Difference between revisions of "Group theory"

Line 1: Line 1:
 
'''Group theory''' is the area of mathematics which deals directly with the study of [[group]]s.
 
'''Group theory''' is the area of mathematics which deals directly with the study of [[group]]s.
 
In order for a set <math>G</math> to be considered a group, it must have the following four properties:
 
 
1) An operation <math>*</math> (such as addition or multiplication, although multiplication is standard) is defined on <math>G</math>.
 
2)<math>G</math> has an has an identity element <math>j</math> under <math>*</math> such that for any element <math>a</math> in <math>G</math>, <math>j*a=a*j=a</math>.
 
3)The operation is associative, which means for any three elements <math>a</math>,  ''b'', and ''c'' in ''G'', (''a''*''b'')*''c''=a*(''b''*''c'')
 
4)Every element ''a'' in ''G'' has an inverse "x" under * that is also in ''G'' such that ''a''*''x''=''x''*''a''=''j''.
 
 
  
 
{{stub}}
 
{{stub}}
  
 
[[Category:Group theory]]
 
[[Category:Group theory]]

Revision as of 20:21, 13 March 2008

Group theory is the area of mathematics which deals directly with the study of groups.

This article is a stub. Help us out by expanding it.