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2. Subdirect representations

Usually we want to use subdirect products ``up to isomorphism''.

2.1 Definition. A subdirect representation of an algebra $ {\cal A}$ is an embedding $ {\cal A} \hookrightarrow \prod _ {\gamma
\in \Gamma} {\cal B} _ \gamma$ whose image is a subdirect product.

For example, a three-element chain (as a distributive lattice) has a subdirect representation as a subdirect product of two two-element chains, as in Figure [*].

Figure: Subdirect representation of a 3-element chain
text/Ddir/chain.eps





Kirby A. Baker 2003-02-21