Group Theory

★★★★☆Undergraduate

📖Definition

A group is a set with a binary operation satisfying associativity, existence of identity, and existence of inverses. It's the fundamental structure for studying symmetry mathematically.

📐Formulas

(a · b) · c = a · (b · c)

Associativity

∃ e : a · e = e · a = a

Existence of identity

∀ a, ∃ a⁻¹ : a · a⁻¹ = a⁻¹ · a = e

Existence of inverse

a · b = b · a

Commutativity (for abelian groups)

✏️Examples

예제 1

Show (ℤ, +) is a group.

예제 2

What is the order of S₃ (symmetric group on 3 elements)?

📜History

Discovered by: Évariste Galois (1830s)

Galois introduced group concept while studying polynomial equations. Abel independently developed similar ideas.

Applications

Physics

Symmetry and conservation laws

Cryptography

Elliptic curves, Diffie-Hellman

Chemistry

Molecular symmetry, crystallography

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