The webpage title could be: Subgroups in (R^2,+) with Component-wise Addition

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around verifying whether specific subsets of the group (R^2, +) are subgroups. The original poster presents two sets: {(x, 2x) | x ∈ R} and {(x, 2x + 1) | x ∈ R}, questioning the subgroup status of each.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the criteria for a subset to be a subgroup, including the need for an identity element, inverses, and closure under the group operation. Questions arise regarding the inclusion of the identity element in the second set and the implications of not having it.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively discussing the properties that define a subgroup, with some noting that the absence of the identity element in the second set is a critical factor. There is recognition of the need for closure under addition, and some participants are questioning the assumptions made about the sets.

Contextual Notes

There is an emphasis on the requirement that a subgroup must contain the identity element (0,0) for it to be valid, which is a point of contention in the discussion regarding the second set.

PsychonautQQ
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Homework Statement


Let (R^2,+) be the set of ordered pairs with addition defined component wise. Verify {(x,2x)|x£R} is a subgroup and that {(x,2x+1)|x£R} is not a subgroup.



The Attempt at a Solution


So for something to be a subgroup it has to have all it's set items contained in the main group and be a group on it's own.

To be a group on it's own it has to have an identity e and an operation (in this case +) so that:
e+g = G

and an inverse so that (in this case a negative number with same magnitude)
g + (-g) = 0

and be assosciative
(g+h)+k = g+(h+k)
and it seems both (x,2x) and (x,2x+1) satisfy all these properties.

Furthermore, it seems that both (x,2x) and (x,2x+1) have all their combinations included in the main group. How is (x,2x+1) not a subgroup? What am I missing here?
 
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PsychonautQQ said:

Homework Statement


Let (R^2,+) be the set of ordered pairs with addition defined component wise. Verify {(x,2x)|x£R} is a subgroup and that {(x,2x+1)|x£R} is not a subgroup.



The Attempt at a Solution


So for something to be a subgroup it has to have all it's set items contained in the main group and be a group on it's own.

To be a group on it's own it has to have an identity e and an operation (in this case +) so that:
e+g = G
I presume you mean e+ g= g.

and an inverse so that (in this case a negative number with same magnitude)
g + (-g) = 0

and be assosciative
(g+h)+k = g+(h+k)
and it seems both (x,2x) and (x,2x+1) satisfy all these properties.

Furthermore, it seems that both (x,2x) and (x,2x+1) have all their combinations included in the main group. How is (x,2x+1) not a subgroup? What am I missing here?
Since you are using ordinary addition, (x, 2x+ 1)+ (y, 2y+ 1)= (x+ y, 2x+1+ 2y+ 1)= (x+ y, 2(x+ y)+ 2) which is NOT of the form (a, 2a+ 1).
 
You are missing the fact that if H is a subgroup of G, and x and y are any elements of H, then x+y must also be an element of H.
 
PsychonautQQ said:

Homework Statement


Let (R^2,+) be the set of ordered pairs with addition defined component wise. Verify {(x,2x)|x£R} is a subgroup and that {(x,2x+1)|x£R} is not a subgroup.



The Attempt at a Solution


So for something to be a subgroup it has to have all it's set items contained in the main group and be a group on it's own.

To be a group on it's own it has to have an identity e and an operation

The operation of the subgroup is the same as the operation of the full group. Thus you already know that the operation is associative, that there is a unique identity e \in G, and that every g \in G has a unique inverse g^{-1} \in G.

To show that H \subset G is a subgroup, you must show the following (in order of being easiest to check):
  • Identity: e \in H.
  • Inverse: If h \in H then h^{-1} \in H.
  • Closure: If h_1 \in H and h_2 \in H then h_1h_2 \in H.

Here H = \{(x, 2x + 1) : x \in \mathbb{R}\} falls at the first hurdle: (0,0) \notin H.
 
Pasmith has noted something important in his post. If the origin isn't included, then it can't be a subgroup. Any line with a y intercept that isn't 0 can't form a subgroup.

So ##(x,2x)## will form a subgroup, but ##(x,2x + b)## for any ##b ≠ 0## will not.
 

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