Lecture#11 Group theory i:
[> Centre of a group
Some important results about Center
|> Examples of center
|> Order of center
}> Conjugate elements
> Conjugacy class
> Results on Conjugacy classes Center of a Group
The set of those elements of a group G which commute with every element of G is
called center of G and is denoted by Z(G).
Z(G) = {a € G:ag = ga for all g € G}
We can say that the centralizer of the whole group G is the center of G.
Note:
> As ex=xe for all x € G thus always e € Z(G) , which shows that center is
Always non empty i.e. Z(G) # 0.
>The notation Z(G) comes from the fact that the German word for center is zentrum.
Z(G) is abelian part of G. Some important results about Center
Theorem1: If G is an abelian group then Z(G)=G.
Theorem2: The Center Z(G) of a group G is a subgroup of G.
Theorem3: Let G be a group then Z(G) = Naeg Cg (a).
Theorem4: Let HG then Z(G) S Ng(H).
TheoremS: Cg (Z(G)) = Gand Ng(Z(G)) = G.
Theorem6: Let A and B are subsets of a group G such that A CB then Cg (B) < Cg (A)
Theorem7: Let H be a subgroup of order 2 in G. Then Ng(H) = Cg (H). Examples of center
() ifnisodd
Y)20,) = f. at if nis even
ie. Z(D3) = {1} and Z(D,) = {1,a?}
2)Z(Qg) = {-1,1}
3) Z(S,) = {1}; for n= 3.
4) Z(Sp) = Sp forn = 1,2
5) Z(Ay) = Ay = (1)
6) Z(42) = Sp
7) Z(A3) = Az
8) Z(A,) = {1}; for n> 4
9) Z(GLy(R)) = set of all scalar matrices of order n-by-n.
forn> 3. Order of center
1) Let Gis non abelian group of order p? then |Z(G)|=p. Or (Z(G)= Cp)
Example: |Qg|=8= 2° so 1Z(Qs)I= 2.
2) [2(GLy(Fq)) |= 9-2; 01
3) [2(SLa(Fq)) I= ged(n.q-t), n>1
sf nis odd
sif nis even
4) 12SLy(R)NI= 5
5) Iffism-cycle in Sy then |Cs,,(f)|=m(n-m)!
Example: Find |Cs, ((12))|-
Solution: |Cs,((12)) |= 2(4-2)!=4 Exercises
Q; ----—~ is the set of all those elements of a group G which commutes with all other elements
of G. (PPSc 2011)
a)Commutative subgroup _b)eenter of group _—c) Automorphism _—_d) None of these
Q: Center of the group of Quaternian Qg is of order (PPsc 2011)
a)i b)2 Qs d)4
Solution: 2(Qx )={1, -1}
Q: Let G=
then Z(G): (ppsc2015)
a) fe} b) {ea} c)fe, a, a2, a3} dG
(} — ifnisodd :
Solution: ) Z(Dp) = { : @} ifniseven "0M. Asm=4so.center= {1,a3}= {e,a2} Conjugate Element
Two elements a, b € G are said to be conjugate if and only if there exists an element g € G
Such that b = gag™?.
bab=a"bb = a? so, a and a*are conjugate inD3.
i so, i andi are conjugate in Qe.
Example: i) bab~
ii) kike“*= ki(-k)=j(
Theorem1: conjugate elements in a group are of same order. i.e. If b= gag~! then |a
Theorem2: If two elements a and b are conjugate so does their powers. i.e.
ifb = gag~* then bk = gakg-?
Theorem3: The relation of conjugacy between elements of a group G is an equivalence relation. i.e.
Reflexive: a is conjugate to itself ie.eae"! = a
Symmetric: if a is conjugate to b then b is conjugate to a.
Transitive: if a is conjugate to b and b is conjugate to c then a is conjugate toc. Conjugacy Class
Ina group G, the relation of conjugacy between elements of G partitions G into
Equivalence classes. Each equivalence class consists of elements which are conjugate
To one another , these are known as conjugacy classes.
> A conjugacy class consisting of elements conjugate to an element a of G
will be denoted by cl(a) or Ca.
So, C,={x€G:x=gag”+, for g € G}
Note: If G is abelian then Cq={a} i.e.
