- Commit
- 3e62351365d6c2856f3d1b6511dd79681d45072f
- Parent
- bec199c9350b1e8f5e1ad6d5f56516577a6e73a6
- Author
- Pablo <pablo-escobar@riseup.net>
- Date
Removed abreviations
Made the language of the text a bit less informat
Source code for my notes on representations of semisimple Lie algebras and Olivier Mathieu's classification of simple weight modules
Removed abreviations
Made the language of the text a bit less informat
6 files changed, 54 insertions, 54 deletions
Status | File Name | N° Changes | Insertions | Deletions |
Modified | sections/complete-reducibility.tex | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Modified | sections/introduction.tex | 12 | 6 | 6 |
Modified | sections/mathieu.tex | 18 | 9 | 9 |
Modified | sections/preface.tex | 4 | 2 | 2 |
Modified | sections/semisimple-algebras.tex | 14 | 7 | 7 |
Modified | sections/sl2-sl3.tex | 58 | 29 | 29 |
diff --git a/sections/complete-reducibility.tex b/sections/complete-reducibility.tex @@ -918,5 +918,5 @@ Having finally reduced our initial classification problem to that of classifying the finite-dimensional irreducible representations of \(\mathfrak{g}\), we can now focus exclusively in irreducible \(\mathfrak{g}\)-modules. However, there is so far no indication on how we -could go about understanding them. In the next chapter we'll explore some +could go about understanding them. In the next chapter we will explore some concrete examples in the hopes of finding a solution to our general problem.
diff --git a/sections/introduction.tex b/sections/introduction.tex @@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ \setcounter{page}{1} Associative algebras have proven themselves remarkably useful throughout -mathematics. There's no lack of natural and interesting examples coming from a +mathematics. There is no lack of natural and interesting examples coming from a diverse spectrum of different fields: topology, number theory, analysis, you name it. Associative algebras have thus been studied at length, specially the commutative ones. On the other hand, non-associative algebras have never @@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ unconvincing on its own. Specifically, the Jacobi identity can look very alien to someone who has never ventured outside of the realms of associativity. Traditional abstract algebra courses offer little in the way of a motivation for studying non-associative algebras in general. Why should we drop the -assumption of associativity if every example of an algebraic structure we've +assumption of associativity if every example of an algebraic structure we have ever seen is an associative one? Instead, the most natural examples of Lie algebras often come from an entirely different field: geometry. @@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ G \to H\) is a homomorphism of Lie algebras, and the chain rule implies \(d (f between the category of Lie groups and smooth group homomorphisms and the category of Lie algebras. -This goes to show Lie algebras are invariants of Lie groups. What's perhaps +This goes to show Lie algebras are invariants of Lie groups. What is perhaps more surprising is the fact that, in certain contexts, Lie algebras are perfect invariants. Even more so\dots @@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ is only natural to define\dots \end{definition} \begin{note} - In the context of associative algebras, it's usual practice to distinguish + In the context of associative algebras, it is usual practice to distinguish between \emph{left ideals} and \emph{right ideals}. This is not necessary when dealing with Lie algebras, however, since any ``left ideal'' of a Lie algebra is also a ``right ideal'': given \(\mathfrak{a} \normal @@ -528,7 +528,7 @@ semisimple and reductive algebras by modding out by certain ideals, known as \(\mfrac{\mathfrak{g}}{\mathfrak{nil}(\mathfrak{g})}\) is reductive. \end{proposition} -We've seen in example~\ref{ex:inclusion-alg-in-lie-alg} that we can pass from +We have seen in example~\ref{ex:inclusion-alg-in-lie-alg} that we can pass from associative algebras to Lie algebras using the functor \(\operatorname{Lie} : K\text{-}\mathbf{Alg} \to K\text{-}\mathbf{LieAlg}\) that takes an algebra \(A\) to the Lie algebra \(A\) with brackets given by commutators. We can also @@ -872,7 +872,7 @@ terms. \end{proposition} \begin{proof} - We've seen that given a \(K\)-vector space \(V\) there is a one-to-one + We have seen that given a \(K\)-vector space \(V\) there is a one-to-one correspondence between \(\mathfrak{g}\)-module structures for \(V\) -- i.e. homomorphisms \(\mathfrak{g} \to \mathfrak{gl}(V)\) -- and \(\mathcal{U}(\mathfrak{g})\)-module structures for \(V\) -- i.e.
