identity element

American  

noun

plural

identity elements

1. Mathematics. an element in a set which is characterized by the property that when combined with any other element of the set, it leaves the second element unchanged.

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identity element Scientific  

/ ī-dĕn′tĭ-tē /

1. The element of a set of numbers that when combined with another number under a particular binary operation leaves the second number unchanged. For example, 0 is the identity element under addition for the real numbers, since for any real number a, a + 0 = a, and 1 is the identity element under multiplication for the real numbers, since a × 1 = a.

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