A group that is a collection of sets

  • Thread starter halvizo1031
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Group Sets
In summary, The conversation is discussing the commutativity and group identity of the multiplication operation, denoted by *, on the set P of subsets of a given set S. The definition of the multiplication is given as A*B = ((S-A) ∩ B) ∪ (A ∩ (S-B)). The person suggests using Venn diagrams to show commutativity, but it is also possible to rearrange the terms to show A*B = B*A. They also mention trying the multiplication with the empty set and the complement of A.
  • #1
halvizo1031
78
0

Homework Statement


Let S be a set of things and let P be the set of subsets of S. For A, B in P define

A*B = ((S-A) intersect B) union (A intersect (S-B)).

Need to show that (P,*) is commutative and the group identity.


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



only attempted to show through venn diagrams..looking for an alternative approach?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
unless I'm missing something commutative seems pretty obvious from the definition of the multiplication, just re-arrange to show A*B = B*A

then try the follwing multiplications: A with the empty set & A with its complement
 

1. What is a group that is a collection of sets?

A group that is a collection of sets is a mathematical structure that consists of a set of elements and a binary operation that combines any two elements in the set to produce a third element. The group is closed under this operation, meaning that the combination of any two elements in the group will result in another element in the group.

2. What are the properties of a group that is a collection of sets?

A group that is a collection of sets must have four main properties: closure, associativity, identity, and inverse. Closure means that the operation between any two elements in the group will result in another element in the group. Associativity means that the order in which the operations are performed does not matter. Identity means that there exists an element in the group that when combined with any other element will result in that same element. Inverse means that for every element in the group, there exists another element that when combined with it will result in the identity element.

3. How is a group that is a collection of sets different from a set?

A group that is a collection of sets is different from a set because it has an additional structure of a binary operation that combines elements in a specific way. A set does not have this structure and only consists of a collection of distinct objects.

4. What are some examples of a group that is a collection of sets?

Some examples of a group that is a collection of sets include the group of integers under addition, the group of real numbers under multiplication, and the group of rotations in three-dimensional space.

5. How is a group that is a collection of sets used in real-life applications?

A group that is a collection of sets has many practical applications in fields such as physics, chemistry, and computer science. It is used to model symmetries, transformations, and operations in various systems, making it a powerful tool for solving complex problems and analyzing data.

Similar threads

  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
1
Views
501
  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
3
Views
964
  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
4
Views
914
  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
6
Views
1K
  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
15
Views
1K
  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
8
Views
995
  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
1
Views
1K
Back
Top