ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Affine Lie algebra

An affine Lie algebra is like a math puzzle where we play with shapes (mathematical ones, not physical). It's related to something called algebra, which is like a game that lets us add, subtract, multiply and divide.

In this puzzle, we have a lot of different shapes that we can move around and combine in different ways. Each of these shapes has some special properties that make them unique. We can think of these properties as the "rules" that dictate how the shapes interact with each other.

Now, imagine that we're trying to solve this puzzle and we want to find a way to put all of the shapes together in a very specific way. This is where the affine Lie algebra comes in. We use this tool to figure out what shapes we need to use and how to put them together in the right order to solve the puzzle.

The affine Lie algebra is like a set of instructions that tells us how to use the shapes and how to move them around. It helps us understand what the rules are and how to use them to our advantage. By using this tool, we can identify the best way to work with the shapes to solve the puzzle.

So, basically, an affine Lie algebra is a tool that helps us understand and solve math puzzles by showing us the rules that the shapes follow and how to use them in the right way.