Real division algebras and other algebras motivated by physics

In this survey we discuss several general techniques which have been productive in the study of real division algebras, flexible Lie-admissible algebras, and other nonassociative algebras, and we summarize results obtained using these methods. The principal method involved in this work is to view an algebra A as a module for a semisimple Lie algebra of derivations of A and to use representation theory to study products in A. In the case of real division algebras, we also discuss the use of isotopy and the use of a generalized Peirce decomposition. Most of the work summarized here has appeared in more detail in various other papers. The exceptions are results on a class of algebras of dimension 15, motivated by physics, which admit the Lie algebra sl(3) as an algebra of derivations.