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The Open University

Introduction to group theory

The Open University via OpenLearn

Overview

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.

Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Learning outcomes
  • Link to course PDF
  • Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements

Reviews

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