Questions tagged [universal-algebra]
The study of algebraic structures and properties applying to large classes of such structures. For example, ideas from group theory and ring theory are extended and considered for structures with other signatures (systems of basic or fundamental operations).
464 questions
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Logic-Compactness in complete lattice
Assume $\Gamma$ is an infinite set composed of formulas (of finite length), and $A$ is a formula (of finite length). For example, $\Gamma=\{x,y\sqcup z,x_1,x_2,x_3,\cdots\}$, $A=(x\sqcap y)\sqcup(x\...
3
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Strong conservativity and extra structure in free objects
The background for my question is somewhat related to this; there a very interesting paper is provided, but the setting and examples are somewhat different. I can add any necessary background or ...
7
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179
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Reference request for an algebraic structure mimicking $\varepsilon_0$
Let $(R, +, 0, \cdot, 1)$ be a (unital) semiring equipped with a unary operation $f$ and a binary operation $\land$ such that
$f(0) = 1$
$f(x + y) = f(x) f(y)$
$x \land y = y \land x$
$x \land (y \...
3
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1
answer
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Algebraic structure, defined by its own automorphism group
The same post's presented on mathstackexchange, but I think this one is a research level question.
I was preparing for my postgraduate exams and one of the questions concerned constructing non-...
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1
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Is the free medial magma monad a submonad of the free $\mathbb{Z}[x, y]$-module monad?
Let $V := \{v_0, v_1, \ldots\}$ be a countable set of variables and let $A := \mathbb{Z}[x, y]^{\oplus V}$ with $V \subseteq A$ its basis as a $\mathbb{Z}[x, y]$-module. Define
$$m(a, b) := xa + yb$$
...
5
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0
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289
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When is "anomalously few substructures" possible?
Given a variety (in the sense of universal algebra) $\mathscr{V}$ axiomatized by a finite set of equations $E$, say that $\mathscr{V}$ is consistently gappy iff it is consistent with $\mathsf{ZF}$ ...
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86
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Variable Sorts in Multi-Sorted Term Algebra
From my understanding a single sort term algebra $T_\Sigma(V)$ is a set of 'syntactic' objects generated over a signature $\Sigma$ of function names (with provided arities) and a set of variables $V$. ...
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1
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386
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What is the algebra of games with miserification?
The set of finite combinatorial games is the smallest set $\mathscr{G}$ such that $\{\vert\}\in\mathscr{G}$ and, whenever $A,B\subseteq\mathscr{G}$ are finite, we have $\{A\vert B\}\in\mathscr{G}$. ...
2
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0
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185
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Uniqueness and classification of associative completions for a 5-element commutative magma
Let $S = \{z, i, p, d, u\}$ be a 5-element set with distinct elements. We seek to define a binary operation $\cdot : S \times S \to S$ satisfying:
$\cdot$ is commutative.
$i \in S$ is a two-sided ...
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0
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116
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Clone isomorphism and definitional equivalence
Let $T$ and $T'$ be two equational theories, such that there is a isomorphism between the clones $\mathrm{Cl}(T)$ and $\mathrm{Cl}(T')$ associated with these theories.
Are these theories $T$ and $T'$ ...
3
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162
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Dense generators for models of universal Horn theories
This question is based on trying to provide an answer to another question of mine: Are there categories of incidence structures and projective geometries?
The basic question is:
If $T$ is a universal ...
2
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0
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160
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When is the factorization of a morphism constructed in one step, as it is done for quotients-embeddings and localizations-conservative of rings?
Given a small set of morphisms $M$ in a locally presentable category $C$, there exists an factorization system $(M^{rl}, M^r)$ generated by $M$. In the general case, the factorization is constructed ...
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On varieties of lattices admitting "large" free complete members
Let $E$ be an equational theory (in the sense of universal algebra) in the language of lattices. Given a cardinal $\kappa$, say that $E$ is $\kappa$-cheap iff there is a set-sized complete lattice $L$ ...
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2
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614
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Does the pseudo-arc have an interesting continuous algebraic structure?
A lot of famous compacta have interesting continuous algebraic structures. For example,
$S^1$ can be viewed as the circle group.
$2^\omega$ can be viewed as the ring of $p$-adic integers for any $p$.
...
3
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0
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168
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A question on finite pointed magmas
Preface: I have a bad habit of writing questions that are too general. This is a very specific question I encountered while trying to answer my own question here. Hopefully this focus will be ...
2
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1
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168
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On "unary-representable" relation algebras
This question is belatedly inspired by an answer of Keith Kearnes.
Say that a relation algebra $\mathcal{A}=(A;0,1,\check{\Box}, \overline{\Box},I, \circ, \wedge,\vee)$ is unary-representable if ...
4
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1
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235
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What is the profinite completion of the initial pointed magma?
