Whitehead group in mathematics may mean:
- A group W with Ext(W, Z)=0; see Whitehead problem
- For a ring, the Whitehead group Wh(A) of a ring A, equal to
- For a group, the Whitehead group Wh(G) of a group G, equal to K1(Z)/{±G}. Note that this is a quotient of the Whitehead group of the group ring.
- The Whitehead group Wh(A) of a simplicial complex or PL-manifold A, equal to Wh(π1(A)); see Whitehead torsion.
All named after J. H. C. Whitehead.
Famous quotes containing the words whitehead and/or group:
“Life is an offensive, directed against the repetitious mechanism of the Universe.”
—Alfred North Whitehead (1861–1947)
“Laughing at someone else is an excellent way of learning how to laugh at oneself; and questioning what seem to be the absurd beliefs of another group is a good way of recognizing the potential absurdity of many of one’s own cherished beliefs.”
—Gore Vidal (b. 1925)