Odd Integers under Multiplication do not form Group

From ProofWiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Theorem

Let $S$ be the set of odd integers:

$S = \set {x \in \Z: \exists n \in \Z: x = 2 n + 1}$

Let $\struct {S, \times}$ denote the algebraic structure formed by $S$ under the operation of multiplication.


Then $\struct {S, \times}$ is not a group.


Proof

It is to be demonstrated that $\struct {S, \times}$ does not satisfy the group axioms.


First it is noted that Integer Multiplication is Closed.

Then from Odd Number multiplied by Odd Number is Odd, $S$ is closed under $\times$.

Thus $\struct {S, \times}$ fulfils Group Axiom $\text G 0$: Closure.


From Integer Multiplication is Associative, we have that $\times$ is associative on $S$.

Thus $\struct {S, \times}$ fulfils Group Axiom $\text G 1$: Associativity.


Then we have that:

$\forall x \in S: 1 \times x = x = x \times 1$

and as $1 \in S$ it follows that $1$ is the identity element of $\struct {S, \times}$

Thus $\struct {S, \times}$ fulfils Group Axiom $\text G 2$: Existence of Identity Element.


Now consider $3 \in S$.

There exists no $x \in S$ such that $3 \times x = 1$.

Thus $x$ has no inverse element in $S$.

Thus $\struct {S, \times}$ does not fulfil Group Axiom $\text G 3$: Existence of Inverse Element.


Thus it has been demonstrated that $\struct {S, \times}$ does not satisfy the group axioms.

Hence the result.

$\blacksquare$


Sources