[Math] Fill in a group table

abstract-algebra

Givens:

A:

$a^2 = a \to a = e.$

$ab = a \to b = e.$

$ab = b \to a = e.$

B:

Every row of a group table must contain each element of the group
exactly once.

Problem:

There is exactly one group on any set of three distinct elements, say the set $\{e, a,
b\}$. Indeed, keeping in mind $A$ and $B$ above, there is only one way of completing
the following table. Do so! You need not prove associativity.

$$
\begin{array}{c|lcr}
& e & a & b \\
\hline
e & e & a & b \\
a & a & & \\
b & b & &
\end{array}$$

Given:

$ae = ea = a.$

$be = eb = b.$

So, the group has identity $e.$

Suppose $ab = e$. Then $aa = b.$

Since $b = a^{-1}$, then $ba = e.$ So, $bb = a.$

Both $a$ and $b$ have inverses.

Thus:

$$
\begin{array}{c|lcr}
& e & a & b \\
\hline
e & e & a & b \\
a & a & b & e \\
b & b & e & a
\end{array}$$


Does it makes sense? Also, what's the point of $A$ in the givens?

Best Answer

Your final table is correct, but you haven't excluded the possibility of other tables.

The point of A is that it's one particular way of deciding what the entries of the table have to be (instead of guessing at what they could be). For example you know $a \neq e$, so the first part of A tells you that you can't have $ab = b$. Since the second row must contain every element you get that $ab$ is either $b$ or $e$, but it's not $b$, so it must be $e$.