Definition:Simple Group

Definition

A group $G$ is simple if and only if it has only $G$ and the trivial group as normal subgroups.

That is, if and only if the composition length of $G$ is $1$.

Also see

• Trivial Subgroup and Group Itself are Normal

• Results about simple groups can be found here.

Sources

• 1965: J.A. Green: Sets and Groups ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 6.6$. Normal subgroups: Example $123$
• 1967: John D. Dixon: Problems in Group Theory ... (previous) ... (next): Introduction: Notation
• 1971: Allan Clark: Elements of Abstract Algebra ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $2$: The Sylow Theorems: $\S 59 \epsilon$
• 1971: Allan Clark: Elements of Abstract Algebra ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $2$: Normal and Composition Series: $\S 74$
• 1978: John S. Rose: A Course on Group Theory ... (previous) ... (next): $1$: Introduction to Finite Group Theory: $1.9$
• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): simple group
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): simple group
• 2014: Christopher Clapham and James Nicholson: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics (5th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): simple group
• 2021: Richard Earl and James Nicholson: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics (6th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): simple group