270 Field

A set of scalars with addition and multiplication that allow the usual arithmetic of numbers that is used to scale vectors in a vector space.

definition (Field) A type of ring with axioms (1) to (8) and the following additional condition:

  • (Multiplicative Inverse) \(a \cdot a^{-1} = a^{-1} \cdot a = a\)

where

  • \(a\) is a nonzero element of the field.
  • \(a^{-1}\) is the multiplicative inverse of \(a\).
  • \(\cdot\) is the multiplicative operation of the field.

Note:

  • axioms (1) to (8) are the ring axioms.