Octonion

Octonions
Symbol	${\displaystyle \mathbb {O} }$
Type	Hypercomplex algebra
Units	e0, ..., e7
Multiplicative identity	e0
Main properties	Non-commutative Non-associative
Common systems
${\displaystyle \mathbb {N} }$ Natural numbers ${\displaystyle \mathbb {Z} }$ Integers ${\displaystyle \mathbb {Q} }$ Rational numbers ${\displaystyle \mathbb {R} }$ Real numbers ${\displaystyle \mathbb {C} }$ Complex numbers ${\displaystyle \mathbb {H} }$ Quaternions Less common systems Octonions (${\displaystyle \mathbb {O} }$) Sedenions (${\displaystyle \mathbb {S} }$)

In mathematics, the octonions are a normed division algebra over the real numbers, a kind of hypercomplex number system. The octonions are usually represented by the capital letter O, using boldface O or blackboard bold ${\displaystyle \mathbb {O} }$. Octonions have eight dimensions; twice the number of dimensions of the quaternions, of which they are an extension. They are noncommutative and nonassociative, but satisfy a weaker form of associativity; namely, they are alternative. They are also power associative.

Octonions are not as well known as the quaternions and complex numbers, which are much more widely studied and used. Octonions are related to exceptional structures in mathematics, among them the exceptional Lie groups. Octonions have applications in fields such as string theory, special relativity and quantum logic. Applying the Cayley–Dickson construction to the octonions produces the sedenions.