group theory

Noun

group theory (usually uncountable, plural group theories)

1. (usually) The mathematical theory of groups.
   • THE feeling seems to be developing among physicists that group theory can be used as and when required, as many other techniques already are, without its being necessary for everyone to study all the whys and wherefores of the mathematical details involved.1968, Arthur P. Cracknell, editor, Applied Group Theory: Selected Readings in Physics, Pergamon Press, page ix
   • Planar cis and/or trans internal rotation tunnelling have been discussed in terms of group theory, leading to theoretical spectra which have been compared to experimental work.1995, Jean Brocas, “Chapter 4: The Use of Group Theory in the Study of Non-Rigid Molecules”, in Danail Bonchev, D. H. Rouvray, editors, Chemical Group Theory: Techniques and Applications, Gordon and...
2. (usually) Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see group, theory; a theory about (particular kinds of) groups.
   • After you have read over the seven group theories you'll be clearer about what makes the most sense to you for the groups with which you want to use your observation skills.2007, Hedley G. Dimock, Rachel R. Kass, How to Observe Your Group, Captus Press, 4th Edition, page 3
   • In particular we study the case where cryptographic primitives are modelled using a group theory. Group theories are a special case of monoidal theories which have been extensively studied by F. Baader and W. Nutt [20,6] who have provided a complete survey of unification in these theories. Group...2012, Stéphanie Delaune, Steve Kremer, Daniel Pasaila, Security Protocols, Constraint Systems, and Group Theories, Bernhard Gramlich, Dale Miller, Ulrike Sattler (editors), Automated Reasoning: 6th...