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Exercises 10.4 Exercises
1.
For each of the following groups \(G\text{,}\) determine whether \(H\) is a normal subgroup of \(G\text{.}\) If \(H\) is a normal subgroup, write out a Cayley table for the factor group \(G/H\text{.}\)
\(G = S_4\) and
\(H = A_4\)
\(G = A_5\) and
\(H = \{ (1), (1 \, 2 \, 3), (1 \, 3 \, 2) \}\)
\(G = S_4\) and
\(H = D_4\)
\(G = Q_8\) and
\(H = \{ 1, -1, I, -I \}\)
\(G = {\mathbb Z}\) and
\(H = 5 {\mathbb Z}\)
2.
Find all the subgroups of
\(D_4\text{.}\) Which subgroups are normal? What are all the factor groups of
\(D_4\) up to isomorphism?
3.
Find all the subgroups of the quaternion group,
\(Q_8\text{.}\) Which subgroups are normal? What are all the factor groups of
\(Q_8\) up to isomorphism?
4.
Let \(T\) be the group of nonsingular upper triangular \(2 \times 2\) matrices with entries in \({\mathbb R}\text{;}\) that is, matrices of the form
\begin{equation*}
\begin{pmatrix}
a & b \\
0 & c
\end{pmatrix}\text{,}
\end{equation*}
where \(a\text{,}\) \(b\text{,}\) \(c \in {\mathbb R}\) and \(ac \neq 0\text{.}\) Let \(U\) consist of matrices of the form
\begin{equation*}
\begin{pmatrix}
1 & x \\
0 & 1
\end{pmatrix}\text{,}
\end{equation*}
where \(x \in {\mathbb R}\text{.}\)
Show that
\(U\) is a subgroup of
\(T\text{.}\)
Prove that
\(U\) is abelian.
Prove that
\(U\) is normal in
\(T\text{.}\)
Show that
\(T/U\) is abelian.
Is
\(T\) normal in
\(GL_2( {\mathbb R})\text{?}\)
5.
Show that the intersection of two normal subgroups is a normal subgroup.
6.
If
\(G\) is abelian, prove that
\(G/H\) must also be abelian.
7.
Prove or disprove: If
\(H\) is a normal subgroup of
\(G\) such that
\(H\) and
\(G/H\) are abelian, then
\(G\) is abelian.
8.
If
\(G\) is cyclic, prove that
\(G/H\) must also be cyclic.
9.
Prove or disprove: If
\(H\) and
\(G/H\) are cyclic, then
\(G\) is cyclic.
10.
Let
\(H\) be a subgroup of index
\(2\) of a group
\(G\text{.}\) Prove that
\(H\) must be a normal subgroup of
\(G\text{.}\) Conclude that
\(S_n\) is not simple for
\(n \geq 3\text{.}\)
11.
If a group
\(G\) has exactly one subgroup
\(H\) of order
\(k\text{,}\) prove that
\(H\) is normal in
\(G\text{.}\)
12.
Define the centralizer of an element \(g\) in a group \(G\) to be the set
\begin{equation*}
C(g) = \{ x \in G : xg = gx \}\text{.}
\end{equation*}
Show that \(C(g)\) is a subgroup of \(G\text{.}\) If \(g\) generates a normal subgroup of \(G\text{,}\) prove that \(C(g)\) is normal in \(G\text{.}\)
13.
Recall that the center of a group \(G\) is the set
\begin{equation*}
Z(G) = \{ x \in G : xg = gx \text{ for all } g \in G \}\text{.}
\end{equation*}
Calculate the center of
\(S_3\text{.}\)
Calculate the center of
\(GL_2 ( {\mathbb R} )\text{.}\)
Show that the center of any group
\(G\) is a normal subgroup of
\(G\text{.}\)
If
\(G / Z(G)\) is cyclic, show that
\(G\) is abelian.
14.
Let \(G\) be a group and let \(G' = \langle aba^{- 1} b^{-1} \rangle\text{;}\) that is, \(G'\) is the subgroup of all finite products of elements in \(G\) of the form \(aba^{-1}b^{-1}\text{.}\) The subgroup \(G'\) is called the commutator subgroup of \(G\text{.}\)
Show that
\(G'\) is a normal subgroup of
\(G\text{.}\)
Let
\(N\) be a normal subgroup of
\(G\text{.}\) Prove that
\(G/N\) is abelian if and only if
\(N\) contains the commutator subgroup of
\(G\text{.}\)