# group

Group.
A group is a pair $(G,\,*)$, where $G$ is a non-empty set and “$*$” is a binary operation on $G$, such that the following conditions hold:

• For any $a,b$ in $G$,  $a*b$  belongs to $G$. (The operation$*$” is closed).

• For any  $a,b,c\in G$,  $(a*b)*c=a*(b*c)$.  (Associativity of the operation).

• There is an element $e\in G$ such that  $g*e=e*g=g$  for any  $g\in G$. (Existence of identity element).

• For any  $g\in G$  there exists an element $h$ such that  $g*h=h*g=e$.  (Existence of inverses).

If $G$ is a group under *, then * is referred to as the group operation of $G$.

Usually, the symbol “$*$” is omitted and we write  $ab$  for $a*b$.  Sometimes, the symbol “$+$” is used to represent the operation, especially when the group is abelian.

It can be proved that there is only one identity element, and that for every element there is only one inverse.  Because of this we usually denote the inverse of $a$ as $a^{-1}$ or $-a$ when we are using additive notation.  The identity element is also called neutral element due to its behavior with respect to the operation, and thus $a^{-1}$ is sometimes (although uncommonly) called the neutralizing element of $a$. An element of a group besides the identity element is sometimes called a non-trivial element.

Groups often arise as the symmetry groups of other mathematical objects; the study of such situations uses group actions.  In fact, much of the study of groups themselves is conducted using group actions.

 Title group Canonical name Group Date of creation 2013-03-22 11:42:53 Last modified on 2013-03-22 11:42:53 Owner drini (3) Last modified by drini (3) Numerical id 34 Author drini (3) Entry type Definition Classification msc 14F99 Classification msc 08A99 Classification msc 20A05 Classification msc 20-00 Classification msc 83C99 Classification msc 32C05 Related topic Subgroup Related topic CyclicGroup Related topic Simple Related topic SymmetricGroup Related topic FreeGroup Related topic Ring Related topic Field Related topic GroupHomomorphism Related topic LagrangesTheorem Related topic IdentityElement Related topic ProperSubgroup Related topic Groupoid Related topic FundamentalGroup Related topic TopologicalGroup Related topic LieGroup Related topic ProofThatGInGImpliesThatLangleGRangleLeG Related topic GeneralizedCyclicGroup Defines identity Defines inverse Defines neutralizing element Defines non-trivial element Defines nontrivial element Defines group operation