Left Congruence Modulo Subgroup is Equivalence Relation

Theorem
Let $G$ be a group, and let $H$ be a subgroup of $G$.

Let $x, y \in G$. Let $x \equiv^l y \pmod H$ denote the relation that $x$ is left congruent modulo $H$ to $y$.

Then the relation $\equiv^l$ is an equivalence relation.

Proof
Let $G$ be a group whose identity is $e$.

Let $H$ be a subgroup of $G$.

For clarity of expression, we will use the notation:
 * $\tuple {x, y} \in \RR^l_H$

for:
 * $x \equiv^l y \pmod H$

From the definition of left congruence modulo a subgroup, we have:
 * $\RR^l_H = \set {\tuple {x, y} \in G \times G: x^{-1} y \in H}$

We show that $\RR^l_H$ is an equivalence:

Reflexive
We have that $H$ is a subgroup of $G$.

From Identity of Subgroup:
 * $e \in H$

Hence:
 * $\forall x \in G: x^{-1} x = e \in H \implies \tuple {x, x} \in \RR^l_H$

and so $\RR^l_H$ is reflexive.

Symmetric
But then:
 * $\tuple {x^{-1} y}^{-1} = y^{-1} x \implies \tuple {y, x} \in \RR^l_H$

Thus $\RR^l_H$ is symmetric.

Transitive
Thus $\RR^l_H$ is transitive.

So $\RR^l_H$ is an equivalence relation.

Also see

 * Definition:Left Coset
 * Definition:Left Coset Space


 * Right Congruence Modulo Subgroup is Equivalence Relation