In: Advanced Math
Let G be a Group. The center of, denoted by Z(G), is defined to be the set of all elements of G that with every element of G. Symbolically, we have
Z(G) = {x in G | ax=xa for all a in G}.
(a) Prove that Z(G) is a subgroup of G.
(b) Prove that Z(G) is an Abelian group.
Given:
The center of, denoted by Z(G), is defined to be the set of all elements of G that with every element of G. Symbolically,
we have
Z(G) = {x in G | ax=xa for all a in G}
1 Let a, b ∈ Z(G).
Then ax = xa and bx = xb for all x ∈ G, and for any x ∈ G
we have (ab)x = a(bx) = a(xb) = (ax)b = (xa)b = x(ab), so ab ∈ Z(G).
Therefore, Z(G) is closed.
Also, we certainly have ex = xe = x for all x ∈ G, so e ∈ Z(G).
Finally, if a ∈ Z(G), then ,
since a commutes with every element of G.
Continuing, we have ,
so , and ∈ Z(G).
Therefore, Z(G) is a subgroup of G.
2. given definition of Z(G) is as follows
Z(G) = {x in G | ax=xa for all a in G}
this implies Z(G) is commutative.
by the definition and Part 1 we can conclude that Z(G) is an abelian group.[Z(G) is also a group]