diff --git a/sections/mathieu.tex b/sections/mathieu.tex @@ -1,9 +1,9 @@ \chapter{Irreducible Weight Modules}\label{ch:mathieu} -In this chapter we'll expand our results on finite-dimensional irreducible +In this chapter we will expand our results on finite-dimensional irreducible representations of semisimple Lie algebras by generalizing them on multiple directions. First, we will now consider reductive Lie algebras, which means we -can no longer take complete reducibility for granted. Namely, we've seen that +can no longer take complete reducibility for granted. Namely, we have seen that if \(\mathfrak{g}\) is \emph{not} semisimple there must be some \(\mathfrak{g}\)-module which is not the direct sum of irreducible representations. @@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ Parabolic subalgebras thus give us a process for constructing weight \(\mathfrak{g}\)-modules from representations of smaller (parabolic) subalgebras. Our hope is that by iterating this process again and again we can get a large class of irreducible weight \(\mathfrak{g}\)-modules. However, -there's a small catch: a parabolic subalgebra \(\mathfrak{p} \subset +there is a small catch: a parabolic subalgebra \(\mathfrak{p} \subset \mathfrak{g}\) needs not to be reductive. We can get around this limitation by modding out by \(\mathfrak{u} = \mathfrak{nil}(\mathfrak{p})\) and noticing that \(\mathfrak{u}\) acts trivially in any weight \(\mathfrak{p}\)-module @@ -311,10 +311,10 @@ characterizations of cuspidal modules. \begin{enumerate} \item \(V\) is cuspidal \item \(F_\alpha\) acts injectively in \(V\) for all - \(\alpha \in \Delta\) -- this is what's usually referred + \(\alpha \in \Delta\) -- this is what is usually referred to as a \emph{dense} representation in the literature \item The support of \(V\) is precisely one \(Q\)-coset -- this is - what's usually referred to as a \emph{torsion-free} representation in the + what is usually referred to as a \emph{torsion-free} representation in the literature \end{enumerate} \end{corollary} @@ -719,7 +719,7 @@ submodules of a \emph{nice} coherent family are cuspidal representations? \begin{proof} The fact that \strong{(i)} and \strong{(iii)} are equivalent follows directly from corollary~\ref{thm:cuspidal-mod-equivs}. Likewise, it is clear from the - corollary that \strong{(iii)} implies \strong{(ii)}. All it's left is to show + corollary that \strong{(iii)} implies \strong{(ii)}. All it is left is to show \strong{(ii)} implies \strong{(iii)}\footnote{This isn't already clear from corollary~\ref{thm:cuspidal-mod-equivs} because, at first glance, $\mathcal{M}[\lambda]$ may not be irreducible for some $\lambda$ satisfying @@ -1136,7 +1136,7 @@ We now have a good candidate for a coherent extension of \(V\), but contained in a single \(Q\)-coset. In particular, \(\operatorname{supp} \Sigma^{-1} V \ne \mathfrak{h}^*\) and \(\Sigma^{-1} V\) is not a coherent family. To obtain a coherent family we thus need somehow extend \(\Sigma^{-1} -V\). To that end, we'll attempt to replicate the construction of the coherent +V\). To that end, we will attempt to replicate the construction of the coherent extension of the \(\mathfrak{sl}_2(K)\)-module \(K[x, x^{-1}]\). Specifically, the idea is that if twist \(\Sigma^{-1} V\) by an automorphism which shifts its support by some \(\lambda \in \mathfrak{h}^*\), we can construct a coherent @@ -1439,7 +1439,7 @@ results. \mathfrak{sp}_{2 n}(K)\). \end{proposition} -We've previously seen that the representations of Abelian Lie algebras, +We have previously seen that the representations of Abelian Lie algebras, particularly the \(1\)-dimensional ones, are well understood. Hence to classify the irreducible representations of an arbitrary reductive algebra it suffices to classify those of its simple components. To classify these representations we @@ -1468,7 +1468,7 @@ saying that the beautiful interplay between the algebraic and the geometric is precisely what makes representation theory such a fascinating and charming subject. -Alas, our journey has come to an end. All it's left is to wonder at the beauty +Alas, our journey has come to an end. All it is left is to wonder at the beauty of Lie algebras and their representations. \label{end-47}
