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How do I check if a given map is a valid group action?

To verify if a map is a group action, first check that its domain is G×AG \times A and its codomain is AA. Then, verify the two properties: g1⋅(g2⋅a)=(g1g2)⋅ag_1 \cdot (g_2 \cdot a) = (g_1 g_2) \cdot a for all g1,g2∈Gg_1, g_2 \in G and a∈Aa \in A, and 1⋅a=a1 \cdot a = a for all a∈Aa \in A.

Conditions

  • The map is defined from G×AG \times A to AA.
  • GG is a group and AA is a set.

Reasoning, step by step

  1. Check the domain and codomain: ensure the map takes a tuple (g,a)(g, a) from G×AG \times A and outputs an element in AA.
  2. Verify the compatibility property: compute g1⋅(g2⋅a)g_1 \cdot (g_2 \cdot a) and (g1g2)⋅a(g_1 g_2) \cdot a and check if they are equal for all g1,g2∈Gg_1, g_2 \in G and a∈Aa \in A.
  3. Verify the identity property: compute 1⋅a1 \cdot a and check if it equals aa for all a∈Aa \in A.

Example

For the map ga=aga = a, the domain is G×AG \times A and codomain is AA. The compatibility property holds because g1⋅(g2⋅a)=g1⋅a=ag_1 \cdot (g_2 \cdot a) = g_1 \cdot a = a and (g1g2)⋅a=a(g_1 g_2) \cdot a = a. The identity property holds because 1⋅a=a1 \cdot a = a.

Common misconceptions

  • Forgetting to check the domain and codomain before verifying the properties.
  • Assuming the compatibility property only needs to be checked for specific elements rather than all elements in GG and AA.

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