Can you explain to me, in simple terms, whether the group S4 is abelian or not? It's a question that often comes up in discussions related to group theory and cryptography, and I'm curious to understand the answer. What properties does S4 possess that might indicate whether it's abelian or not? Could you provide an example or two to help clarify your explanation?
7 answers
Martina
Fri Aug 16 2024
The key property that distinguishes S_4 from other groups is its non-abelian nature. Abelian groups, by definition, possess the commutative property of multiplication, meaning the order in which elements are multiplied does not affect the result. However, S_4 does not adhere to this rule.
EchoPulse
Fri Aug 16 2024
The concept of a symmetric group, denoted as S_n, represents a fundamental mathematical structure within group theory. Specifically, S_4, the symmetric group on 4 elements, encapsulates the idea of all possible permutations, or rearrangements, of these elements.
EthereumElite
Fri Aug 16 2024
A permutation, in this context, is a bijective function that maps the set of 4 elements onto itself, ensuring each element is mapped to exactly one other element and vice versa. This process results in a unique ordering of the elements.
GeishaCharm
Thu Aug 15 2024
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KpopStarletShine
Thu Aug 15 2024
The non-abelian characteristic of S_4 stems from the fact that there exist permutations within the group that do not commute with each other. In simpler terms, the result of multiplying two permutations in one order can differ from multiplying them in the reverse order.