InCy = {1,-1, 4 5G, = (1},C4 =(-1, 6 = (0,04 = (-3 Examples:
Q: Find conjugacy classes of all elements of S3.
Bea S3 = {0,2,4?,b,ab,a°b}
t we write Cayley table of S; which we have discussed in chapter 4.
This table will be very useful in performing operations among the
elements of Ss.
ab | ab |
lw lo +
is
Jo |] Bll
Sao Jo |B feo
>
So fo fafa
Ble (%e /afe lo
J
ao |>
S48 || ole Examples:
To find C(e), we have to find those elements of S, which are
Conjugate of e. For this we check all the elements of S, turn by turn
as follows: ©
a-eatsaa'=e
(a*)-- (a?) =(a”)-(a#)4 =e
b-e-b"=b-b"=6
ab-e-(ab)" =ab-(ab)" =e
(a?b)-0-(a2b)" = (a*b)- (ab)
This shows that only e is conjugate of e, so C(e) = {e}. Examples:
To find C(a), we have to find those elements of S, which are
conjugate of a. For this we check all the elements of S, turn by turn.
o-a-e"
aaat=ae=a
(a?)-a-(a?)" =a? -acaza
b-a-b" =ba-b=a*b-b=a?
ab-a-(ab)" =ab-a-ab =b-ab =a?
(a*b)-a-(a2b)" = a*b- a-a*b = ab-a*b =a?
This shows that only a and a? are conjugate of a, so
(a) = {2,27} Examples:
(lil) To find C(a?), we have’ to find those elements of S, which are
conjugate of a?. For this we check all the elements of S; turn by turn,
(a?).a? (a2) =a? -a? -a=a?
b-a?-b4 =ba?-b=ab-b=a
ab-a? -(ab)"' =ab-a? -ab=a*b-ab=a
(a?b)-a? -(a*b)" =a*b-a? -a?b=b-a’b=a
This shows that only a and a? are conjugate of a”, so
Cla?) = {a,a7} , Examples:
(iv) To find C(b), we have to find those elements of S, which are
conjugate of b. For this we check all the elements of S, turn by tum.
e-bet=b
a-b-a =ab-a* =a’b
(a?)-b-(a?)" =a? -b-a=a*ba=ab
b-b- =b
ab-b-(ab)" = ab-b-ab=a-ab=a*b
(ab): b-(a2b)" = a2b-b-a%b =a? -a%b = ab
This shows that only b, ab and ab are conjugate of b, so
C(b) = {b,ab,a"b} Examples:
To find C(ab), we have’ to find those elements of S; which are
Conjugate of ab. For this we check all the elements of Ss tum by tum,
@-ab-e =ab
a-ab-a =a*b.a?=b
(a?)-ab-(a?)" =a? -ab-a=ba=a"b
b-ab-b" =bae=a"b
ab-ab.(ab)" = ab-ab-ab =e-ab = ab
(ab)-ab-(a2b)" = a?b-ab-a*b=a-a"b=b
This shows that only b, ab and a%b are conjugate of ab, so
(ab) = {b,ab,a*b} - Examples:
For this we check all the elements of S, turn by turn.
e-a*b-e =a"b
a-a’b-a" =b-a? =ab
(a?)-a*b-(a?)" =a? -ab-a=ba=ab
b-a’b-b" =ba’.e=ab
ab-a*b-(ab)"' = ab-a®b-ab=a?-ab=b
(a?b)-a?b-(a?b)"' =a2b-a2b-ab =6-a2b = ab
This shows that only h, ab and a’b are. conjugate of ab, so
C(ab) = {b,ab,a?b} Some important results on Conjugacy
Classes
Theorem1: In an abelian group number of conjugacy classes is equal to order of group.
Theorem2: C,=(a} if and only if a€ Z(G).
Example: In D4={ 1, a, a2, a3, b, ab, a*b, a°b}, 2(G)=(1, a*}
a? € Z(G) so C,2=(a?}
Theorem
he number of elements in a conjugacy class C, of an element a in a group G is equal to
1Ca|=[6:Ne(a)}
The index of its Normalizer in G.
Theorem4: |Ca| | |G]
