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Groups Acting on Sets
Let X be a set and G be a group. A (left) action of G on X is a map G \times X \rightarrow X given by (g,x) \mapsto gx, where ex = x for all x \in X; (g_1 g_2)x = g_1(g_2 x) for all x \in X and all g_1, g_2 \in G
Groups Acting on Sets
Let \(X\) be a set and \(G\) be a group. A (left) action of \(G\) on \(X\) is a map \(G \times X \rightarrow X\) given by \((g,x) \mapsto gx\), where
\(ex = x\) for all \(x \in X\);
\((g_1 g_2)x = g_1(g_2 x)\) for all \(x \in X\) and all \(g_1, g_2 \in G\).
Example
Let \(G = GL_2( {\mathbb R} )\) and \(X = {\mathbb R}^2\). Then \(G\) acts on \(X\) by left multiplication. If \(v \in {\mathbb R}^2\) and \(I\) is the identity matrix, then \(Iv = v\). If \(A\) and \(B\) are \(2 \times 2\) invertible matrices, then \((AB)v = A(Bv)\) since matrix multiplication is associative.
Example
Let \(G = D_4\) be the symmetry group of a square. If \(X = \{ 1, 2, 3, 4 \}\) is the set of vertices of the square, then we can consider \(D_4\) to consist of the following permutations: \[\begin{aligned}\end{aligned}\]. The elements of \(D_4\) act on \(X\) as functions. The permutation \((1 \, 3)(2 \, 4)\) acts on vertex \(1\) by sending it to vertex \(3\), on vertex \(2\) by sending it to vertex \(4\), and so on. It is easy to see that the axioms of a group action are satisfied.
In general, if \(X\) is any set and \(G\) is a subgroup of \(S_X\), the group of all permutations acting on \(X\), then \(X\) is a \(G\)-set under the group action \[\begin{aligned}\end{aligned}\] for \(\sigma \in G\) and \(x \in X\).
Example
If we let \(X = G\), then every group \(G\) acts on itself by the left regular representation; that is, \((g,x) \mapsto \lambda_g(x) = gx\), where \(\lambda_g\) is left multiplication: \[\begin{aligned}e \cdot x = \lambda_e x = ex = x \\ (gh) \cdot x = \lambda_{gh}x = \lambda_g \lambda_h x = \lambda_g(hx) = g \cdot ( h \cdot x)\end{aligned}\]. If \(H\) is a subgroup of \(G\), then \(G\) is an \(H\)-set under left multiplication by elements of \(H\).
If \(G\) acts on a set \(X\) and \(x, y \in X\), then \(x\) is said to be \(G\)-equivalent to \(y\) if there exists a \(g \in G\) such that \(gx =y\). We write \(x \sim_G y\) or \(x \sim y\) if two elements are \(G\)-equivalent.
Condensed: the full section is in Judson, Abstract Algebra: Theory and Applications.
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Questions posées par les gens
What is a group, in plain words?
A set with one operation that is associative, has an identity, and lets every element be undone. Symmetries of any object form a group. That is where the idea came from.
What is the difference between a ring and a field?
A ring has addition and multiplication that behave like the integers (you cannot always divide); a field is a ring where every non-zero element has a reciprocal, like the rationals or the reals.
Certaines parties de cette page sont adaptées de Judson, Abstract Algebra: Theory and Applications (GFDL 1.3). Condensés et réexpliqués ici ; les erreurs sont les nôtres.
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