diff --git a/sections/preface.tex b/sections/preface.tex @@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ This is my undergraduate dissertation, produced in 2022 under the supervision of professor Iryna Kashuba of the department of mathematics of the Institute of Mathematics and Statistics of the University of São Paulo (IME-USP), Brazil. -Throughout these notes we'll follow some guiding principles. First, lengthy +Throughout these notes we will follow some guiding principles. First, lengthy proofs are favored as opposed to collections of smaller lemmas. This is a deliberate effort to emphasize the relevant results. Secondly, and this is more important, we are primarily interested in the broad strokes of the theory @@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ relevant results. Hence some results are left unproved. Nevertheless, we include numerous references throughout the text to other materials where the reader can find -complete proofs. We'll assume basic knowledge of abstract algebra. In +complete proofs. We will assume basic knowledge of abstract algebra. In particular, we assume that the reader is familiarized with multi-linear algebra and the theory of modules over a ring. Understanding some examples in the introductory chapter requires basic knowledge of differential and algebraic
diff --git a/sections/semisimple-algebras.tex b/sections/semisimple-algebras.tex @@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ representation of \(\mathfrak{g}\), does the eigenspace decomposition \] of \(V\) hold? The answer to this question turns out to be yes. This is a consequence of something known as \emph{simultaneous diagonalization}, which is -the primary tool we'll use to generalize the results of the previous section. +the primary tool we will use to generalize the results of the previous section. What is simultaneous diagonalization all about then? \begin{definition}\label{def:sim-diag} @@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ It should be clear from the uniqueness of \(\operatorname{ad}(X)_{\operatorname{n}}\) that the Jordan decomposition of \(\operatorname{ad}(X)\) is \(\operatorname{ad}(X) = \operatorname{ad}(X_{\operatorname{s}}) + -\operatorname{ad}(X_{\operatorname{n}})\). What's perhaps more remarkable is +\operatorname{ad}(X_{\operatorname{n}})\). What is perhaps more remarkable is the fact this holds for \emph{any} finite-dimensional representation of \(\mathfrak{g}\). In other words\dots @@ -297,10 +297,10 @@ appendix D of \cite{fulton-harris} and in \cite{humphreys}. We begin our analysis, as we did for \(\mathfrak{sl}_2(K)\) and \(\mathfrak{sl}_3(K)\), by investigating the set of roots of and weights of -\(\mathfrak{g}\). Throughout chapter~\ref{ch:sl3} we've seen that the weights +\(\mathfrak{g}\). Throughout chapter~\ref{ch:sl3} we have seen that the weights of any given finite-dimensional representation of \(\mathfrak{sl}_2(K)\) or \(\mathfrak{sl}_3(K)\) can only assume very rigid configurations. For instance, -we've seen that the roots of \(\mathfrak{sl}_2(K)\) and \(\mathfrak{sl}_3(K)\) +we have seen that the roots of \(\mathfrak{sl}_2(K)\) and \(\mathfrak{sl}_3(K)\) are symmetric with respect to the origin. In this chapter we will generalize most results from chapter~\ref{ch:sl3} regarding the rigidity of the geometry of the set of weights of a given representations. @@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ of the Killing form to the Cartan subalgebra. \end{proposition} \begin{proof} - We'll start with the first claim. Let \(\alpha\) and \(\beta\) be two + We will start with the first claim. Let \(\alpha\) and \(\beta\) be two roots. Notice \([\mathfrak{g}_\alpha, \mathfrak{g}_\beta] \subset \mathfrak{g}_{\alpha + \beta}\). Indeed, if \(X \in \mathfrak{g}_\alpha\) and \(Y \in @@ -706,7 +706,7 @@ known as \emph{Verma modules}. module of weight \(\lambda\)} \end{definition} -We should point out that, unlike most representations we've encountered so far, +We should point out that, unlike most representations we have encountered so far, Verma modules are \emph{highly infinite-dimensional}. Indeed, the dimension of \(M(\lambda)\) is the same as the codimension of \(\mathcal{U}(\mathfrak{b})\) in \(\mathcal{U}(\mathfrak{g})\), which is always infinite. Nevertheless, @@ -824,7 +824,7 @@ Moreover, we find\dots \end{equation} \end{example} -What's interesting to us about all this is that we've just constructed a +What is interesting to us about all this is that we have just constructed a \(\mathfrak{g}\)-module whose highest weight is \(\lambda\). This is not a proof of theorem~\ref{thm:dominant-weight-theo}, however, since \(M(\lambda)\) is neither irreducible nor finite-dimensional. Nevertheless, we can use
