In mathematics, the term primitive element can mean: Primitive root modulo n, in number theory Primitive element (field theory), an element that generates a given field extension Primitive element (finite field), an element that generates the multiplicative group of a finite field Primitive element (lattice), an element in a lattice that is not a positive integer multiple of another element in the lattice Primitive element (coalgebra), an element X on which the comultiplication Δ has the value Δ(X) = X⊗1 + 1⊗X Primitive element (free group), an element of a free generating set Primitive element (Lie algebra), a Borel-weight vector See also Primitive element theorem Primitive root (disambiguation)