Condition for Invertibility in Power Structure on Associative or Cancellable Operation
Theorem
Let $\struct {S, \circ}$ be a unital magma.
Let $\struct {\powerset S, \circ_\PP}$ denote the power structure of $\struct {S, \circ}$.
Let identity element $e \in S$ be an identity element of $\struct {S, \circ}$.
Let $\circ$ be either:
Let $X \subseteq S$ be a subset of $S$.
Then:
- $X$ is invertible for $\circ_PP$
- there exists an element $x \in S$ which is invertible for $\circ$ such that $X = \set x$.
Proof
First we note that from Identity Element for Power Structure, the algebraic structure $\struct {\powerset S, \circ_\PP}$ has an identity element $J = \set e$.
Sufficient Condition
Let $X$ be invertible for $\circ_PP$.
Then:
\(\ds \exists Y \in \powerset S: \, \) | \(\ds X \circ_\PP Y\) | \(=\) | \(\ds J\) | Definition of Invertible Element | ||||||||||
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) | \(\ds \set {x \circ y: x \in X, y \in Y}\) | \(=\) | \(\ds \set e\) | Definition of Operation Induced on Power Set | ||||||||||
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) | \(\ds \exists x \in X: \exists y \in S: \, \) | \(\ds x \circ y\) | \(=\) | \(\ds e\) |
Similarly:
\(\ds \exists Y \in \powerset S: \, \) | \(\ds Y \circ_\PP X\) | \(=\) | \(\ds J\) | Definition of Invertible Element | ||||||||||
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) | \(\ds \set {y \circ x: x \in X, y \in Y}\) | \(=\) | \(\ds \set e\) | Definition of Operation Induced on Power Set | ||||||||||
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) | \(\ds \exists x \in X: \exists y \in S: \, \) | \(\ds y \circ x\) | \(=\) | \(\ds e\) |
That is, there exists $x \in X$ such that:
- $x \circ y = e = y \circ x$
That is:
- $x$ is invertible for $\circ$
- $y$ is the inverse of $x$.
Hence we have $Y \in \powerset S$ such that:
- $\forall y \in Y: x \circ y = e = y \circ x$
- $\circ$ is Associative
Let $\circ$ be an associative operation.
Aiming for a contradiction, suppose $\exists z \in X$ such that $z \ne x$.
Then we have:
- $\forall y \in Y: z \circ y = e = y \circ z$
\(\ds z \circ e\) | \(=\) | \(\ds z\) | Definition of Identity Element | |||||||||||
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) | \(\ds z \circ \paren {y \circ x}\) | \(=\) | \(\ds z\) | |||||||||||
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) | \(\ds \paren {z \circ y} \circ x\) | \(=\) | \(\ds z\) | as $\circ$ is associative | ||||||||||
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) | \(\ds e \circ x\) | \(=\) | \(\ds z\) | |||||||||||
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) | \(\ds x\) | \(=\) | \(\ds z\) |
This contradicts our supposition that $z \ne x$.
Hence there can be no elements in $X$ apart from $x$.
That is:
- $X = \set x$
where $x$ is invertible for $\circ$.
$\Box$
- $\circ$ is Cancellable
Let $\circ$ be a cancellable operation.
Aiming for a contradiction, suppose $\exists z \in X$ such that $z \ne x$.
Then we have:
- $\forall y \in Y: z \circ y = e = y \circ z$
Then:
\(\ds x \circ y\) | \(=\) | \(\ds z \circ y\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) | \(\ds x\) | \(=\) | \(\ds z\) | as $\circ$ is cancellable |
This contradicts our supposition that $z \ne x$.
Hence there can be no elements in $X$ apart from $x$.
That is:
- $X = \set x$
where $x$ is invertible for $\circ$.
$\Box$
Necessary Condition
Let there exist an element $x \in S$ which is invertible for $\circ$.
Hence there exist $y \in S$ such that:
- $x \circ y = e = y \circ x$
Let $X = \set x$.
We have:
\(\ds X \circ \set y\) | \(=\) | \(\ds \set {x \circ y}\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds \set e\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds J\) |
and:
\(\ds \set y \circ X\) | \(=\) | \(\ds \set {y \circ x}\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds \set e\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds J\) |
That is, $X$ is invertible for $\circ_\PP$.
$\blacksquare$
Sources
- 1965: Seth Warner: Modern Algebra ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text {II}$: New Structures from Old: $\S 9$: Compositions Induced on the Set of All Subsets: Exercise $9.7 \ \text {(c)}$