34 2.

GROUPS
1
Theorem (2.4 Socks-Shoes Property). In a group G, (ab) = b 1a 1.
Proof.
1
By definition and Theorem 2.3, (ab) is the unique element in G such that
1
(ab)(ab) = (ab) 1(ab) = e.
But
(ab)(b 1a 1) = a(bb 1)a 1
= aea 1
= aa 1
=e
and
(b 1a 1)(ab) = b 1(a 1a)b = b 1eb = b 1b = e,
so
(ab) 1 = b 1a 1.
(In other words, b 1a 1 is the inverse of ab since it acts like an inverse, and the
inverse is unique.)
Problem (Page 56 # 25).
1
A group G is Abelian () (ab) = a 1b 1
8 a, b 2 G.
Proof.
1 1
G is Abelian () ab = ba 8 a, b 2 G () aba = baa ()
1
aba = b () aba 1b 1
= bb 1
()
aba 1b 1
= e () (ab) 1
= a 1b 1.