MHB Counting Cosets: Clarifying Right & Left Cosets

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The discussion focuses on understanding right and left cosets in group theory, specifically using the symmetric group S3 and a subgroup H. Clear examples are provided, illustrating the distinct left cosets {H, aH, a^2H} and right cosets {H, Ha, Ha^2} derived from a chosen subgroup H = {e, b}. The distinction between left and right cosets is emphasized, noting that they can yield different sets, which complicates the definition of coset multiplication. The thread concludes by highlighting that the product of two right cosets does not necessarily result in another coset of H, demonstrating the complexities involved in coset theory.
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i am reading a chapter on counting cosets and I am not sure i fully understand the theory behind right and left cosets. can i please be given clear descriptions perhaps with examples.
 
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Re: counting cosets

onie mti said:
i am reading a chapter on counting cosets and I am not sure i fully understand the theory behind right and left cosets. can i please be given clear descriptions perhaps with examples.

You should post what you are specifically having difficulties with. Maybe give a problem which you can't solve.
 
Re: counting cosets

Fermat said:
You should post what you are specifically having difficulties with. Maybe give a problem which you can't solve.

i am given that H is a subgp of G, list the coset of H, for each coset list the elements of the coset

G=s_3, H= {epsilon, beta, alpha}
 
Re: counting cosets

onie mti said:
i am given that H is a subgp of G, list the coset of H, for each coset list the elements of the coset

G=s_3, H= {epsilon, beta, alpha}

I'm not sure on your epsilon, beta, alpha notation. $S_{3}$ is the set of permutations of the vector (1,2,3).
 
Let's pick a specific group, so we can be definite about this. To make things easier, we'll pick a rather small group.

Specifically, let:

$G = \{e,a,a^2,b,ab,a^2b\}$ where:

$a^3 = b^2 = e$, and the multiplication is given by the rule:

$ba = a^2b$.

Now we need to pick a subgroup, so let $H$ be the subgroup:

$H = \{e,b\}$.

Let's look at the left cosets first:

$eH = H = \{e,b\}$.
$aH = \{a,ab\}$
$a^2H = \{a^2,a^2b\}$
$bH = \{b,e\} = H$
$abH = \{ab,a\} = aH$
$a^2bH = \{a^2b,a^2\} = a^2H$

so we have 3 different (distinct) left cosets: $H,aH,a^2H$.

Now, let's look at the right cosets:

$He = H = \{e,b\}$
$Ha = \{a,ba\} = \{a,a^2b\}$ (see above)
$Ha^2 = \{a^2,ba^2\} = \{a^2,ab\}$

(because $ba^2 = (ba)a = (a^2b)a = a^2(ba) = a^2(a^2b) = a^4b = (a^3)(ab) = ab$).

$Hb = \{b,e\} = H$
$Hab = \{ab,bab\} = \{ab,a^2\} = Ha^2$
$Ha^2b = \{a^2b,ba^2b\} = \{a^2b,a\} = Ha$

Again, we have three distinct right cosets, as well: $H,Ha,Ha^2$.

But notice these are DIFFERENT sets than the left cosets, for while:

$eH = H = He$
$bH = H = Hb$

we have:

$aH = \{a,ab\}$ which has $ab$ as a member, whereas:

$Ha = \{a,a^2b\}$, which does not have $ab$ as a member.

Now this is bad news if we were planning on trying to define:

$(Ha)(Hb) = Hab$.

Let's look at what the set $(Ha)(Hb) = \{xy: x\in Ha,y \in Hb\}$ actually works out to be. We have 4 possible products:

$ae,ab,(a^2b)(e),(a^2b)(b)$, and working out what these are gives us:

$ae = a$
$ab = ab$
$a^2b = a^2b$
$(a^2b)(b) = a^2$

so $(Ha)(Hb) = \{a,a^2,ab,a^2b\}$ and this isn't even ANY coset of $H$ (all the cosets of $H$ have 2 elements, the same number of elements $H$ has, but this product set has FOUR elements).
 
I am studying the mathematical formalism behind non-commutative geometry approach to quantum gravity. I was reading about Hopf algebras and their Drinfeld twist with a specific example of the Moyal-Weyl twist defined as F=exp(-iλ/2θ^(μν)∂_μ⊗∂_ν) where λ is a constant parametar and θ antisymmetric constant tensor. {∂_μ} is the basis of the tangent vector space over the underlying spacetime Now, from my understanding the enveloping algebra which appears in the definition of the Hopf algebra...

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