What is the profinite completion of the initial pointed magma?
Okay, well, I should clarify what I mean by "What is". Clearly such a structure will be quite hard to describe nicely because ...
3
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1
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347
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When can we cancel in direct sum (or direct product) isomorphisms for algebraic structures?
In the context of finite groups and vector spaces, cancellation in direct sum (or direct product) isomorphisms is well-understood: i.e for finite dimensional vector space if $V \oplus W \cong V \oplus ...
7
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2
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453
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Direct proof that every finitary algebraic category is well-copowered
Every finitary algebraic category* is well-powered, simply because the monomorphisms are precisely the injective homomorphisms. Unfortunately, epimorphisms in the sense of category theory are not so ...
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1
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298
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Finite basis problem for finite groups with non-inverse involution
Recall that any nonempty set $S$ with an associative binary operation is a semigroup. An involution semigroup is a pair $(S,{}^\star)$, where $S$ is a semigroup endowed with a unary operation $^\star$ ...
23
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1
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737
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Is the equational theory of $(\mathbb{N},+,\times,\mathrm{factorial}(\cdot),0,1)$ decidable?
Given two terms over the signature $(+,\times,\mathrm{factorial}(\cdot),0,1)$ with arbitrarily many variables, is there an algorithm to decide whether the two terms define the same function on $\...
3
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98
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Is it ever decidable if a finite set of identities implies a non-reflexive identity?
I asked this question on math stack exchange, but it didn't get any responses. So, I am asking it here. Suppose we are working in the signature of a single binary operation $*$. We are given a finite ...
4
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236
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When is a variety a balanced category?
Let $\mathsf{T}$ be a finitary monad over the category of sets.
Q. Under what conditions (possibly on the monad) the category of algebras $\mathsf{Alg(T)}$ is going to be balanced?
I cannot find any ...
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420
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Are there varieties which are synonymous but not term equivalent?
$\DeclareMathOperator\Th{Th}$Two first order theories $T_1, T_2$ without relation symbols are said to be term-equivalent if there is a synonymy between them that only uses definitions of function ...
7
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2
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391
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What is category theory's perspective on (binary) subdirect products and congruence-permutability?
I'm trying to understand congruence-permutability from the perspective of category theory. The most straightforward way to do this is to directly translate the condition that it is named for: $\...
1
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1
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132
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Is there a characterization of monoids that distribute over each other?
Let $(M, e_1, \times_1, e_2, \times_2)$ be an algebraic structure such that
$(M, e_1, \times_1)$ and $(M, e_2, \times_2)$ are monoids
$x \times_1 (y \times_2 z) = (x \times_1 y) \times_2 (x \times_1 ...
18
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1
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666
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An elementary proof of the equivalence of the Bol and Moufang identities
By a well-known result of Bol (1937) and Bruck (1946), for any loop $X$ the following two identities are equivalent:
B: $\forall x,y,z\in X\;\;x(y(xz))=((xy)x)z$
M: $\forall x,y,z\in X\;\;(xy)(zx)=(x(...
7
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1
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169
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A syntactic characterisation of morphisms of algebraic theories whose induced algebraic functors admit right adjoints
Let $f : S \to T$ be a morphism of algebraic theories. Such a morphism induces a monadic functor $f^* : \mathrm{Mod}(T) \to \mathrm{Mod}(S)$ (hence $f^*$ has a left adjoint). We may view $f$ ...
6
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Is it possible that the number of $\mathcal{T}$-algebras is an arithmetic progression?
For a single-sorted algebraic theory $\mathcal{T}$ denote by $t_n$ the number of $\mathcal{T}$-algebras with $n$ elements (up to isomorphism). Is there an example for $\mathcal{T}$ such that ...
4
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2
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472
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Notion of prime congruences
We have the idea of a prime ideal in a commutative ring $R$ but in universal algebra, we generalize the notion of ideal to that of a congruence. I’ve thought over the question of what a prime ...
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0
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160
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Lawvere theory and presentations of groups
In his dissertation on "Functorial semantics of algebraic theories", Lawvere says in his introduction that
"from the category (or more precisely from an underlying-set functor)
we can ...
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1
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526
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Is the partial order of all equations in the signature of magmas a lattice?
$\newcommand\Eq{\mathrm{Eq}}$I asked this question on math stack exchange, here, but there were no comments or answers. So, I am asking it here on mathoverflow. Consider the signature of a single ...
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1
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Is the number of varieties of groups still unknown?
A variety of groups is a class of groups satisfying a specified set of equations. Equivalently, it is a class of groups that is closed under homomorphic images, subgroups, and direct products. A ...
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What happens if we add an initial object to a Lawvere theory?
Motivation
There is a theory of smooth spaces (for example, diffeological spaces) as certain sheaves on the site $\mathrm{Cart}$, which is the "category of cartesian spaces" whose objects ...
