[Math] Definition of the coset

abstract-algebrafinite-groupsgroup-theory

The definition of coset is as follow ( from Wiki):

In mathematics, if $G$ is a group, and $H$ is a subgroup of $G$, and $g$ is an
element of $G$, then

$gH$ = { $gh$ : $h$ is an element of $H$ } is the left coset of $H$ in $G$ with respect to $g$,

$Hg$ = { $hg$ : $h$ an element of $H$ } is the right coset of $H$ in $G$ with respect to $g$.

I am confused that what is the rule of the $gh$ or $hg$ in definition. Is that multiplication or composition? If it is the law of composition, why notation $\circ$ is not used? If no, why is it only effective for groups under multiplication?

Could anyone help me out? Thanks in advance!

Best Answer

The Wikipedia is using the (very) common convention of using multiplicative notation for a group, regardless of how the operation of a specific group may be defined or denoted. It would be more explicit to say, if $(G, *)$ is a group, the left cosets are defined by $g*H = \{g*h : h \in H\}$, etc.

So the operation used between an element $g$ and subgroup $H$ is whatever operation the group has, whether it's called multiplication, addition, composition, or some fourth thing. If you had a group with which you used additive notation, you'd write $g + H$ for cosets.

In theory you could do a similar thing, writing cosets as $g \circ H$ for groups whose operation is composition, but I can't say I've ever seen it. Often we just use multiplicative notation ("juxtaposition") even for groups whose operation is function composition. Really, you'll generally see juxtaposition used for almost every group that isn't written additively.

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