# Showing a group is abelian [duplicate]

Suppose that $e$ is the identity in a group G and that $a^2 = e$ for all $a\in G$. Show that G is abelian.

How do I figure out what the binary operation is to show that G is abelian i.e. if this is the correct line of thought in the first place. If not, i require some assistance.

• You might find the answers here useful: math.stackexchange.com/questions/238171/… – Unochiii Mar 6 '15 at 3:41
• You don't need to know what the binary operation "is"—it is what it is—just as you don't need to know what the group might represent or how many elements it has, etc. The point is to take advantage of what you do know about the operation, in this case that $a^2 = e$ for all $a$. – Théophile Mar 6 '15 at 3:57

Note that $$ab=b^2(ab)a^2=bbabaa=b(ba)^2a=ba$$

First note, if $a^2=e$ then $a^{-1}=a$. Now $$(ab)^2=e\implies abab=e.$$

Multiplying both sides of the second equation by $a^{-1}$ on the left and $b^{-1}$ on the right gives:

$$ba=a^{-1}b^{-1}=ab.$$

Or, even quicker

$$ab=(ab)^{-1}=b^{-1}a^{-1}=ba.$$

• Do you want $(ab)^2=ab$ or $(ab)^2=e$? – SE318 Mar 6 '15 at 3:46
• $(ab)^2=e$. I'll edit it. Thanks. – Tim Raczkowski Mar 6 '15 at 3:47

Consider elements $a$, $b$ in G

$(ab)^{2} = e$ --- We are told this is true.

$(ab)(ab) = e$ --- expanding the square.

$abab = e$ --- Associativity (remember we are in a group, the binary operation is associative) means brackets don't really matter here.

Now if we multiply both sides on the left by $a$ and the right by $b$ we obtain

$a(abab)b = eab$

However $aa = a^{2} = e$ and $bb = b^2 = e$. Also, $eab = ab$ Therefore we see that

$ba = ab$ for all elements $a$ and $b$ in $G$ --- That is to say, $G$ is Abelian.

I would like to make a note on your question "what is the operation?" --- when you are thinking about a an abstract group $G$ it doesn't matter what the operation is exactly. However, it is helpful to treat it like addition sometimes, or multiplication other times (in this case it was treated like multiplication). But know that you're not really doing either, you're applying a general binary map with the properties that make it feel like multiplication or addition (associativity, inverses and identities)