Axiom:Group Axioms
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Definition
A group is an algebraic structure $\struct {G, \circ}$ which satisfies the following four conditions:
\((\text G 0)\) | $:$ | Closure | \(\ds \forall a, b \in G:\) | \(\ds a \circ b \in G \) | |||||
\((\text G 1)\) | $:$ | Associativity | \(\ds \forall a, b, c \in G:\) | \(\ds a \circ \paren {b \circ c} = \paren {a \circ b} \circ c \) | |||||
\((\text G 2)\) | $:$ | Identity | \(\ds \exists e \in G: \forall a \in G:\) | \(\ds e \circ a = a = a \circ e \) | |||||
\((\text G 3)\) | $:$ | Inverse | \(\ds \forall a \in G: \exists b \in G:\) | \(\ds a \circ b = e = b \circ a \) |
These four stipulations are called the group axioms.
Also known as
The group axioms are also known as the group postulates, but the latter term is less indicative of the nature of these statements.
The numbering of the axioms themselves is to a certain extent arbitrary. For example, some sources do not include $\text G 0$ on the grounds that it is taken for granted that $\circ$ is closed in $G$. However, in the treatment of more abstract aspects of group theory it is recommended that this axiom be taken into account.
Also see
Sources
- 1964: Walter Ledermann: Introduction to the Theory of Finite Groups (5th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text {I}$: The Group Concept: $\S 2$: The Axioms of Group Theory
- 1965: J.A. Green: Sets and Groups ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 4.4$. Gruppoids, semigroups and groups
- 1971: Allan Clark: Elements of Abstract Algebra ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $2$: The Definition of Group Structure: $\S 27$
- 1972: A.G. Howson: A Handbook of Terms used in Algebra and Analysis ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 5$: Groups $\text{I}$
- 1974: Robert Gilmore: Lie Groups, Lie Algebras and Some of their Applications ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $1$: Introductory Concepts: $1$. Basic Building Blocks: $2$. GROUP
- 1978: Thomas A. Whitelaw: An Introduction to Abstract Algebra ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 33$. The definition of a group
- 1982: P.M. Cohn: Algebra Volume 1 (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 3.2$: Groups; the axioms
- 1996: John F. Humphreys: A Course in Group Theory ... (next): Chapter $1$: Definitions and Examples: Definition $1.1$