Is a group of order 5 always abelian?

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In summary, the conversation discusses the task of proving that a group of order 5 must be abelian without using Langrage's Theorem. The person asking for help is only allowed to use the definitions of a group and abelian group from the book and is given the starting elements of {e,x1,x2,x3,x4} to build the group from scratch. Various possibilities are then explored to show that without commutativity, a group cannot be formed.
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NJOsment
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Homework Statement



Show that a group of order 5 must be abelian.Please don't use Langrage's Theorem.


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I have been working on this problem for a while and I can't seem to
get anywhere on it. Please help.
 
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  • #2
The problem is that, without you showing any work at all, we don't know what you can and can't use. It is pretty well known that the only group of any prime order is the cyclic group, which is always Abelian, but are you allowed to use that?
 
  • #3
This problem is from the first set of problems in Abstract Algebra(I N Herstein).Only the definitions of a group and abelian group are to be used in solving this problem and nothing else ,for these are the only things I came across in this book till now.
 
  • #4
it looks like you will need to build your group up from scratch {e,x1,x2,x3,x4}

assume there is at least two elements x1 and x2 which do not commute and try to show we cannot form a group for all possible outcomes.
I. x1*x2=e
II. x1*x2=x1
III. x1*x2=x2
IV. x1*x2=x3
V. x1*x2=x4
 

1. What is a group of order 5 abelian?

A group of order 5 abelian is a mathematical structure consisting of 5 elements that follow certain rules, known as the axioms of group theory. In this case, the group is also abelian, meaning that its operation is commutative, or the order in which elements are multiplied does not affect the result.

2. How is a group of order 5 abelian different from a non-abelian group of the same order?

A non-abelian group of order 5 would have the same number of elements, but its operation would not be commutative. This means that the order in which elements are multiplied would affect the result. Additionally, the group would have a different structure and properties, making it distinct from a group of order 5 abelian.

3. What are the properties of a group of order 5 abelian?

A group of order 5 abelian has the following properties: it is a finite group, it has 5 elements, it is abelian (commutative), it has a unique identity element (the element that when multiplied with any other element, gives back that element), and each element has an inverse (an element that when multiplied with the original element, gives the identity element).

4. Can a group of order 5 abelian have subgroups?

Yes, a group of order 5 abelian can have subgroups. In fact, every group has at least two subgroups: the trivial subgroup containing only the identity element, and the group itself. Other possible subgroups for a group of order 5 abelian include groups of order 1, 2, and 5, which are all abelian as well.

5. What are some real-world applications of groups of order 5 abelian?

Groups of order 5 abelian can be found in many different areas of mathematics, including algebra, geometry, and number theory. They also have applications in physics, chemistry, and computer science. For example, in cryptography, certain types of abelian groups are used to generate secure encryption keys. In group theory, the study of groups of order 5 abelian can help us better understand the properties and structures of other groups.

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