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Factor Group Computation and Simple Group

This document summarizes key concepts from a lecture on factor groups and simple groups in abstract algebra. It provides examples of computing factor groups for various groups like Z, R, and direct products. It also defines simple groups as nontrivial groups with no proper normal subgroups, and proves results relating maximal normal subgroups to simple factor groups.

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Karen Gardose
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80 views7 pages

Factor Group Computation and Simple Group

This document summarizes key concepts from a lecture on factor groups and simple groups in abstract algebra. It provides examples of computing factor groups for various groups like Z, R, and direct products. It also defines simple groups as nontrivial groups with no proper normal subgroups, and proves results relating maximal normal subgroups to simple factor groups.

Uploaded by

Karen Gardose
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Abstract algebra

Lecture note 10. Factor group computation and simple groups

Lecturer : O-joung Kwon


Spring, 2019
Spring 2019. Abstract algebra. O.Kwon
Let N be a normal subgroup of G. We may consider
G/N as a group obtained by collapsing each coset to
an element.

Example 1. The trivial subgroup N = {0} of Z is a


normal subgroup. Compute Z/{0}.

Example 2. Let n be a positive integer. The set nR =


{nr : r ∈ R} is a subgroup of R under addition, and
it is normal. Compute R/nR.

As illustrated these examples, we can see that


G/{e} ' G and G/G ' {e}.

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Spring 2019. Abstract algebra. O.Kwon

We give two examples showing that G/N has order


2, but has interesting properties.

Example 3. Because |Sn | = 2|An |, An is a normal


subgroup of Sn , and Sn /An has order 2. This factor
group is isomorphic to Z2 .

Example 4. (Falsity of the Converse of the Theorem


of Lagrange)

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Spring 2019. Abstract algebra. O.Kwon

We look at that if the original group was finitely


generated and abelian, then its factor group will be
also.

Example 5. Compute the factor group (Z4 × Z6 )/ <


(0, 1) >.

Theorem 1. Let G = H × K be the direct product


of groups H and K. Then H̄ = {(h, e) : h ∈ H} is
a normal subgroup of G. Also G/H̄ is isomorphic to
K.

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Spring 2019. Abstract algebra. O.Kwon

Theorem 2. A factor group of a cyclic group is


cyclic.
PROOF

Example 6. Compute the factor group (Z4 × Z6 )/ <


(0, 2) >.

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Spring 2019. Abstract algebra. O.Kwon

Definition 1. A group is simple if it is nontrivial


and has no proper nontrivial normal subgroups.
It is known that the alternating subgroup An is sim-
ple for n ≥ 5. (This is actually very important in
the Galois Theory, but we will not discuss at the
moment.)

We characterize those normal subgroups N such that


G/N is a simple group.
Theorem 3. Let φ : G → G0 be a group homomor-
phism. If N is a normal subgroup of G, then φ[N ] is
a normal subgroup of φ[G]. Also, if N 0 is a normal
subgroup of φ[G], then φ−1 [N 0 ] is a normal subgroup
of G.

Definition 2. A maximal normal subgroup of a


group G is a normal subgroup M not equal to G
such that there is no proper normal subgroup N of
G properly containing M .

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Spring 2019. Abstract algebra. O.Kwon

Theorem 4. M is a maximal normal subgroup of G


if and only if G/M is simple.
PROOF

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