Definition:Power of Element/Notation

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Notation for Power of Element

Let $\struct {S, \circ}$ be an algebraic structure.

Let $a \in S$.

Let $\circ^n a$ be the $n$th power of $a$ under $\circ$.


The usual notation for $\circ^n a$ in a general algebraic structure is $a^n$, where the operation is implicit and its symbol omitted.

In an algebraic structure in which $\circ$ is addition, or derived from addition, this can be written $n a$ or $n \cdot a$, that is, $n$ times $a$.


Thus:

$a^1 = \circ^1 a = a$

and in general:

$\forall n \in \N_{>0}: a^{n + 1} = \circ^{n + 1} a = \paren {\circ^n a} \circ a = \paren {a^n} \circ a$


Sources