Symmetry Group of Regular Hexagon/Examples/Center
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Examples of Operations on Symmetry Group of Regular Hexagon
Let $\HH = ABCDEF$ be a regular hexagon.
Let $D_6$ denote the symmetry group of $\HH$.
Let $e$ denote the identity mapping
Let $\alpha$ denote rotation of $\HH$ anticlockwise through $\dfrac \pi 3$ radians ($60 \degrees$)
Let $\beta$ denote reflection of $\HH$ in the $AD$ axis.
The center of $D_6$ is:
- $\map Z {D_6} = \set {e, \alpha^3}$
Proof
From Center of Dihedral Group:
- $\map Z {D_n} = \begin{cases} e & : n \text { odd} \\ \set {e, \alpha^{n / 2} } & : n \text { even} \end{cases}$
for $n \ge 3$.
Here we have that $n = 6$ and so even.
Hence the result.
$\blacksquare$
Sources
- 1971: Allan Clark: Elements of Abstract Algebra ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $2$: Subgroups and Cosets: $\S 35 \zeta \ (5)$