For unital algebras over a field , a measuring coalgebra is a coalgebra together with a linear map such that, in Sweedler notation,
Thus a group-like element acts by a unital algebra homomorphism over a field, while skew-primitive elements give twisted product rules.
The universal measuring coalgebra has a universal measuring map with this property: for every measuring map from a coalgebra , there is a unique coalgebra homomorphism satisfying . The uniqueness is among coalgebra homomorphisms; itself need not be an injective map of vector spaces.
The printed input is a genuine typo in the PDF as well as in the TeX: annihilates every power of , whereas the displayed right-hand side is generally nonzero. The intended input is , and the calculation below proves that corrected identity.
The given comultiplications make a coalgebra, with counit one on and zero on . Write , and , and similarly for . The measuring coalgebra identities are
The group-like elements act multiplicatively. Although the statement omits an explicit specification of , its identity action follows from the other data and the quantum plane relation. Applying to gives , so cancellation in the noncommutative domain gives . Applying to the same relation gives , so . Thus is the identity on the entire quantum plane.
Now by induction. Suppose . The measuring rule and give
The induction starts with and . A final product rule gives
For the answer is zero. By contrast the literal printed input has ; it cannot satisfy the printed right-hand side for .
A terminal measuring coalgebra: every measuring map from factors uniquely through its universal measuring map by a coalgebra homomorphism . Composition of universal measurings makes a bialgebra, with the identity map providing its unit.