Abstract algebra
Question
Prove that $a=a^2$ in a group if and only if $a=e$
Attempt
Suppose that $a^2=a$ such that $ain G$ , that is $(G, *)$
Then $a*e=e*a=a$
Implies that $ae=ea=a$
Now suppose that $a≠e$
Since $a^{-1}a=aa^{-1}=e$
Then $a(aa^{-1})=e$
$aa=e$
$a^2=e$
Now suppose that $a=e$
Then $a=a^2$
Please help me with your solution so that I would know that what I have done is correct.
group-theory proof-verification
add a comment |
Question
Prove that $a=a^2$ in a group if and only if $a=e$
Attempt
Suppose that $a^2=a$ such that $ain G$ , that is $(G, *)$
Then $a*e=e*a=a$
Implies that $ae=ea=a$
Now suppose that $a≠e$
Since $a^{-1}a=aa^{-1}=e$
Then $a(aa^{-1})=e$
$aa=e$
$a^2=e$
Now suppose that $a=e$
Then $a=a^2$
Please help me with your solution so that I would know that what I have done is correct.
group-theory proof-verification
The proof looks very circular and doesn't actually make the conclusion that you want. You have unnecessary steps (you say that $ae = a$ implies $ae=a$...?), you don't use the assumption that $a ne e$, and you have at least one incorrect conclusion. After the step $a(aa^{-1}) = e$ (which is wrong), you get $aa = e$, which doesn't follow. So I don't really see that you've ever used an assumption that $a = a^2$. For a successful proof, perhaps assume $a = a^2$ and multiply both sides by $a^{-1}$.
– T. Bongers
Nov 26 '18 at 19:53
You can add mathjax to improve your post. See the edits to learn how this can be done.
– Mason
Nov 26 '18 at 20:08
Thanks bh can you at least help me with a brief intro
– Fosu Emmanuel
Nov 29 '18 at 18:49
add a comment |
Question
Prove that $a=a^2$ in a group if and only if $a=e$
Attempt
Suppose that $a^2=a$ such that $ain G$ , that is $(G, *)$
Then $a*e=e*a=a$
Implies that $ae=ea=a$
Now suppose that $a≠e$
Since $a^{-1}a=aa^{-1}=e$
Then $a(aa^{-1})=e$
$aa=e$
$a^2=e$
Now suppose that $a=e$
Then $a=a^2$
Please help me with your solution so that I would know that what I have done is correct.
group-theory proof-verification
Question
Prove that $a=a^2$ in a group if and only if $a=e$
Attempt
Suppose that $a^2=a$ such that $ain G$ , that is $(G, *)$
Then $a*e=e*a=a$
Implies that $ae=ea=a$
Now suppose that $a≠e$
Since $a^{-1}a=aa^{-1}=e$
Then $a(aa^{-1})=e$
$aa=e$
$a^2=e$
Now suppose that $a=e$
Then $a=a^2$
Please help me with your solution so that I would know that what I have done is correct.
group-theory proof-verification
group-theory proof-verification
edited Nov 26 '18 at 20:26
Mason
1,9591530
1,9591530
asked Nov 26 '18 at 19:49
Fosu Emmanuel
31
31
The proof looks very circular and doesn't actually make the conclusion that you want. You have unnecessary steps (you say that $ae = a$ implies $ae=a$...?), you don't use the assumption that $a ne e$, and you have at least one incorrect conclusion. After the step $a(aa^{-1}) = e$ (which is wrong), you get $aa = e$, which doesn't follow. So I don't really see that you've ever used an assumption that $a = a^2$. For a successful proof, perhaps assume $a = a^2$ and multiply both sides by $a^{-1}$.
– T. Bongers
Nov 26 '18 at 19:53
You can add mathjax to improve your post. See the edits to learn how this can be done.
– Mason
Nov 26 '18 at 20:08
Thanks bh can you at least help me with a brief intro
– Fosu Emmanuel
Nov 29 '18 at 18:49
add a comment |
The proof looks very circular and doesn't actually make the conclusion that you want. You have unnecessary steps (you say that $ae = a$ implies $ae=a$...?), you don't use the assumption that $a ne e$, and you have at least one incorrect conclusion. After the step $a(aa^{-1}) = e$ (which is wrong), you get $aa = e$, which doesn't follow. So I don't really see that you've ever used an assumption that $a = a^2$. For a successful proof, perhaps assume $a = a^2$ and multiply both sides by $a^{-1}$.
– T. Bongers
Nov 26 '18 at 19:53
You can add mathjax to improve your post. See the edits to learn how this can be done.
– Mason
Nov 26 '18 at 20:08
Thanks bh can you at least help me with a brief intro
– Fosu Emmanuel
Nov 29 '18 at 18:49
The proof looks very circular and doesn't actually make the conclusion that you want. You have unnecessary steps (you say that $ae = a$ implies $ae=a$...?), you don't use the assumption that $a ne e$, and you have at least one incorrect conclusion. After the step $a(aa^{-1}) = e$ (which is wrong), you get $aa = e$, which doesn't follow. So I don't really see that you've ever used an assumption that $a = a^2$. For a successful proof, perhaps assume $a = a^2$ and multiply both sides by $a^{-1}$.
