# I Proving an exponent law in group theory

1. Mar 29, 2017

### Mr Davis 97

The textbook proves that $x^a x^b = x^{a+b}$ by an induction argument on b. However, is an induction argument really necessary here? Can't we just look at the LHS and note that there are a $a$ x's multiplied by $b$ x's, so there must be $a+b$ x's?

2. Mar 29, 2017

### ShayanJ

That's the same as the induction argument, only without the details.

3. Mar 29, 2017

### Mr Davis 97

So the details are absolutely necessary?

4. Mar 29, 2017

### Stephen Tashi

If you look at the left hand side of that equation, you see two symbols "x" and on the right hand side you see one symbol "x". So the argument you are making involves more than inspecting the symbolic expressions on left and right hand sides. You are also making an interpretation of the symbolic notation in that equation as other symbolic notation and then you are implicitly making use of the associative property of the group's multiplication.

5. Mar 29, 2017

### Staff: Mentor

No, not really, because it's "obvious" in this case. But if you want to be very picky, you have to avoid the "dots" and replace them by an induction argument. Additionally the associative property is required to justify the notation $x^a$ at all. So the answer is: it depends on how explicit you want to be.

6. Mar 30, 2017

### WWGD

Are a,b positive integers?