Powers of Group Elements/Negative Index
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Theorem
Let $\left({G,*}\right)$ be a group whose identity is $e$.
Let $g \in G$.
Then:
- $\forall n \in \Z: \left({g^n}\right)^{-1} = g^{-n} = \left({g^{-1}}\right)^n$
Additive Notation
This can also be written in additive notation as:
- $\forall n \in \Z: - \left({n g}\right) = \left({-n}\right) g = n \left({-g}\right)$
Proof
All elements of a group are invertible, so we can directly use the result from Index Laws for Monoids: Sum of Indices:
- $\forall n \in \Z: \left({g^n}\right)^{-1} = g^{-n} = \left({g^{-1}}\right)^n$
$\blacksquare$
Sources
- J.A. Green: Sets and Groups (1965)... (previous)... (next): $\S 4.6$: Theorem $\text{(v)}$
- Allan Clark: Elements of Abstract Algebra (1971)... (previous)... (next): $\S 27$
- Thomas A. Whitelaw: An Introduction to Abstract Algebra (1978)... (previous)... (next): $\S 35.10$
- John F. Humphreys: A Course in Group Theory (1996): $\S 3$: Proposition $3.8$