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Math4302Modern Algebra (Lecture 18)

Math4302 Modern Algebra (Lecture 18)

Groups

Factor group

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

Recall from last lecture, if ϕ:G→G′\phi:G\to G' is a homomorphism, then G/ker⁡(ϕ)≃ϕ(G)≤G′G/\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)=a−b\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)∣b∈Z}\langle (2,1)\rangle=\{(2b,b)|b\in \mathbb{Z}\}

Take ϕ(a,b)=a−2b\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)=(amod  2,a−b)\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, N≤GN\leq G, then G/NG/N is abelian.
  • If GG is finitely generated and N⊴GN\trianglelefteq G, then G/NG/N is finitely generated.

Definition of simple group

GG is simple if GG has no proper (H≠G,{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:G→G′\phi:G\to G' is a homomorphism, then ker⁡(ϕ)⊴G\ker(\phi)\trianglelefteq G.


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

Z(G)⊴GZ(G)\trianglelefteq G.

  • e∈Z(G)e\in Z(G).
  • a,b∈Z(G)  ⟹  abg=gab  ⟹  ab∈Z(G)a,b\in Z(G)\implies abg=gab\implies ab\in Z(G).
  • a∈Z(G)  ⟹  ag=ga  ⟹  a−1∈Z(G)a\in Z(G)\implies ag=ga\implies a^{-1}\in Z(G).
  • If g∈G,h∈Z(G)g\in G, h\in Z(G), then ghg−1∈Z(G)ghg^{-1}\in Z(G) since ghg−1=gg−1h=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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