Boolean algebra is a Boolean lattice such that ′ and 0 are considered as operators (unary and nullary respectively) on the algebraic system. In other words, a morphism (or a Boolean algebra homomorphism) between two Boolean algebras must preserve 0,1 and ′. As a result, the category of Boolean algebras and the category of Boolean lattices are not the same (and the former is a subcategory of the latter).
Boolean Rings
A Boolean ring is an (associative) unital ring R such that for any r∈R, r2=r. It is easy to see that
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•
any Boolean ring has characteristic
2, for 2r=(2r)2=4r2=4r,
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•
and hence a commutative ring, for a+b=(a+b)2=a2+ab+ba+b2=a+ab+ba+b, so 0=ab+ba, and therefore ab=ab+ab+ba=ba.
Boolean rings (with identity, but allowing 0=1) are equivalent
to Boolean lattices. To view a Boolean ring as a Boolean lattice, define
x∧y=xy,x∨y=x+y+xy,and |
To view a Boolean lattice as a Boolean ring, define
The category of Boolean algebras is naturally equivalent to the category of Boolean rings.
References
- 1 G. Grätzer, General Lattice Theory, 2nd Edition, Birkhäuser (1998).
- 2 R. Sikorski, Boolean Algebras, 2nd Edition, Springer-Verlag, New York (1964).
Title | Boolean lattice |
Canonical name | BooleanLattice |
Date of creation | 2013-03-22 12:27:20 |
Last modified on | 2013-03-22 12:27:20 |
Owner | mathcam (2727) |
Last modified by | mathcam (2727) |
Numerical id | 19 |
Author | mathcam (2727) |
Entry type | Definition |
Classification | msc 06E05 |
Classification | msc 03G05 |
Classification | msc 06B20 |
Classification | msc 03G10 |
Classification | msc 06E20 |
Synonym | Boolean algebra |
Related topic | BooleanRing |