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Meaning of commutator

Source language: EnglishDictionary language: English

commutator

noun

Definitions

  1. An electrical switch, in a generator or motor, that periodically reverses the direction of an electric current.

  2. A binary map in a given group G, given by [g, h] = ghg−1h−1, where g and h are elements of G, which yields the group's identity if and only if the group operation commutes for g and h.

  3. A binary map in a given ring R, given by [a, b] = ab − ba, where a and b are elements of R, which yields the ring's zero element if and only if the multiplication operation commutes for a and b.