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Virginia Tech

Max-Plus Algebra

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

In max-plus algebra we work with the max-plus semi-ring which is the set ℝ<sub>max</sub>=[-∞)∪ℝ together with operations 𝑎⊕𝑏 = max(𝑎,𝑏) and 𝑎⊗𝑏= 𝑎+𝑏. The additive and multiplicative identities are taken to be ε=-∞ and ε=0 respectively. Max-plus algebra is one of many idempotent semi-rings which have been considered in various fields of mathematics. Max-plus algebra is becoming more popular not only because its operations are associative, commutative and distributive as in conventional algebra but because it takes systems that are non-linear in conventional algebra and makes them linear. Max-plus algebra also arises as the algebra of asymptotic growth rates of functions in conventional algebra which will play a significant role in several aspects of this thesis. This thesis is a survey of max-plus algebra that will concentrate on max-plus linear algebra results. We will then consider from a max-plus perspective several results by Wentzell and Freidlin for finite state Markov chains with an asymptotic dependence.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Mathematics
Department dc:contributor.department
Mathematics
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2009

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Farlow, Kasie Geralyn
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Day, Martin V.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Haskell, Peter E.
  • Wheeler, Robert L.

Subjects

dc:subject × 3

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-05042009-152934
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/32191

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
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citation

Farlow, Kasie Geralyn. Max-Plus Algebra. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/32191