ALGEBRAIC STRUCTURES – CLEAN
PLAIN TEXT VERSION
1. DEFINITIONS OF ALGEBRAIC STRUCTURES
(i) Semi Group
A semi group is a non empty set S with a binary operation called * (written as a * b). It must
satisfy:
1. Closure: For all a and b in S, the result a * b is also in S.
2. Associativity: For all a, b, c in S: (a * b) * c is equal to a * (b * c).
Example: Positive integers under addition.
Follow-up question: Can a semi group have more than one associative binary operation on the
same set?
(ii) Monoid
A monoid is a semi group that has an identity element.
It satisfies:
1. Closure
2. Associativity
3. Identity element: There exists an element e in M such that a * e = e * a = a for all a in M.
Example: Non negative integers under addition, where the identity element is 0.
Follow-up question: Show that the identity element in a monoid is unique.
(iii) Group
A group is a monoid in which every element has an inverse.
Properties:
1. Closure
2. Associativity
3. Identity element
4. Inverse element: For every a in G, there exists an element called a inverse such that a * a
inverse = a inverse * a = e.
(iv) Abelian Group (Commutative Group)
An abelian group is a group where the binary operation is also commutative.
Additional property:
1. Commutativity: a * b = b * a for all a and b in G.
2. PROOF THAT Q MINUS 1 UNDER THE OPERATION
a * b = a + b - ab IS A COMMUTATIVE GROUP
Let G be the set of rational numbers except 1. The operation is defined by
a * b = a + b - ab.
A. Closure
Assume a * b = 1.
Then a + b - ab = 1.
Rewriting gives (a - 1)(b - 1) = 0.
So a = 1 or b = 1, which is not allowed.
Hence, closure holds.
B. Associativity
Both expressions
(a * b) * c
and
a * (b * c)
simplify to the same expanded form:
a + b + c - ab - ac - bc + abc.
So the operation is associative.
C. Identity Element
Solve a * e = a.
This means a + e - a e = a.
Which simplifies to e(1 - a) = 0.
Since a is never equal to 1, e must be 0.
So the identity element is 0.
D. Inverse Element
Solve a * x = 0.
This becomes a + x - a x = 0.
Rewriting gives x(1 - a) = -a.
So the inverse of a is a divided by (a - 1).
This is still a rational number and not 1.
Hence every element has an inverse.
E. Commutativity
a * b = a + b - ab
b * a = b + a - ba
Since addition and multiplication are commutative for rational numbers, the operation is
commutative.
Therefore, (Q minus 1, *) is a commutative group.
3. INTERSECTION OF TWO SUBMONOIDS IS A
MONOID
Let M1 and M2 be submonoids of a monoid (M, *).
To show: M1 intersection M2 is also a monoid.
1. Closure:
If a and b belong to both M1 and M2, then a * b is in M1 (because M1 is a monoid) and
also in M2.
So it is in the intersection.
2. Associativity:
The operation * is associative in M.
So it remains associative in the smaller set.
3. Identity element:
Both M1 and M2 contain the identity element e of M.
So e is in the intersection.
4. EVEN INTEGERS UNDER ADDITION FORM AN
ABELIAN GROUP
Let E be the set of even integers, written as E = {2k where k is an integer}.
Properties:
1. Closure:
2k1 + 2k2 = 2(k1 + k2), which is even.
2. Associativity:
Addition of integers is associative.
3. Identity:
0 is an even integer and acts as the identity.
4. Inverses:
If a = 2k, then -a = -2k = 2(-k), which is also even.
5. Commutativity:
Addition is commutative.