What is the Role of Lie Groups in Isometry Actions on Spaces?

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The discussion focuses on the role of Lie groups in isometry actions on spaces, specifically in the context of Riemannian manifolds. Participants clarify that to demonstrate a group G acts by isometries on a space X, one must show that the action preserves distances, expressed mathematically as d(x,y) = d(gx,gy). The conversation emphasizes the importance of the differential of the action preserving the metric tensor when dealing with Riemannian manifolds, particularly in relation to linear groups acting on S^3.

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WWGD
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Hi, everyone:

I am asked to show that a group G acts by isometries on a space X.

I am not clear about the languange, does anyone know what this means?.

Do I need to show that the action preserves distance, i.e, that

d(x,y)=d(gx,gy)?.

Thanks.
 
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Depends on context, but if it is a Riemannian manifold, presumably you want to show that the differential of the action preserves the metric tensor.
 
Thanks. I am only told of a linear group, i.e, a group of matrices
acting on S^3. There is a question on geodesics, so you may
be right, and we may need to consider this as a Riemannian mfld.
 

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