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2
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If a semigroup embeds into a group, then is it a subdirect product of groups?
The title has it all:
Q. If a semigroup $S$ embeds into a group, then is $S$ (isomorphic to) a subdirect product of groups?
If yes, then $S$ is a subdirect product of subdirectly irreducible groups,...
3
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0
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179
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What is known about the word problem on free algebraic models?
Consider the fragment of first-order logic with equality and universal quantification as the only logical symbols; we call this logic the logic of universal algebra. I am interested in languages $\...
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2
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613
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Is every cancellative semigroup a subdirect product of subdirectly irreducible cancellative semigroups?
By a classical result of Birkhoff (that is, Theorem 2 in [G. Birkhoff, Subdirect unions in universal algebra, Bull. AMS, 1944]) and the trivial fact that the class of semigroups is closed under the ...
2
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0
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206
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Are there two equations with no equation strictly between them, but at least one quasi-equation between them?
I asked this question on Math Stack Exchange a while ago, but no one has responded yet. So, I am asking it here. Consider the signature of a single binary operation $+$, and consider the set $Eq$ of ...
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1
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Examples of natural algebraic irreflexive relations
To motivate the question, consider the theory of rings.
Define $x \parallel y$ to mean $\exists w \exists z .((x - y) z = w (x - y) = 1)$, or in words, "$x - y$ is a unit".
Then $\parallel$ ...
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Why can we not convert GATs / EATs / limit sketches to sites?
I think I'm in the process of understanding something very subtle here, and I could use an expert's double check. So basically, my question is whether what I write is correct.
(Non-finitary) GATs, ...
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If a map between unital rings preserves multiplication and successor, does it preserve addition?
Welcome to my first MathOverflow posting!
This is a question about rings, all of them assumed to be both unital and associative.
Let $f\colon R\to S$ be a map between rings such that $f(xy)=f(x)f(y)$ ...
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1
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Reference request for a proof of the fact that every congruence-permutable variety is semidegenerate
Given an algebra $\mathbf{A}$, a pair of congruences
$ \alpha ,\beta \in Con(\mathbf {A})$ are said to permute when
$ \alpha \circ \beta =\beta \circ \alpha$, and an algebra
$\mathbf{A}$ is called ...
14
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2
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800
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Are there any non-conjugation "extendible automorphisms" in the category of finite groups?
Let $\mathbf{Grp}$ be the category of groups. Given a subcategory $\mathscr{G}$ of $\mathbf{Grp}$ and $G\in\mathit{Ob}(\mathscr{G})$, a $\mathscr{G}$-extendible map on $G$ will here mean an assignment ...
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Which pseudovarieties have (Eilenberg/Schutzenberger) minimal descriptions?
Suppose $\mathscr{V}$ is a pseudovariety in a countable language $\Sigma$. Say that a minimal description of $\mathscr{V}$ (in the sense of Eilenberg/Schutzenberger rather than Reiterman) is a pair $(...
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Counting Eilenberg/Schutzenberger-type definitions of pseudovarieties
See Eilenberg/Schutzenberger, On pseudovarieties for background on pseudovarieties. I've phrased things in terms of pairs-of-sets to avoid some annoying language about multisets. Also, I'm aware that ...
4
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1
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467
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Is $\mathbb Z$ prime in the class of abelian groups?
Let $B$, $C$, and $D$ be abelian groups such that $\mathbb Z\times B$ is isomorphic to $C\times D$.
Is there a group $E$ such that $C$ or $D$ is isomorphic to $\mathbb Z\times E$?
Reference: page 263 ...
4
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1
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Comparing semiring of formulas and Lindenbaum algebra
This is motivationally related to an earlier question of mine.
Given a first-order theory $T$, let $\widehat{D}(T)$ be the semiring defined as follows:
Elements of $\widehat{D}(T)$ are equivalence ...
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1
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275
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Reference about cancellation property for semigroups
Have the semigroups with the following cancellation property been studied?
Property: Let $S$ be a semigroup and $x,y\in S$ such that $xz=yz,$ for all $z\in S,$ then $x=y$.
2
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On "necessary connectives" in a structure
Given a clone $\mathcal{C}$ over $\{\top,\perp\}$, let $\mathsf{FOL}^\mathcal{C}$ be the version of first-order logic with connectives from $\mathcal{C}$ in place of the usual Booleans. Given a clone $...
3
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0
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145
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Are "equi-expressivity" relations always congruences on Post's lattice?
Given a clone $\mathcal{C}$ over the set $\{\top,\perp\}$, let $\mathsf{FOL}^\mathcal{C}$ be the version of first-order logic with (symbols corresponding to) elements of $\mathcal{C}$ replacing the ...