What is the difference between a calculus and an algebra? [duplicate]

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You can have a lambda calculus, the calculus of the real numbers or a logical calculus but on the other hand you could also have an algebra of sets, a Lie algebra, or a linear algebra.

Is there any convention which dictates whether something is an algebra or a calculus?

From my understanding, a calculus seems to give you information about objects you might encounter within a space, while an algebra gives you information about the interactions and structure within the space as a whole. Is this correct?

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1 Answer

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A calculus is a system of rules for manipulating symbols and expressions. An algebra is a set with operations that can be preformed on its elements.

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