Sol 1
Sol 1
Solution:
(a) Prove that for AB to be a group it is necessary and sufficient that A and B are
permutable, that is AB = BA.
1
Solutions to Assignment 1
4. Let G be a group such that all elements of G other than the identity has order 2. Show
that:
(a) G is commutative.
Solution: Let a, b ∈ G. Then, (ab)2 = abab = e. Hence, ab = b−1 a−1 . But,
b2 = e ⇒ b = b−1 and similarly a = a−1 . Hence, ab = ba.
(b) If G is finite, order of G is a power of 2.
Solution: We proved in class that for a finite Abelian group the order of G must
divide some power of any exponent of G. Clearly, 2 is an exponent and hence
order of G must be a power of 2.
5. Let G be a group such that, for a fixed integer n > 1, (xy)n = xn y n for all x, y ∈ G.
Let G(n) = {xn |x ∈ G}, and G(n) = {x ∈ G|xn = e}.
Solution: We will establish a bijection between the elements of G(n) and the left
cosets of G(n) . Namely, let x = g n ∈ G(n) map to gG(n) . Clearly, the map is onto.
Now, suppose that g1 G(n) = g2 G(n) . Then, g1 y1 = g2 y2 for some y1 , y2 ∈ G(n) .
But, y1n = y2n = e. Hence, (g1 y1 )n = g1n y1n = g1n = (g2 y2 )n = g2n . Hence, g1n = g2n
proving that the map is 1-1.
(c) Show that for all x, y ∈ G, x1−n y 1−n = (xy)1−n and deduce that xn−1 y n = y n xn−1 .
Solution:
n
x1−n y 1−n = xx−n y −n y = xx−1 y −1 y
= xx−1 (y −1 x−1 )n−1 y −1 y = (y −1 x−1 )n−1 = (xy)−1 n − 1 = (xy)1−n .
Also,
xn−1 y n = (x−1 )1−n (y −1 )1 − ny = (x−1 y −1 )1−n y
= (yx)n−1 y = (yx)n−1 yxx−1 = (yx)n x−1 = y n xn−1 .
2
Solutions to Assignment 1
(d) Conclude from the above that the set of elements of G of the form xn(n−1) generates
a commutative subgroup of G.
Solution:
Let x, y ∈ G. Now,
3
Solutions to Assignment 1
φ1 : H1 → H/(H10 × H20 )
Moreover, let (h1 , h2 ) ∈ H/(H10 × H20 ). Clearly, φ1 (h1 ) = (h1 , h2 ) and hence φ1 is
surjective. Hence, H1 /H10 ∼ = H/(H10 × H20 ). By symmetry,
H1 /H10 ∼
= H/(H10 × H20 ) ∼
= H2 /H20 .
Now, in(H1 /H10 ) ⊂ in(H1 ) ⊂ in(G1 ) and in(H2 /H20 ) ⊂ in(H2 ) ⊂ in(G2 ). Since,
in(G1 )∩in(G2 ) = ∅, and H1 /H10 ∼= H2 /H20 , it follows that in(H1 /H10 ) = in(H2 /H20 ) =
∅, and using part (a) this implies that H10 = H1 and H20 = H2 . It is easy now to
deduce that H = H1 × H2 .
In order to prove the converse, suppose there exists S ∈ in(G1 ) ∩ in(G2 ). This
implies that there exists subgroups H10 C H1 of G1 and H20 C H2 of G2 , such that
S∼ = H1 /H10 ∼
= H2 /H20 . Chosse an isomorphism φ : H1 /H10 → H2 /H20 .
Let H = {(h1 , h2 )|h1 ∈ H1 , h2 ∈ H2 , h¯2 = φ(h¯1 )}.
Then, it is easy to check that H is a subgroup of H1 × H2 , p1 (H) = H1 and
p2 (H) = H2 . However for any h1 ∈ H1 , there exists h2 ∈ H2 such that h¯2 6= φ(h¯1 )
since, H1 /H10 is not trivial. Hence, H is not of the form P1 × P2 for subgroups P1
of G1 and P2 of G2 .