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Introduction to group theory
This free course is an introduction to group theory, one of the three main branches of pure mathematics. Section 1 looks at the set of symmetries of a two-dimensional figure which are then viewed as functions. Section 2 introduces an algebraic notation for recording symmetries and calculating composites and inverses of symmetries. Section 3 introduces definitions and looks at how to check axioms for a group. Section 4 looks at how to prove that some properties of groups already looked at are general properties shared by all groups. Section 5 extends the ideas of symmetry to three-dimensions.
Course learning outcomes
After studying this course, you should be able to:
- explain what is meant by a symmetry of a plane figure
- find the composite of two symmetries
- find the inverse of a symmetry
- determine whether a given set and binary operation form a group by checking group axioms
- describe the symmetries of some bounded three-dimensional figures.
First Published: 08/12/2017
Updated: 18/04/2018
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