Group Definitions

The following are definitions commonly used when discussing mathematical groups.

  • Order of a Group - denoted {% |G| %} is the number of elements of the group.
  • Order of an Element - the order of an element {% g %} is the smallest number {% n %} such that {% g^n = e %}. That is {% g %} multiplied by itself {% n %} times is equal to the identity of the group. (here we call the group operation multiplication)
  • Center of a Group - the center of a group, {% Z(G) %} is the set of elements {% z \in G %} such that {% z %} commutes with every element of G. That is
    {% Z(G) = \{ z\in G | zx = xz for all x \in G \} %}