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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Example Sentences

Many journalists are great at explaining the electoral part of politics but miss the policy part, or get the politics and policy but not the race and identity element.

From Washington Post • Dec. 14, 2022

Releasing an alpha changes the atom's identity: element 118 becomes 116, which becomes 114, and so on.

From Science Magazine • Jan. 30, 2019