Let A be a set. A binary
operation, ∗, on A is an
operation applied to any
two elements x, y ∈ A that
yields an element x ∗ y in A.
In other words, ∗ is a binary
operation on A if ∀x, y ∈ A, x
∗ y ∈ A.
Examples
R, +
Addition on R : ∀x, y ∈ R, x + y ∈ R
Commutative
Associative
R, —
Not Commutative
Not Associative
R, x
Commutative and Associative
R, /
Division on R is NOT a binary operation
because ∀x ∈ R ∃ 0 ∈ R s.t. x/0 is
undefined (not an element of R)
Semigroups
A semigroup is a set
endowed with an
associative binary
operation. We denote
the semigroup (A, *).
Let A be a set and let P(A) be its power set.
(P(A), ∩) and (P(A), ∪) are both semigroups.
(Mn, ∗), the set of n*n matrices with entries in
R with the operation of matrix multiplication
(which is associative) forms a semigroup.
Let (A, ∗) be a semigroup
General Associative Law
Let (A, ∗) be a semigroup. ∀a1, ..., an ∈ A, a1 ∗
a2 ∗ ... ∗ an has the same value regardless of
how the product is bracketed.
Identity Elements
Let (A, ∗) be a semigroup
An element, e, e ∈ A, is called an identity element for the binary operation ∗, if e ∗ x = x ∗ e = x, ∀x ∈ A.
(R, +): e = 0
(R, x): e = 1
(P(A), ∪): e = ∅
(P(A), ∩): e = A
(Mn, ∗) has In, the identity matrix, as its identity element
Monoids
A monoid is a semigroup
(A, ∗), where ∗ has an
identity element, e.
Commutative (Abelian)
(R, +): commutative monoid, e = 0
(R, x): commutative monoid, e = 1
(P(A), ∪): commutative monoid, e = ∅
(N, +): commutative monoid, e = 0
Non-Commutative
(Mn, ∗): monoid, e = In, but matrix
multiplication is not commutative
(N*, +): semigroup, as N* = N\{0}
Inverses
Let (A, ∗) be a monoid with
identity element, e, and let a ∈ A.
An element y of A is called the
inverse of x, if x ∗ y = y ∗ x = e. If
an element a ∈ A has an inverse,
then a is called invertible.
Invertible Monoids
(R, +): invertible, e = 0, ∀x ∈ R,(−x) is the inverse of xas x + (-x) = (-x) + x = 0.
Invertible Monoids (with exception)
(R, x): invertible, e = 1, ONLY if x != 0. If x != 0, inverse of x is 1/x, since x * 1/x = 1/x * x = 1
(Mn, ∗): invertible, e = In, ONLY if det(A) != 0
Not Invertible
(P(A), ∪): non-invertible, e = ∅
However, the element ∅ of P(A) is invertible and has itself as its inverse: ∅ ∪ ∅ = ∅ ∪ ∅ = ∅
Groups
A group is a monoid in which
every element is invertible. In
other words, a grouop is a set A
endowed with a binary operation
∗, where ∗ is associative, there
exists an identity element, and
every element of A is invertible.
(A, ∗, e)
Closure
IMPLICIT as ∀a, b ∈ A, a ∗ b ∈ A
Commutative
(R, +, 0): -x (inverse)
(Q*, x, 1), 1/q (inverse)
(R^3, +, 0) vectors, -x, -y, -z inverse
(x, y, z) + (x', y', z') = (x + x', y + y', z + z')