Magnitudes Reborn: Quantity Spaces as Scalable Monoids

Abstract: This article includes a survey of the historical development and theoretical structure of the pre-modern theory of magnitudes and numbers. In Part 1, work, insights and controversies related to quantity calculus from Euler onward are reviewed. In Parts 2 and 3, we define scalable monoids and, as a special case, quantity spaces; both can be regarded as universal algebras. Scalable monoids are related to rings and modules, and quantity spaces are to scalable monoids as vector spaces are to modules. Subalgebras and homomorphic images of scalable monoids can be formed, and tensor products of scalable monoids can be constructed as well. We also define and investigate congruence relations on scalable monoids, unit elements of scalable monoids, basis-like substructures of scalable monoids and quantity spaces, and scalar representations of elements of quantity spaces. The mathematical theory of quantity spaces is presented with a view to metrological applications. This article supersedes arXiv:1503.00564 and complements arXiv:1408.5024.