Formal character of a weight module ($\mathrm{ch}V$)

For a module with finite-dimensional weight spaces, its formal character is $\mathrm{ch}V={\sum }_{\mu }(\dim V_{\mu })e^{\mu }$ in the completed group algebra of the weight lattice.

For a finite-dimensional representation of a complex semisimple Lie algebra, select a maximal remaining dominant weight, subtract that multiplicity of the corresponding irreducible formal character, and repeat. The Weyl complete reducibility theorem guarantees nonnegative residual multiplicities and termination. Checking the full character or the exhausted total dimension confirms that no summands remain.

For the special linear Lie algebra ${\mathfrak{sl}}_3$, the irreducible highest-weight representation with Dynkin labels $(a,b)$ has the displayed formal character on diagonal matrices with $x_1{x}_2{x}_3=1$. The interlacing rows $(a+b,b,0)$, $(p,q)$ and $(r)$ enumerate a Gelfand–Tsetlin basis; each triple contributes the exponent differences $(r-(p+q-r),(p+q-r)-(a+2b-p-q))$ as its weight. This gives exact integer weight multiplicities, including repeated weights, without floating-point character evaluation.

For the irreducible highest-weight representation of the special linear Lie algebra ${\mathfrak{sl}}_3$ with Dynkin labels $(a,b)$, let $(p,q)$ be a dominant integral weight. Put $r=(2a+b-2p-q)/3$ and $s=(a+2b-p-2q)/3$. If these are not integers, the weight multiplicity is zero; otherwise it is $\max \{0,1+\min (a,b,r,s)\}$.

To derive the formula, use the sl3 interlacing character formula with top row $(a+b,b,0)$. The target diagonal exponents are $(s+p+q,s+q,s)$, and an interlacing middle row $(P,Q)$ has $P+Q=2s+p+2q$, with bottom entry $s+p+q$. ThusEvery integral $P$ in this interval gives exactly one Gelfand–Tsetlin basis vector. The upper bound minus the lower bound is the minimum of six differences: $a,s,r,r+p+q,b,s+q$. Since $p,q\ge 0$, this minimum reduces to $\min (a,b,r,s)$. Counting the interval proves the formula, including absent weights of a representation. This converts a two-dimensional weight diagram calculation into four elementary boundary distances.