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Math4302Modern Algebra (Lecture 18)

Math4302 Modern Algebra (Lecture 18)

Groups

Factor group

Suppose GG is a group, and HGH\trianglelefteq G, then G/HG/H is a group.

Recall from last lecture, if ϕ:GG\phi:G\to G' is a homomorphism, then G/ker(ϕ)ϕ(G)GG/\ker(\phi)\simeq \phi(G)\leq G'.

Example (continue from last lecture)

Z×Z/(1,1)Z\mathbb{Z}\times\mathbb{Z}/\langle (1,1)\rangle\simeq \mathbb{Z}

Take ϕ(a,b)=ab\phi(a,b)=a-b, this is a surjective homomorphism from Z×Z/(1,1)\mathbb{Z}\times\mathbb{Z}/\langle (1,1)\rangle to Z\mathbb{Z}


Z×Z/(2,1)Z\mathbb{Z}\times\mathbb{Z}/\langle (2,1)\rangle\simeq \mathbb{Z}

where (2,1)={(2b,b)bZ}\langle (2,1)\rangle=\{(2b,b)|b\in \mathbb{Z}\}

Take ϕ(a,b)=a2b\phi(a,b)=a-2b, this is a surjective homomorphism from Z×Z/(2,1)\mathbb{Z}\times\mathbb{Z}/\langle (2,1)\rangle to Z\mathbb{Z}


Z×Z/(2,2)\mathbb{Z}\times\mathbb{Z}/\langle (2,2)\rangle

This should also be a finitely generated abelian group. (Z2×Z\mathbb{Z}_2\times \mathbb{Z} actually)

Take ϕ(a,b)=(amod2,ab)\phi(a,b)=(a\mod 2,a-b)


More generally, for Z×Z/(a,b)\mathbb{Z}\times \mathbb{Z}/\langle (a,b)\rangle.

This should be Z×Zgcd(a,b)\mathbb{Z}\times \mathbb{Z}_{\operatorname{gcd}(a,b)}

Try to do section by gcd.

  • If GG is abelian, NGN\leq G, then G/NG/N is abelian.
  • If GG is finitely generated and NGN\trianglelefteq G, then G/NG/N is finitely generated.

Definition of simple group

GG is simple if GG has no proper (HG,{e}H\neq G,\{e\}), normal subgroup.

Tip

In general SnS_n is not simple, consider the normal subgroup AnA_n.

Example of some natural normal subgroups

If ϕ:GG\phi:G\to G' is a homomorphism, then ker(ϕ)G\ker(\phi)\trianglelefteq G.


The center of GG: Z(G)={aGag=ga for all gG}Z(G)=\{a\in G|ag=ga\text{ for all }g\in G\}

Z(G)GZ(G)\trianglelefteq G.

  • eZ(G)e\in Z(G).
  • a,bZ(G)    abg=gab    abZ(G)a,b\in Z(G)\implies abg=gab\implies ab\in Z(G).
  • aZ(G)    ag=ga    a1Z(G)a\in Z(G)\implies ag=ga\implies a^{-1}\in Z(G).
  • If gG,hZ(G)g\in G, h\in Z(G), then ghg1Z(G)ghg^{-1}\in Z(G) since ghg1=gg1h=hghg^{-1}=gg^{-1}h=h.

Z(S3)={e}Z(S_3)=\{e\}, all the transpositions are not commutative, so Z(S3)={e}Z(S_3)=\{e\}.

Z(GLn(R))Z(GL_n(\mathbb{R}))? continue on friday.

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