General Linear Group not Abelian

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around demonstrating that the general linear group GL(3,R) with matrix multiplication is not an abelian group. Participants are tasked with showing that the group does not satisfy the property of commutativity.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the requirement for a group to be abelian, focusing on the need to show that a*b does not equal b*a. There are suggestions to find specific matrices that do not commute, with a caution against using both diagonal matrices.

Discussion Status

Multiple participants have attempted to provide examples of matrices that do not commute, presenting calculations to support their claims. While some participants express satisfaction with the ease of finding such examples, there is no explicit consensus on the finality of the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Participants are operating under the constraints of homework guidelines, which may limit the depth of exploration or the types of examples considered. There is an emphasis on finding non-commuting matrices without specific restrictions on their forms beyond avoiding both being diagonal.

mikael27
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Homework Statement



Show that the general linear group GL(3,R) with matrix multiplication is not an abelian
group.


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



A group to be abelian we have to show that it satisfies the Commutativity.

a*b=b*a

How are we going to show that the general linear group GL(3,R) does not satisfies the Commutativity?
 
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mikael27 said:

Homework Statement



Show that the general linear group GL(3,R) with matrix multiplication is not an abelian
group.


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



A group to be abelian we have to show that it satisfies the Commutativity.

a*b=b*a

How are we going to show that the general linear group GL(3,R) does not satisfies the Commutativity?

Find two matrices that don't commute. Just try a few. Just don't make them both diagonal.
 
Take

A= 0 -1 0
1 0 0
0 0 1

B= 1 0 0
0 0 -1
0 1 0

A*B= 0 0 1
1 0 0
0 1 0

B*A= 0 -1 0
0 0 -1
1 0 0

So the two matrices do not commute as A*B=B*A and hence it is not abelian
 
Take

A=
0 -1 0
1 0 0
0 0 1

B=
1 0 0
0 0 -1
0 1 0

A*B=
0 0 1
1 0 0
0 1 0

B*A=
0 -1 0
0 0 -1
1 0 0

So the two matrices do not commute as A*B=B*A and hence it is not abelian
 
mikael27 said:
Take

A=
0 -1 0
1 0 0
0 0 1

B=
1 0 0
0 0 -1
0 1 0

A*B=
0 0 1
1 0 0
0 1 0

B*A=
0 -1 0
0 0 -1
1 0 0

So the two matrices do not commute as A*B=B*A and hence it is not abelian

That's just fine. Wasn't that easy?
 
Yes easier than i expected...Thanks !
 

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