Conjugation (group theory): Difference between revisions

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imported>Richard Pinch
(relate to commutator, conjugacy and conjugacy class)
imported>Richard Pinch
m (typo)
Line 9: Line 9:
and so measures the failure of ''x'' and ''y'' to commute.
and so measures the failure of ''x'' and ''y'' to commute.


Two elements are said to be conjugate if one is obtained as a conjugate of the other: the resulting [[relation (mathematics)|relation]] of ''[[conjugacy]]'' is an [[equivalence relation]], whose [[equivalence class]]es are the ''[[conjugacy classess]]''.
Two elements are said to be conjugate if one is obtained as a conjugate of the other: the resulting [[relation (mathematics)|relation]] of ''[[conjugacy]]'' is an [[equivalence relation]], whose [[equivalence class]]es are the ''[[conjugacy class]]es''.

Revision as of 13:59, 15 November 2008

In group theory, conjugation is an operation between group elements. The conjugate of x by y is:

If x and y commute then the conjugate of x by y is just x again. The commutator of x and y can be written as

and so measures the failure of x and y to commute.

Two elements are said to be conjugate if one is obtained as a conjugate of the other: the resulting relation of conjugacy is an equivalence relation, whose equivalence classes are the conjugacy classes.