Group Question

[eratosthenes]

I have been wracking my brain for a day and a half now over what is
likely to be a terribly simple abstract algebra question. Here it is:

give an example of group elements a and b such that a^(-1)*b*a does
not equal b.

My main problem here is thinking that if I am working in a group then
how can elements in that group not satisfy a property that is
essential o the definition of a group? Or am I totally off the mark
here?

Patrick

[Barb Knox]

In article
<623c9024-2a9a-428c...@m16g2000yqc.googlegroups.com>,
eratosthenes <rehamk...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hint: if a group is commutative then indeed a^(-1)*b*a = a^(-1)*a*b =
e*b = b. So you need to look at some non-commutative groups.

--
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| BBB b \ Barbara at LivingHistory stop co stop uk
| B B aa rrr b |
| BBB a a r bbb | Quidquid latine dictum sit,
| B B a a r b b | altum viditur.
| BBB aa a r bbb |
-----------------------------

[eratosthenes]

On Nov 12, 5:53 pm, Barb Knox <s...@sig.below> wrote:
> In article
> <623c9024-2a9a-428c-8d69-698f41938...@m16g2000yqc.googlegroups.com>,

Thanks, I was just over-thinking the problem.

Patrick