Centre of a group: Difference between revisions

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imported>Richard Pinch
(kernel of morphism to inner automorphism group)
imported>Richard Pinch
(def in terms of trivial conjugation)
Line 5: Line 5:
:<math>Z(G) = \{ z \in G : \forall x \in G,~xz=zx \} . \,</math>
:<math>Z(G) = \{ z \in G : \forall x \in G,~xz=zx \} . \,</math>


The centre is a [[subgroup]], which is [[normal subgroup|normal]] and indeed [[characteristic subgroup|characteristic]].  It is the [[kernel]] of the [[group homomorphism|homomorphism]] to ''G'' to its [[inner automorphism]] group.
The centre is a [[subgroup]], which is [[normal subgroup|normal]] and indeed [[characteristic subgroup|characteristic]].  It may be described as the set of elements by which [[conjugation (group theory)|conjugation]] is trivial (the identity map); this shows the centre as the [[kernel of a homomorphism|kernel]] of the [[group homomorphism|homomorphism]] to ''G'' to its [[inner automorphism]] group.


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 13:29, 15 November 2008

In group theory, the centre of a group is the subset of elements which commute with every element of the group.

Formally,

The centre is a subgroup, which is normal and indeed characteristic. It may be described as the set of elements by which conjugation is trivial (the identity map); this shows the centre as the kernel of the homomorphism to G to its inner automorphism group.

See also

References

  • Marshall Hall jr (1959). The theory of groups. New York: Macmillan, 14.