4 Maths -- Elementary Group Theory

If the group (G, ౦) is communitative show that, (a ౦ b)-1  = a-1 ౦ b-1, for all a, b ∈ G.

If the group (G, ౦) is communitative show that, (a ౦ b)-1  = a-1 ౦ b-1, for all a, b ∈ G.

Let a-1 and b-1 be the inverse elements of a and b in the communitative group (G, ౦) with the identity element e, then,

a ౦ a-1 = e = a-1  ౦ a

b ౦ b-1 = e = b-1 ౦ b


(a ౦ b) ౦ (a-1 ౦ b-1) = (a ౦ b) ౦ (b-1 ౦ a-1)

= a ౦ (b ౦ b-1) ౦ a-1

= a ౦ e ౦ a-1

= e ౦ (a ౦ a-1)

= e ౦ e

= e

Similarly, (a-1 ౦ b-1) ౦ (a ౦ b ) = e

Hence, (a ౦ b)-1 = a-1 ౦ b-1 


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