Special multiserial algebras are quotients of symmetric special multiserial algebras

- Recall of the definitions of special multiserial and almost gentle algebras.
- Introduction of the new notions of defining pairs and algebras defined by cycles.
- Proof that every symmetric special multiserial algebra is isomorphic to an algebra defined by cycles.
- Introduction of two functions determining the unique predecessor and successor of an element in a special multiserial algebra if they exist.
- Proof that every special multiserial algebra is a quotient of a symmetric special multiserial algebra.

In this paper we give a new definition of symmetric special multiserial algebras in terms of defining cycles. As a consequence, we show that every special multiserial algebra is a quotient of a symmetric special multiserial algebra.