  If A is an algebra of functions on X, there are many cases when X can be
regarded as included in Hom(A,C) as the set of ring homomorphisms. In this
paper the corresponding results for the symmetric products of X are introduced.
It is shown that the symmetric product Sym^n(X) is included in Hom(A,C) as the
set of those functions that satisfy equations generalising f(xy)=f(x)f(y).
These equations are related to formulae introduced by Frobenius and, for the
relevant A, they characterise linear maps on A that are the sum of ring
homomorphisms. The main theorem is proved using an identity satisfied by
partitions of finite sets.
