Definition:Coproduct

Definition
Let $\mathbf C$ be a metacategory.

Let $A$ and $B$ be objects of $\mathbf C$.

A coproduct diagram for $A$ and $B$ comprises an object $P$ and morphisms $i_1: A \to P$, $i_2: B \to P$:


 * $\begin{xy}

<-4em,0em>*+{A} = "A", <0em,0em>*+{P} = "P", <4em,0em>*+{B} = "B",

"A";"P" **@{-} ?>*@{>} ?*!/^.8em/{i_1}, "B";"P" **@{-} ?>*@{>} ?*!/_.8em/{i_2}, \end{xy}$

subjected to the following universal mapping property:


 * For any object $X$ and morphisms $x_1, x_2$ like so:


 * $\begin{xy}

<-4em,0em>*+{A} = "A", <0em,0em>*+{X} = "X", <4em,0em>*+{B} = "B",

"A";"X" **@{-} ?>*@{>} ?*!/^.8em/{x_1}, "B";"X" **@{-} ?>*@{>} ?*!/_.8em/{x_2}, \end{xy}$


 * there is a unique morphism $u: P \to X$ such that:


 * $\begin{xy}

<0em,5em>*+{X} = "X", <-5em,0em>*+{A} = "A", <0em,0em>*+{P} = "P", <5em,0em>*+{B} = "B",

"A";"X" **@{-} ?>*@{>} ?*!/^.8em/{x_1}, "B";"X" **@{-} ?>*@{>} ?*!/_.8em/{x_2}, "P";"X" **@{--} ?>*@{>} ?*!/_.6em/{u}, "A";"P" **@{-} ?>*@{>} ?*!/_.8em/{i_1}, "B";"P" **@{-} ?>*@{>} ?*!/^.8em/{i_2}, \end{xy}$


 * is a commutative diagram. I.e., $x_1 = u \circ i_i$ and $x_2 = u \circ i_2$.

In this situation, $P$ is called a coproduct of $A$ and $B$ and may be denoted $A + B$.

We generally write $\left[{x_1, x_2}\right]$ for the unique morphism $u$ determined by above diagram.

The morphisms $i_1$ and $i_2$ are often taken to be implicit.

They are called injections; if necessary, $i_1$ can be called the first injection and $i_2$ the second injection.

Also see

 * Product, the dual notion
 * Coproduct is Unique