Symmetrization
In mathematics, symmetrization is a process that converts any function in variables to a symmetric function in variables.
Similarly, antisymmetrization converts any function in variables into an antisymmetric function.
Two variables
Let be a set and be an additive abelian group. A map is called a ' ifIt is called an ' if instead
The ' of a map is the map
Similarly, the ' or of a map is the map
The sum of the symmetrization and the antisymmetrization of a map is
Thus, away from 2, meaning if 2 is invertible, such as for the real numbers, one can divide by 2 and express every function as a sum of a symmetric function and an anti-symmetric function.
The symmetrization of a symmetric map is its double, while the symmetrization of an alternating map is zero; similarly, the antisymmetrization of a symmetric map is zero, while the antisymmetrization of an anti-symmetric map is its double.
Bilinear forms
The symmetrization and antisymmetrization of a bilinear map are bilinear; thus away from 2, every bilinear form is a sum of a symmetric form and a skew-symmetric form, and there is no difference between a symmetric form and a quadratic form.At 2, not every form can be decomposed into a symmetric form and a skew-symmetric form. For instance, over the integers, the associated symmetric form may take half-integer values, while over a function is skew-symmetric if and only if it is symmetric.
This leads to the notion of ε-quadratic forms and ε-symmetric forms.
Representation theory
In terms of representation theory:- exchanging variables gives a representation of the symmetric group on the space of functions in two variables,
- the symmetric and antisymmetric functions are the subrepresentations corresponding to the trivial representation and the sign representation, and
- symmetrization and antisymmetrization map a function into these subrepresentations – if one divides by 2, these yield projection maps.
''n'' variables
More generally, given a function in variables, one can symmetrize by taking the sum over all permutations of the variables, or antisymmetrize by taking the sum over all even permutations and subtracting the sum over all odd permutations.Here symmetrizing a symmetric function multiplies by – thus if is invertible, such as when working over a field of characteristic or then these yield projections when divided by
In terms of representation theory, these only yield the subrepresentations corresponding to the trivial and sign representation, but for there are others – see representation theory of the symmetric group and symmetric polynomials.