Introduction :
We can say that “o” is the binary operation on set G if : G is an non-empty set & G * G = { (a,b) : a , b∈ G } and o : G * G –> G. Here, aob denotes the image of ordered pair (a,b) under the function / operation o.
Example – “+” is called a binary operation on G (any non-empty set ) if & only if : a+b ∈G ; ∀ a,b ∈G and a+b give the same result every time when added.
Real example – ‘+’ is a binary operation on the set of natural numbers ‘N’ because a+b ∈ N ; ∀ a,b ∈N and a+b a+b give the same result every time when added.
Laws of Binary Operation :
In a binary operation o, such that : o : G * G –> G on the set G is :
1. Commutative –
aob = boa ; ∀ a,b ∈G
Example : ‘+’ is a binary operation on the set of natural numbers ‘N’. Taking any 2 random natural numbers , say 6 & 70, so here a = 6 & b = 70,
a+b = 6 + 70 = 76 = 70 + 6 = b + a
This is true for all the numbers that come under the natural number.
2. Associative –
ao(boc) = (aob)oc ; ∀ a,b,c ∈G
Example : ‘+’ is a binary operation on the set of natural numbers ‘N’. Taking any 3 random natural numbers , say 2 , 3 & 7, so here a = 2 & b = 3 and c = 7,
LHS : a+(b+c) = 2 +( 3 +7) = 2 + 10 = 12
RHS : (a+b)+c = (2 + 3) + 7 = 5 + 7 = 12
This is true for all the numbers that come under the natural number.
3. Left Distributive –
ao(b*c) = (aob) * (aoc) ; ∀ a,b,c ∈G
4. Right Distributive –
(b*c) oa = (boa) * (coa) ; ∀ a,b,c ∈G
5. Left Cancellation –
aob =aoc => b = c ; ∀ a,b,c ∈G
6. Right Cancellation –
boa = coa => b = c ; ∀ a,b,c ∈G
Algebraic Structure :
A non-empty set G equipped with 1/more binary operations is called an algebraic structure.
Example : a. (N,+) and b. (R, + , .), where N is a set of natural numbers & R is a set of real numbers. Here ‘ . ‘ (dot) specifies a multiplication operation.
GROUP :
An algebraic structure (G , o) where G is a non-empty set & ‘o’ is a binary operation defined on G is called a Group if the binary operation “o” satisfies the following properties –
1. Closure –
a ∈ G ,b ∈ G => aob ∈ G ; ∀ a,b ∈ G
2. Associativity –
(aob)oc = ao(boc) ; ∀ a,b,c ∈ G.
3. Identity Element –
There exists e in G such that aoe = eoa = a ; ∀ a ∈ G (Example – For addition, identity is 0)
4. Existence of Inverse –
For each element a ∈ G ; there exists an inverse(a-1)such that : ∈ G such that – aoa-1 = a-1oa = e
Homomorphism of groups :
Let (G,o) & (G’,o’) be 2 groups, a mapping “f ” from a group (G,o) to a group (G’,o’) is said to be a homomorphism if –
f(aob) = f(a) o' f(b) ∀ a,b ∈ G
The essential point here is : The mapping f : G –> G’ may neither be a one-one nor onto mapping, i.e, ‘f’ needs not to be bijective.
Example –
If (R,+) is a group of all real numbers under the operation ‘+’ & (R -{0},*) is another group of non-zero real numbers under the operation ‘*’ (Multiplication) & f is a mapping from (R,+) to (R -{0},*), defined as : f(a) = 2a ; ∀ a ∈ R
Then f is a homomorphism like – f(a+b) = 2a+b = 2a * 2b = f(a).f(b) .
So the rule of homomorphism is satisfied & hence f is a homomorphism.
Homomorphism Into –
A mapping ‘f’, that is homomorphism & also Into.
Homomorphism Onto –
A mapping ‘f’, that is homomorphism & also onto.
Isomorphism of Group :
Let (G,o) & (G’,o’) be 2 groups, a mapping “f ” from a group (G,o) to a group (G’,o’) is said to be an isomorphism if –
1. f(aob) = f(a) o' f(b) ∀ a,b ∈ G
2. f is a one- one mapping
3. f is an onto mapping.
If ‘f’ is an isomorphic mapping, (G,o) will be isomorphic to the group (G’,o’) & we write :
G ≅ G'
Note : A mapping f: X -> Y is called :
- One – One – If x1 ≠x2, then f(x1) ≠f(x2) or if f(x1) = f(x2) => x1 = x2. Where x1,x2 ∈ X
- Onto – If every element in the set Y is the f-image of at least one element of set X.
- Bijective – If it is one & Onto.
Example of Isomorphism Group –
If G is the multiplicative group of 3 cube-root units , i.e., (G,o) = ( {1, w, w2 } , *) where w3 = 1 & G’ is an additive group of integers modulo 3 – (G’, o’) = ( {1,2,3) , +3). Then : G ≅ G’ , we say G is isomorphic to G’.

- The structure & order of both the tables are same. The mapping ‘f’ is defined as :
f : G -> G’ in such a way that f(1) = 0 , f(w) = 1 & f(w2) = 2.
- Homomorphism property : f(aob) = f(a) o’ f(b) ∀ a,b ∈ G . Let us take a = w & b = 1
LHS : f(a * b) = f( w * 1 ) = f(w) = 1.
RHS : f(a) +3 f(b) = f(w) +3 f(1) = 1 + 0 = 1
=>LHS = RHS
- This mapping f is one-one & onto also, therefore, a homomorphism.
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Last Updated :
09 Nov, 2022
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