Re: Difference between Operations and functions?

From: Truth Detector (TD_at_evaluator.com)
Date: 02/02/05 

Date: Wed, 02 Feb 2005 19:40:49 GMT

"Bill97" <nospam> wrote in news:qoGdncEXSPGfupzfRVn-qQ@comcast.com:

>
> "Truth Detector" <TD@evaluator.com> wrote in message
> news:Xns95F18DC22453EPalmbuddySpringscom@130.81.64.196...
>> I'm trying to understand the difference between operations and
>> functions.
>>
>> + - are considered operations
>>
>> I thought * was but * is just a function of +'s. I don't know, maybe
>> it is.
>> / is just a function of -'s so it too seems to be different from +
>> and -. As is factorial etc.
>>
>> So just what is an operation as opposed to a function? Isn't + and -
>> just a
>> two argument function? Why do we make a distinction between functions
>> and operations?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> TD
>
>
> Operations are more consistent with "algebraic" thinking, whereas the
> notion of a function is a much more general concept (and includes
> binary operations, ternary operations, trig functions, mappings
> between function spaces, for instance). Mathematicians frequently
> assign additional names to things as they identify more specialized
> varieties. Hope this helps.
>
> -Bill
>
>
>

Oh Bill, what a tease! :) You tell me that operations are "algebraic" and
then leave me hanging. Why does algebra need a concept of "operation" as
oposed to "function?" It clearly serves some purpose. Or is it the other
way round; the term operation was used in Algebra, and then the term
"function" became a better tool, but we still use "operation" as a
leftover term?

Thanks,

TD