diff --git a/sections/sl2-sl3.tex b/sections/sl2-sl3.tex @@ -4,11 +4,11 @@ We are, once again, faced with the daunting task of classifying the finite-dimensional representations of a given (semisimple) algebra \(\mathfrak{g}\). Having reduced the problem a great deal, all its left is classifying the irreducible representations of \(\mathfrak{g}\). -We've encountered numerous examples of irreducible \(\mathfrak{g}\)-modules +We have encountered numerous examples of irreducible \(\mathfrak{g}\)-modules over the previous chapter, but we have yet to subject them to any serious scrutiny. In this chapter we begin a systematic investigation of irreducible representations by looking at concrete examples. -Specifically, we'll classify the irreducible finite-dimensional representations +Specifically, we will classify the irreducible finite-dimensional representations of certain low-dimensional semisimple Lie algebras. Throughout the previous chapters, \(\mathfrak{sl}_2(K)\) has afforded us @@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ V_\lambda\) and consider the set \(\{v, f v, f^2 v, \ldots\}\). \] The pattern is starting to become clear: \(e\) sends \(f^k v\) to a multiple - of \(f^{k - 1} v\). Explicitly, it's not hard to check by induction that + of \(f^{k - 1} v\). Explicitly, it is not hard to check by induction that \[ e f^k v = k (\lambda + 1 - k) f^{k - 1} v, \] @@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ they are either all even integers or all odd integers -- and the dimension of each eigenspace is no greater than \(1\) then \(V\) must be irreducible, for if \(U, W \subset V\) are subrepresentations with \(V = W \oplus U\) then either \(W_\lambda = 0\) for all \(\lambda\) or \(U_\lambda = 0\) for all \(\lambda\). -To conclude our analysis all it's left is to show that for each \(n\) there is +To conclude our analysis all it is left is to show that for each \(n\) there is some finite-dimensional irreducible \(V\) whose highest weight is \(\lambda\). Surprisingly, we have already encountered such a \(V\). @@ -244,27 +244,27 @@ Surprisingly, we have already encountered such a \(V\). \end{proof} Our initial gamble of studying the eigenvalues of \(h\) may have seemed -arbitrary at first, but it payed off: we've \emph{completely} described +arbitrary at first, but it payed off: we have \emph{completely} described \emph{all} irreducible representations of \(\mathfrak{sl}_2(K)\). It is not yet clear, however, if any of this can be adapted to a general setting. In the following section we shall double down on our gamble by trying to reproduce some of these results for \(\mathfrak{sl}_3(K)\), hoping this will somehow lead -us to a general solution. In the process of doing so we'll find some important +us to a general solution. In the process of doing so we will find some important clues on why \(h\) was a sure bet and the race was fixed all along. \section{Representations of \(\mathfrak{sl}_3(K)\)}\label{sec:sl3-reps} The study of representations of \(\mathfrak{sl}_2(K)\) reminds me of the difference between the derivative of a function \(\mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}\) and that of a -smooth map between manifolds: it's a simpler case of something greater, but in -some sense it's too simple of a case, and the intuition we acquire from it can +smooth map between manifolds: it is a simpler case of something greater, but in +some sense it is too simple of a case, and the intuition we acquire from it can be a bit misleading in regards to the general setting. For instance, I distinctly remember my Calculus I teacher telling the class ``the derivative of the composition of two functions is not the composition of their derivatives'' -- which is, of course, the \emph{correct} formulation of the chain rule in the context of smooth manifolds. -The