Representations of the cyclically symmetric q-deformed algebra $so_q(3)$
An algebra homomorphism $ψ$ from the nonstandard q-deformed (cyclically symmetric) algebra $U_q(so_3)$ to the extension ${\hat U}_q(sl_2)$ of the Hopf algebra $U_q(sl_2)$ is constructed. Not all irreducible representations of $U_q(sl_2)$ can be extended to representations of ${\hat U}_q(sl_2)$. Composing the homomorphism $ψ$ with irreducible representations of ${\hat U}_q(sl_2)$ we obtain representations of $U_q(so_3)$. Not all of these representations of $U_q(so_3)$ are irreducible. Reducible representations of $U_q(so_3)$ are decomposed into irreducible components. In this way we obtain all irreducible representations of $U_q(so_3)$ when $q$ is not a root of unity. A part of these representations turns into irreducible representations of the Lie algebra so$_3$ when $q\to 1$. Representations of the other part have no classical analogue. Using the homomorphism $ψ$ it is shown how to construct tensor products of finite dimensional representations of $U_q(so_3)$. Irreducible representations of $U_q(so_3)$ when $q$ is a root of unity are constructed. Part of them are obtained from irreducible representations of ${\hat U}_q(sl_2)$ by means of the homomorphism $ψ$.