– T. Bongers
Nov 26 '18 at 19:53
The proof looks very circular and doesn't actually make the conclusion that you want. You have unnecessary steps (you say that $ae = a$ implies $ae=a$...?), you don't use the assumption that $a ne e$, and you have at least one incorrect conclusion. After the step $a(aa^{-1}) = e$ (which is wrong), you get $aa = e$, which doesn't follow. So I don't really see that you've ever used an assumption that $a = a^2$. For a successful proof, perhaps assume $a = a^2$ and multiply both sides by $a^{-1}$.
– T. Bongers
Nov 26 '18 at 19:53
You can add mathjax to improve your post. See the edits to learn how this can be done.
– Mason
Nov 26 '18 at 20:08
You can add mathjax to improve your post. See the edits to learn how this can be done.
– Mason
Nov 26 '18 at 20:08
Thanks bh can you at least help me with a brief intro
– Fosu Emmanuel
Nov 29 '18 at 18:49
Thanks bh can you at least help me with a brief intro
– Fosu Emmanuel
Nov 29 '18 at 18:49
add a comment |
1 Answer
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In every group $G$ we have the cancellation law. So we can "cancel" an $a$, by multiplying with $a^{-1}$ on both sides of the equation $a=a^2=aa$, to obtain that $a^{-1}a=a^{-1}aa$, which says that $e=a$.
So can I start by answering it by: supposing that aa^-1£G. Since a^-1 is an inverse element in a we have that aa^-1=a^-1a=e
– Fosu Emmanuel
Nov 29 '18 at 19:02
add a comment |
Your Answer
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1 Answer
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active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
In every group $G$ we have the cancellation law. So we can "cancel" an $a$, by multiplying with $a^{-1}$ on both sides of the equation $a=a^2=aa$, to obtain that $a^{-1}a=a^{-1}aa$, which says that $e=a$.
So can I start by answering it by: supposing that aa^-1£G. Since a^-1 is an inverse element in a we have that aa^-1=a^-1a=e
– Fosu Emmanuel
Nov 29 '18 at 19:02
add a comment |
In every group $G$ we have the cancellation law. So we can "cancel" an $a$, by multiplying with $a^{-1}$ on both sides of the equation $a=a^2=aa$, to obtain that $a^{-1}a=a^{-1}aa$, which says that $e=a$.
So can I start by answering it by: supposing that aa^-1£G. Since a^-1 is an inverse element in a we have that aa^-1=a^-1a=e
– Fosu Emmanuel
Nov 29 '18 at 19:02
add a comment |
In every group $G$ we have the cancellation law. So we can "cancel" an $a$, by multiplying with $a^{-1}$ on both sides of the equation $a=a^2=aa$, to obtain that $a^{-1}a=a^{-1}aa$, which says that $e=a$.
In every group $G$ we have the cancellation law. So we can "cancel" an $a$, by multiplying with $a^{-1}$ on both sides of the equation $a=a^2=aa$, to obtain that $a^{-1}a=a^{-1}aa$, which says that $e=a$.
answered Nov 26 '18 at 19:56
Dietrich Burde
77.6k64386
77.6k64386
So can I start by answering it by: supposing that aa^-1£G. Since a^-1 is an inverse element in a we have that aa^-1=a^-1a=e
– Fosu Emmanuel
Nov 29 '18 at 19:02
add a comment |
So can I start by answering it by: supposing that aa^-1£G. Since a^-1 is an inverse element in a we have that aa^-1=a^-1a=e
– Fosu Emmanuel
Nov 29 '18 at 19:02
So can I start by answering it by: supposing that aa^-1£G. Since a^-1 is an inverse element in a we have that aa^-1=a^-1a=e
– Fosu Emmanuel
Nov 29 '18 at 19:02
So can I start by answering it by: supposing that aa^-1£G. Since a^-1 is an inverse element in a we have that aa^-1=a^-1a=e
– Fosu Emmanuel
Nov 29 '18 at 19:02
add a comment |
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The proof looks very circular and doesn't actually make the conclusion that you want. You have unnecessary steps (you say that $ae = a$ implies $ae=a$...?), you don't use the assumption that $a ne e$, and you have at least one incorrect conclusion. After the step $a(aa^{-1}) = e$ (which is wrong), you get $aa = e$, which doesn't follow. So I don't really see that you've ever used an assumption that $a = a^2$. For a successful proof, perhaps assume $a = a^2$ and multiply both sides by $a^{-1}$.
– T. Bongers
Nov 26 '18 at 19:53
You can add mathjax to improve your post. See the edits to learn how this can be done.
– Mason
Nov 26 '18 at 20:08
Thanks bh can you at least help me with a brief intro
– Fosu Emmanuel
Nov 29 '18 at 18:49