Group Proof

Monday, 28 February 2022 2:31 pm

Closure applies to the set, not the operation

It is required to show that the product is in the set so breakdown into components.
Eg, let etc
Associativity
bracket shift
No breakdown into components required

The identity element is related to the operation

If the operation is commutative, the right identity = the left identity
Otherwise, show that both are equal

Check:
• It must be unique. If the solution to function of a then it is not unique
• must be in the set

Inverse
Solve
e must be found first
The solution is not unique and can contain a

It is required to show that the product is in the set so breakdown into components.
Eg, let etc

Check:

The smallest subgroup is

The largest subgroup is
Every group as two subgroups, itself and

Groups Page 1
Properties
Monday, 28 February 2022 4:45 pm

• Nonempty, it has at the very least

• For two elements in
• Order of an element is the smallest
positive integer such that
• The generator element of a cyclic group g,
is the element that gives all the other
elements when raised to
• The order of a group is the number
of elements in the set ,
• If and is cyclic and has an
element of order , (such that )
then is a generator of

Groups Page 2
Solving equations
Tuesday, 1 March 2022 2:44 am

Do not assume other operations

• Use group definition rules:
○ closure,
○ associativity,
○ identity is unique and included and

○ all elements have inverses and

• And group theorems derived:
○
○
• To remove an element add the inverse(to
both) sides, group it by associativity,
equate it to e and then remove e

Groups Page 3
Subgroups - proofs
Tuesday, 1 March 2022 5:03 am

Theorem 1: One-Step

1. if is a group, is a non-empty subset and is such that ,

, , then is a subgroup
2. If H is a subgroup, then , ,

One step subgroup test

First, show that H is non-empty (the identity is in it)

Then,
Let , , show that
Find
Find
Show that

Theorem 2:

For a group with finite, non-empty subset

is a subgroup

To find , take each element of H and use the group operation ~ to

finf …

Theorem works for finite sets. Show , Hence it is a subgroup

Groups Page 4
Two Step
Friday, 4 March 2022 8:39 am

1. Non-empty subset
a. Prove subset and prove nonempty, use
identity or example
2. Closure:
a. Show that
3. Inverse:
a. Find inverse using
b. Show and that it is the inverse
c. Show

Groups Page 5
One Step
Friday, 4 March 2022 9:22 am

1) [Non-empty subset]
a. Prove subset
b. Prove non-empty
2)
Let , , show that

• Let ,
• Find
• Find
• Show that

Groups Page 6
Finite Subgroup Test
Friday, 4 March 2022 3:12 pm

Draw up a table and show closure

Groups Page 7
H*H = H
Friday, 1 April 2022 12:29 pm

To prove finite subset is a subgroup

Groups Page 8
Tables
Friday, 4 March 2022 10:27 am

If given a table for a finite small set,

• Closure: state that all the outcomes in
the table are in the set
• Commutative: Symmetric along the main
diagonal
• Identity: look for duplicate row (left
identity) and column (right identity)
• Inverse:
○ Find e first
○ Identify all occurrences of e in the
array of outcomes
○ Find the corresponding binary
equations left inverse * right inverse =
e
○ If left inverse = right inverse, then this
is an inverse

Groups Page 9
Order
Sunday, 3 April 2022 9:50 am

Order of a group is the number of elements

in its set, (the elements, could be numbers,
functions, matrices…)

Order of an element is the smallest positive

integer such that if such an exist.
Otherwise is of infinite order.

Groups Page 10