Talk:Nilpotent

Terminology: operand/operator/function

Under the section titled "Nilpotency in physics", it seems to me there is a confusion/unclarity of terminology. Specifically, it would appear that an entity with the name 'Q' is used to mean variously and "operand", and "operator" and then Q^n is somehow a "function". An operator Q acting n times on a function is still an operator (a function of functions), and it is confusing to call it a function rather than an operator. The initial use of the term "operand" is unclear as at that point it is unclear to which operator it is an operand, and it would be clearer and more consistent to call it an "element", and to call it something other than Q which is later used to name an operator. As I'm not entirely sure what the intent was, I am hesitant to make this change without consultation. If no-one objects or changes this themselves, I will change it for greater consistency in due course. Quondum (talk) 09:49, 28 March 2011 (UTC)