In mathematics, if G is a group and ρ is a linear representation of it on the vector space V, then the dual representation ρ is defined over the dual vector space V as follows[1]:
for all g in G. Then ρ is also a representation, as may be checked explicitly. The dual representation is also known as the contragredient representation.
If is a Lie algebra and ρ is a representation of it over the vector space V, then the dual representation ρ is defined over the dual vector space V as follows[2]:
For a unitary representation, the conjugate representation and the dual representation coincide, up to equivalence of representations.
A general ring module does not admit a dual representation. Modules of Hopf algebras do, however.