GROUP THEORY - DISCRETE STRUCTURES

 

GROUP THEORY

INTRODUCTION

  • To define general algebraic systems such as semigroups, monoids, and groups.
  • And discuss some of their basic properties and concepts.
  • Semigroups find their applications in computer arithmetic such as multiplication, theory of sequential machines and formal languages. 
  • Monoids are used in the study of syntactic analysis and formal languages.  
  • Group theory is useful in the design of fast adders and error-correcting codes.

 

ALGEBRAIC SYSTEMS

Definition

  • A system consisting of a non-empty set and one or more n-ary operations on the set is called an algebraic system. 
  • An algebraic system will be denoted by {S,f1,f2,….}, where S is the non-empty set and f1,f2,… are n-ary operations on S. 
  • We will mostly deal with algebraic systems, with n=1 and 2, containing one or two operations only.  Though we will mostly deal with one algebraic system only, we may occasionally consider two or more systems which are of the same ‘type’ in some sense.

General Properties of Algebraic Systems

Let {S,*,} be an algebraic system, where * and are binary operations on S.

 

1.Closure Property

For any a,bS, 

a*bS

Example

If a,bZ,

a+bZ and

a×bZ

where + and × are the operations  of addition and multiplication.

 

2.Associativity

For any a,b,cS,

(a*b)*c = a*(b*c)

Example

If a,b,cZ,

(a+b)+c = a+(b+c) and

(a×b)×c = a×(b×c)

 

3.Commutativity

For any a,b S,

a*b = b*a

Example

If a,bZ,

a+b = b+a and

a×b = b×a

 

4.Identity Element

There exists a distinguished element eS, Such that for any aS,

a*e = e*a = a

The element eS is called the identity element of S with respect to operation *.

Example

0 and 1 are the identity elements of Z with respect to the operations of addition and multiplication respectively,

since, for any aZ

a+0 = 0+a = a

a×1 = 1×a = a

 

5.Inverse Element

For each aS, there exists an element a-1S such that

a*a-1 = a-1*a = e

The element a-1S is called the inverse of a under the operation *.

Example

For each aZ, -a is the inverse of a under the operation of addition, since,

a+(-a) = (-a)+ a = 0

where 0 is the identity element of Z under addition.

 

6.Distributivity

For any a,b,cS,

a*(bc) = a*ba*c

In this case the operation * is said to be distributive over the operation .

Example

The usual multiplication is distributive over addition, since

a×(b+c) = a×b+a×c

 

7.Cancellation Property

For any a,b,c S and a≠0,

a*b = a*c  ⇒  b=c and

b*a = c*a  ⇒  b=c

Example

Cancellation property holds good for any a,b,cZ under addition and multiplication.

 

8.Idempotent Element

An element aS is called an idempotent element with respect to the operation *, if

a*a = a

Example

i)0Z is an idempotent element under addition, since,

0+0 = 0

ii)0 and 1Z are idempotent elements under multiplication, since,

0×0 = 0 and

1×1 = 1  

 

9.Homomorphism

If {X,•} and {Y,*} are two algebraic systems, where • and * are binary (n-ary) operations, then a mapping

g: X→Y

is called a homomorphism or simply morphism from {X,•} to {Y,*}, if for any x1,x2X,

g(x1•x2) = g(x1)* g(x2)

If a function g satisfying the above condition exists, then {Y,*} is called the homomorphic image of { X,•}, even though g(X)Y.

The concepts of homomorphism holds good for algebraic systems with more than one binary operations.  Also more than one homomorphic mapping is possible from one algebraic system to another.

 

9(a) Epimorphism

If the homomorphism g: {X,•} → {Y,*} is onto, the g is called an epimorphism.

 

9(b) Monomorphism

If the homomorphism g: {X,•} → {Y,*} is one-to-one, then g is called a monomorphism.

 

9(c) Isomorsphism

If g: {X,•} → {Y,*} is one-to-one onto, then g is called an isomorphism.  In this case the algebraic systems {X,•} and {Y,*} are said to be isomorphic or to be of the  same type.

 

9(d) Endomorphism

A homomorphism g: {X,•} → {Y,*} is called an endomorphism, if YX.

 

9(e) Automorphism

An isomorphism g: {X,•} → {Y,*} is called an automorphism, Y=X.

 

10.Subalgebra

If {X,•} is an algebraic system and Y is a non-empty set such that YX is closed under the operation •, then {Y,•} is called a sub-algebraic system or a subalgebra of {X,•}.

Example

{Z+,×} is a subalgebra of the algebra {Z,×}, where × is the multiplication operator.