same applies to \(\mathfrak{sl}_2(K)\). It's a simple and beautiful +The same applies to \(\mathfrak{sl}_2(K)\). It is a simple and beautiful example, but unfortunately the general picture, representations of arbitrary semisimple algebras, lacks its simplicity. The general purpose of this section is to investigate to which extent the framework we developed for @@ -273,14 +273,14 @@ course, the algebra \(\mathfrak{sl}_3(K)\) stands as a natural candidate for potential generalizations: \(\mathfrak{sl}_3(K) = \mathfrak{sl}_{2 + 1}(K)\) after all. -Our approach is very straightforward: we'll fix some irreducible representation +Our approach is very straightforward: we will fix some irreducible representation \(V\) of \(\mathfrak{sl}_3(K)\) and proceed step by step, at each point asking ourselves how we could possibly adapt the framework we laid out for \(\mathfrak{sl}_2(K)\). The first obvious question is one we have already asked ourselves: why \(h\)? More specifically, why did we choose to study its eigenvalues and is there an analogue of \(h\) in \(\mathfrak{sl}_3(K)\)? -The answer to the former question is one we'll discuss at length in the next +The answer to the former question is one we will discuss at length in the next chapter, but for now we note that perhaps the most fundamental property of \(h\) is that \emph{there exists an eigenvector \(v\) of \(h\) that is annihilated by \(e\)} -- that being the generator of the right-most eigenspace @@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ representations of \(\mathfrak{sl}_2(K)\) culminating in theorem~\ref{thm:sl2-exist-unique}. Our first task is to find some analogue of \(h\) in \(\mathfrak{sl}_3(K)\), but -it's still unclear what exactly we are looking for. We could say we're looking +it is still unclear what exactly we are looking for. We could say we are looking for an element of \(V\) that is annihilated by some analogue of \(e\), but the meaning of \emph{some analogue of \(e\)} is again unclear. In fact, as we shall see, no such analogue exists and neither does such element. Instead, the actual @@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ way to proceed is to consider the subalgebra \] The choice of \(\mathfrak{h}\) may seem like an odd choice at the moment, but -the point is we'll later show that there exists some \(v \in V\) that is +the point is we will later show that there exists some \(v \in V\) that is simultaneously an eigenvector of each \(H \in \mathfrak{h}\) and annihilated by half of the remaining elements of \(\mathfrak{sl}_3(K)\). This is exactly analogous to the situation we found in \(\mathfrak{sl}_2(K)\): \(h\) @@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ turn correspond to linear functions \(\lambda : \mathfrak{h} \to k\) such that \(\mathfrak{h}\)}, and we say \emph{\(v\) is an eigenvector of \(\mathfrak{h}\)}. -Once again, we'll pay special attention to the eigenvalue decomposition +Once again, we will pay special attention to the eigenvalue decomposition \begin{equation}\label{eq:weight-module} V = \bigoplus_\lambda V_\lambda \end{equation} @@ -451,14 +451,14 @@ eigenvalues of the action of \(\mathfrak{h}\) on \(V\) and eigenvalues of the adjoint action of \(\mathfrak{h}\). \begin{definition} - Given a representation \(V\) of \(\mathfrak{sl}_3(K)\), we'll call the + Given a representation \(V\) of \(\mathfrak{sl}_3(K)\), we will call the nonzero eigenvalues of the action of \(\mathfrak{h}\) on \(V\) \emph{weights - of \(V\)}. As you might have guessed, we'll correspondingly refer to + of \(V\)}. As you might have guessed, we will correspondingly refer to eigenvectors and eigenspaces of a given weight by \emph{weight vectors} and \emph{weight spaces}. \end{definition} -It's clear from our previous discussion that the weights of the adjoint +It is clear from our previous discussion that the weights of the adjoint representation of \(\mathfrak{sl}_3(K)\) deserve some special attention. \begin{definition} @@ -650,12 +650,12 @@ As a first consequence of this, we show\dots \lambda([E_{2 3}, E_{3 2}]) \alpha_2 \in P\). \end{proof} -There's a clear parallel between the case of \(\mathfrak{sl}_3(K)\) and that of +There is a clear parallel between the case of \(\mathfrak{sl}_3(K)\) and that of \(\mathfrak{sl}_2(K)\), where