- #1
wubie
Hello,
I just started doing groups in my algebra class and I am struggling with the abstraction of it as usual.
Here is how my class defines a group:
A group is a nonempty set G with a binary operation "o" such that for all of x,y,z which are elements of the group the following holds:
(P0) If x and y are elements of G, then x o y are elements of G.
(P1) x o (y o z) = (x o y) o z
(P2) There's a u which is an element of G such that u o x = x = x o u
(P3) For every x which is an element of G there is an x-1 such that x o x-1 = u and x-1 o x = u.
Here is my question:
Which of the following are groups? Justify your answer.
iii) The set of all rational numbers except -1, with the operation o defined by x o y = x + y + xy.
iv) The set of all integers that are multiples of a fixed integer d, with the operation of addition.
I think I have iv). I believe it is a group.
By (P0), let t = xd and u =yd where x and y are elements of Z. Then u + t = xd + yd = d(x + y).
By (P1) let p = wd, t = xd and u =yd. Then p + (t + u) = (p + t) + u
By (P2) let u = 0*d and t = xd then t + u = 0*d + xd = 0 + xd = xd and vice versa.
By (P3) Let t = xd and w = -xd then t + w = u = w + t.
Now for iii), I am not sure if I understand the situation.
I think that addition by rationals results in rationals. I also think that addition of rationals are associative. But I am not sure how to apply P2 and P3 especially since I am not sure how to interpret
and how to apply the axioms P2 and P3 to it.
It may seem obvious to others, but it is not obvious to me (sometimes I have to read the most elementry passages many times and wait for a period of time before I absorb it). Perhaps someone who understands the situation can reword it for me? It may help me understand it better.
Any help is appreciated. Thankyou.
I just started doing groups in my algebra class and I am struggling with the abstraction of it as usual.
Here is how my class defines a group:
A group is a nonempty set G with a binary operation "o" such that for all of x,y,z which are elements of the group the following holds:
(P0) If x and y are elements of G, then x o y are elements of G.
(P1) x o (y o z) = (x o y) o z
(P2) There's a u which is an element of G such that u o x = x = x o u
(P3) For every x which is an element of G there is an x-1 such that x o x-1 = u and x-1 o x = u.
Here is my question:
Which of the following are groups? Justify your answer.
iii) The set of all rational numbers except -1, with the operation o defined by x o y = x + y + xy.
iv) The set of all integers that are multiples of a fixed integer d, with the operation of addition.
I think I have iv). I believe it is a group.
By (P0), let t = xd and u =yd where x and y are elements of Z. Then u + t = xd + yd = d(x + y).
By (P1) let p = wd, t = xd and u =yd. Then p + (t + u) = (p + t) + u
By (P2) let u = 0*d and t = xd then t + u = 0*d + xd = 0 + xd = xd and vice versa.
By (P3) Let t = xd and w = -xd then t + w = u = w + t.
Now for iii), I am not sure if I understand the situation.
I think that addition by rationals results in rationals. I also think that addition of rationals are associative. But I am not sure how to apply P2 and P3 especially since I am not sure how to interpret
the operation o defined by x o y = x + y + xy
and how to apply the axioms P2 and P3 to it.
It may seem obvious to others, but it is not obvious to me (sometimes I have to read the most elementry passages many times and wait for a period of time before I absorb it). Perhaps someone who understands the situation can reword it for me? It may help me understand it better.
Any help is appreciated. Thankyou.
Last edited by a moderator: