Definition:Group Theory

Definition

Group Theory is a branch of abstract algebra which studies groups and other related algebraic structures.

Also see

• Results about group theory can be found here.

Historical Note

The field of group theory was initiated by Évariste Galois as a consequence of his work on establishing the general solubility criteria of polynomials in radicals.

Group theory was originally called the theory of substitutions until Arthur Cayley's $1854$ paper On the theory of groups in which he introduced the concept of the abstract group.

Sources

• 1967: John D. Dixon: Problems in Group Theory ... (next): Preface
• 1971: Allan Clark: Elements of Abstract Algebra ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $2$: Group Theory