ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Linear algebraic group

Okay, let's imagine you have a group of friends who like to do math together. This group is called a linear algebraic group. Now, in this group, you can do many cool things with math, just like playing with building blocks.

First, let's talk about "linear". Imagine you have a set of blocks that you can stack on top of each other. When you stack them, they make something straight. This is called linear. In math, we use numbers to talk about stacking blocks.

Now, let's talk about "algebraic". Think of algebra like a secret code that helps us solve problems. This secret code uses numbers and symbols to represent different things. And when we put numbers and symbols together, we can do cool things like solving equations or finding patterns.

So, a linear algebraic group is just a group of friends who like to do math together with stacking blocks and solving problems using numbers and symbols. But there are some rules they have to follow.

First, the group has to be a group, which means they always play fair and follow certain rules. One important rule is that they have to have an identity element. Just like in a game, there has to be a starting point. In math, the identity element is like a starting number that you can't change.

Next, the group has to be linear. This means they need to have a special property called linearity. It's like when you stack blocks, each block has a special rule, like how much weight it can hold. In math, linearity means that the group's operations, like adding or multiplying numbers, have to follow certain rules just like stacking blocks.

Finally, the group has to be algebraic. This means they have to use the secret code of algebra to help them solve problems. They can use numbers and symbols to represent different things and combine them to find answers. It's like solving a puzzle using the secret code of algebra.

So, to sum it up, a linear algebraic group is a group of math friends who play fair, follow rules, stack blocks in a straight line (linear), and solve problems using the secret code of algebra.