Definition:Group Action

Definition

Let $X$ be a set.

Let $\struct {G, \circ}$ be a group whose identity is $e$.

Left Group Action

A (left) group action is an operation $\phi: G \times X \to X$ such that:

$\forall \tuple {g, x} \in G \times X: g * x := \map \phi {g, x} \in X$

in such a way that the group action axioms are satisfied:

\((\text {GA} 1)\)	$:$			\(\ds \forall g, h \in G, x \in X:\)	\(\ds g * \paren {h * x} = \paren {g \circ h} * x \)
\((\text {GA} 2)\)	$:$			\(\ds \forall x \in X:\)	\(\ds e * x = x \)

Right Group Action

A right group action is a mapping $\phi: X \times G \to X$ such that:

$\forall \tuple {x, g} \in X \times G : x * g := \map \phi {x, g} \in X$

in such a way that the right group action axioms are satisfied:

\((\text {RGA} 1)\)	$:$			\(\ds \forall g, h \in G, x \in X:\)	\(\ds \paren {x * g} * h = x * \paren {g \circ h} \)
\((\text {RGA} 2)\)	$:$			\(\ds \forall x \in X:\)	\(\ds x * e = x \)

The group $G$ thus acts on the set $X$.

The group $G$ can be referred to as the group of transformations, or a transformation group.

From Permutation Representation

Let $\struct {\map \Gamma X, \circ}$ be the symmetric group on $X$.

Let $\rho: G \to \struct {\map \Gamma X, \circ}$ be a permutation representation.

The group action of $G$ associated to the permutation representation $\rho$ is the group action $\phi: G \times X \to X$ defined by:

$\map \phi {g, x} = \map {\rho_g} x$

where $\rho_g : X \to X$ is the permutation representation associated to $\rho$ for $g \in G$ by $\map {\rho_g} x = \map \phi {g, x}$.

Different Approaches

During the course of an exposition in group theory, it is usual to define a group action as a left group action, without introducing the concept of a right group action.

It is apparent during the conventional development of the subject that there is rarely any need to discriminate between the two approaches.

Hence, on $\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$, we do not in general consider the right group action, and instead present results from the point of view of left group actions alone.

Also defined as

A (left) group action is sometimes defined as what on $\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$ is called a permutation representation.

As shown in Correspondence Between Group Actions and Permutation Representations, there is a one-to-one correspondence between the two.

Also known as

Some sources call $*$ a $G$-action, and refer to such an $X$ as this as a $G$-set.

Some sources use $g \wedge x$ for $g * x$, while some use $g \cdot x$.

Some sources introduce the concept with the notation $\map {\phi_g} x$ for $g * x$, before progressing to the latter notation.

There is little consistency in the literature; $*$ appears to be popular. $\wedge$ is not generally preferred, because its other uses are somewhat specialized.

Also see

• Results about group actions can be found here.

Sources

• 1989: Ephraim J. Borowski and Jonathan M. Borwein: Dictionary of Mathematics ... (previous) ... (next): act (of a group)