 

11.Direct Product

If {X,•} and{Y,*} are two algebraic systems of the same type, then the algebraic system {X×Y,} is called  the direct product of the algebras {X,•} and {Y,*}, provided the operation is defined for any x1,x2X and y1,y2Y as

(x1,y1)(x2,y2) = { x1•x2, y1*y2 }

The original algebraic systems are called the factor algebras of {X×Y,}.


SEMIGROUPS AND MONOIDS

Definition of a Semigroup

If S is a non-empty set and * be a binary operation on S, then the algebraic system {S,*} is called a semigroup, if it holds following two conditions simultaneously

i.Closure

    If for any a,bS, 

    a*b∈ S

ii.Associative

    If for any a,b,cS,

    (a*b)*c=a*(b*c)

Example

1.If E is the set of positive even numbers, then {E,+} and {E,×} are semigroups.

2.The set S={1,2,3,…} with addition operation is a semigroup.

Here closure property holds as for every pair 1+2=3S

Associative property also holds for every element (1+2)+3=1+(2+3)=5S

 

Definition of a Monoid

If a semigroup {M,*} has an identity element with respect to the operation *, then {M,*} is called a monoid.  So, a monoid holds three properties simultaneously

i.Closure

    If for any a,bS, 

    a*bS

ii.Associative

    If for any a,b,cS,

    (a*b)*c=a*(b*c)

iii.Identity element

    If there exists an element eM such that for any aM,

    e*a=a*e=a

    then the algebraic system {M,*} is called a monoid.

Example

1.If N is the set of natural numbers, then {N,+} and {N,×} are monoids with the identity elements 0 and 1 respectively.

2.The set S={1,2,3,…} with multiplication operation is a monoid.

Here closure property holds as for every pair 1×2=3S

Associative property holds for every element (1×2)×3=1×(2×3)=6S

Identity property also holds for every element  (2×1)=2, (3×1)=3 and so on. Here identity element is 1.

 

HOMOMORPHISM OF SEMIGROUPS AND MONOIDS

Definition of Semigroups Homomorphism

If {S,*} and {T,∆} are any two semigroups, then a mapping g: S→T such that, for any two elements a,b S,

g(a*b) = g(a) ∆ g(b)                                             

is called a semigroup homomorphism.

As defined in general algebraic system, a semigroup homomorphism is called a semigroup epimorphism, semigroup monomorphism or semigroup isomorphism, according as the mapping g is onto, one-to-one or one-to-one onto. 

 

Definition of Monoids Homomorphism

If {M,*,eM } and {T,∆,eT } are any two monoids, where eM and eT are identity elements of M and T with respect to the corresponding binary operations * and ∆ respectively, then a mapping

g: M→T  such that, for any two elements a,bM,

g(a*b) = g(a)  ∆  g(b) and                                  

g(eM)  = eT                                                                   

is called a monoid homomorphism. 

As before monoid epimorphism, monoid monomorphism and monoid isomorphism are defined.


SUBSEMIGROUPS AND SUBMONOIDS

Definition of Subsemigroup

If {S,*} is a semigroup and TS is closed under the operation *, then {T,*} is called a subsemigroup of {S,*}.

Example

If the set E of all even non-negative integers, then {E,+} is a semigroup of the semigroup {N,+}, where N is the set of natural numbers.

 

Definition of Submonoids

If {M,*,e} is a monoid and TM is closed under the operations * and eT, then {T,*,e} is called a submonoid of {M,*,e}.

Example

If E is the set of all non-negative even integers, then {E,+,0} is a submonoid of {N,+,0}, where N is the set of natural numbers.

 

GROUPS

Definition

If G is a non-empty set and * is a binary operation of G, then the algebraic system {G,*} is called a group if the following conditions are satisfied:

For all a b,c G,

        (a*b)*c=a*(b*c) (Associativity)

There exists an element  eG  such that, for any  aG,

        a*e=e*a=a  (Existence of identity)

For every  aG, there exists an element  a-1G   such that

        a* a-1  = a-1*a = e (Existence of inverse)

Note:   The algebraic system {S,*} is a semigroup, if * is associative.  If there exists an identity element e S, then {S,*}   is a monoid. Further if there exists an inverse for each element of S, then {S,*} is a group.

Example

{Z,+} is a group under the usual addition.

Definitions

  • When G is finite, the numbers of elements of G is called the Order of G and denoted by O(G) or G
  • If the element aG, where G is a group with identity element e, then the least positive integer m for which am = e is called  the order of the element a and denoted as O(a). 
  • If no such integer exists, then a is of infinity order.
  • A group {G,*}, in which the binary operation * is commutative is called a commutative group or abelian group.

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