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== Theorems == | == Theorems == | ||
=== Element commutes with inverse === | === Element commutes with inverse === | ||
| − | <math> | + | Thm: <math>\forall a\in G</math> <math>a\cdot a^{-1} = a^{-1}\cdot a = 1</math> |
| − | <math> | + | Prf: Let <math>a</math> be an arbitrary element of <math>G</math>. Since <math>a^{-1}\in G</math>, it has an inverse <math>(a^{-1})^{-1}</math> in <math>G</math> such that <math>(a^{-1})^{-1}\cdot a^{-1} = 1</math> by the inverse axiom. But <math>1\cdot a^{-1} = a^{-1}</math> by the identity axiom, so substituting into the previous equation: <math>(a^{-1})^{-1}\cdot (1\cdot a^{-1}) = 1</math>. But by the inverse axiom, <math>1 = a^{-1}\cdot a</math>, so substituting again: <math>(a^{-1})^{-1}((a^{-1}\cdot a)\cdot a^{-1}) = 1</math> and by associativity <math>((a^{-1})^{-1}\cdot a^{-1})\cdot(a\cdot a^{-1}) = 1</math>. But <math>((a^{-1})^{-1}\cdot a^{-1}) = 1</math> and <math>1\cdot(a\cdot a^{-1}) = a\cdot a^{-1}</math>, so <math>a\cdot a^{-1} = 1</math>. Since <math>a^{-1}\cdot a = 1</math> is given by the inverse axiom, <math>a\cdot a^{-1} = a^{-1}\cdot a = 1</math>. |
Revision as of 11:17, 14 May 2008
Definition (left-sided)
A group $ \langle G, \cdot \rangle $ is a set G and a Binary Operation_OldKiwi $ \cdot $ on G (closed over G by definition) such that the group axioms hold:
- Associativity: $ a\cdot(b\cdot c) = (a\cdot b)\cdot c $ $ \forall a,b,c \in G $
- Identity: $ \exists e\in G $ such that $ e\cdot a = a $ $ \forall a \in G $
- Inverse: $ \forall a\in G $ $ \exists a^{-1}\in G $ such that $ a^{-1}\cdot a = e $
Notation
Groups written additively use + to denote their Binary Operation_OldKiwi, 0 to denote their identity, $ -a $ to denote the inverse of element $ a $, and $ na $ to denote $ a + a + \ldots + a $ ($ n $ terms).
Groups written multiplicatively use $ \cdot $ or juxtaposition to denote their Binary Operation_OldKiwi, 1 to denote their identity, $ a^{-1} $ to denote the inverse of element $ a $, and $ a^n $ to denote $ a \cdot a \cdot \ldots \cdot a $ ($ n $ terms).
Theorems
Element commutes with inverse
Thm: $ \forall a\in G $ $ a\cdot a^{-1} = a^{-1}\cdot a = 1 $
Prf: Let $ a $ be an arbitrary element of $ G $. Since $ a^{-1}\in G $, it has an inverse $ (a^{-1})^{-1} $ in $ G $ such that $ (a^{-1})^{-1}\cdot a^{-1} = 1 $ by the inverse axiom. But $ 1\cdot a^{-1} = a^{-1} $ by the identity axiom, so substituting into the previous equation: $ (a^{-1})^{-1}\cdot (1\cdot a^{-1}) = 1 $. But by the inverse axiom, $ 1 = a^{-1}\cdot a $, so substituting again: $ (a^{-1})^{-1}((a^{-1}\cdot a)\cdot a^{-1}) = 1 $ and by associativity $ ((a^{-1})^{-1}\cdot a^{-1})\cdot(a\cdot a^{-1}) = 1 $. But $ ((a^{-1})^{-1}\cdot a^{-1}) = 1 $ and $ 1\cdot(a\cdot a^{-1}) = a\cdot a^{-1} $, so $ a\cdot a^{-1} = 1 $. Since $ a^{-1}\cdot a = 1 $ is given by the inverse axiom, $ a\cdot a^{-1} = a^{-1}\cdot a = 1 $.