we observed that the eigenvalues of the action of \(h\) all lied in the lattice \(P = \mathbb{Z}\) and were congruent modulo the sublattice \(Q = 2 \mathbb{Z}\). Among other things, this last result goes to -show that the diagrams we've been drawing are in fact consistent with the -theory we've developed. Namely, since all weights lie in the rational span of +show that the diagrams we have been drawing are in fact consistent with the +theory we have developed. Namely, since all weights lie in the rational span of \(\{\alpha_1, \alpha_2, \alpha_3\}\), we may as well draw them in the Cartesian plane. @@ -686,7 +686,7 @@ For instance, let's say we fix the direction and let \(\lambda\) be the weight lying the furthest in this direction. Its easy to see what we mean intuitively by looking at the previous picture, -but its precise meaning is still allusive. Formally this means we'll choose a +but its precise meaning is still allusive. Formally this means we will choose a linear functional \(f : \mathbb{Q} P \to \mathbb{Q}\) and pick the weight that maximizes \(f\). To avoid any ambiguity we should choose the direction of a line irrational with respect to the root lattice \(Q\). For instance if we choose @@ -751,12 +751,12 @@ irreducible representations in terms of a highest weight vector, which allowed us to provide an explicit description of the action of \(\mathfrak{sl}_2(K)\) in terms of its standard basis, and finally we concluded that the eigenvalues of \(h\) must be symmetrical around \(0\). An analogous procedure could be -implemented for \(\mathfrak{sl}_3(K)\) -- and indeed that's what we'll do later +implemented for \(\mathfrak{sl}_3(K)\) -- and indeed that's what we will do later down the line -- but instead we would like to focus on the problem of finding the weights of \(V\) in the first place. -We'll start out by trying to understand the weights in the boundary of -previously drawn cone. As we've just seen, we can get to other weight spaces +We will start out by trying to understand the weights in the boundary of +previously drawn cone. As we have just seen, we can get to other weight spaces from \(V_\lambda\) by successively applying \(E_{2 1}\). \begin{center} \begin{tikzpicture} @@ -861,7 +861,7 @@ of our string, arriving at \end{tikzpicture} \end{center} -We claim all dots \(\mu\) lying inside the hexagon we've drawn must also be +We claim all dots \(\mu\) lying inside the hexagon we have drawn must also be weights -- i.e. \(V_\mu \ne 0\). Indeed, by applying the same argument to an arbitrary weight \(\nu\) in the boundary of the hexagon we get a representation of \(\mathfrak{sl}_2(K)\) whose weights correspond to weights of \(V\) lying in @@ -950,7 +950,7 @@ This final picture is known as \emph{the weight diagram of \(V\)}. Finally\dots reflections across the lines \(B(\alpha_i - \alpha_j, \alpha) = 0\). \end{theorem} -Having found all of the weights of \(V\), the only thing we're missing is an +Having found all of the weights of \(V\), the only thing we are missing is an existence and uniqueness theorem analogous to theorem~\ref{thm:sl2-exist-unique}. In other words, our next goal is establishing\dots @@ -1002,7 +1002,7 @@ Specifically\dots \] for all \(H \in \mathfrak{h}\) and \(W\) is stable under the action of \(\mathfrak{h}\). On the other hand, \(W\) is clearly stable under the action - of \(E_{2 1}\), \(E_{3 1}\) and \(E_{3 2}\). All it's left is to show \(W\) + of \(E_{2 1}\), \(E_{3 1}\) and \(E_{3 2}\). All it is left is to show \(W\) is stable under the action of \(E_{1 2}\), \(E_{1 3}\) and \(E_{2 3}\). We begin by analyzing the case of \(E_{1 2}\). We have @@ -1206,9 +1206,9 @@ simpler than that. \] \end{proof} -We've been very successful in our pursue for a classification of the +We have been very successful in our pursue for a classification of the irreducible representations of \(\mathfrak{sl}_2(K)\) and -\(\mathfrak{sl}_3(K)\), but so far we've mostly postponed the discussion on the +\(\mathfrak{sl}_3(K)\), but so far we have mostly postponed the discussion on the motivation behind our methods. In particular, we did not explain why we chose \(h\) and \(\mathfrak{h}\), and neither why we chose to look at their eigenvalues. Apart from the obvious fact we already knew it would work a