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Math2070 - 202425t2 (Cw3-Sol)

The document contains sample solutions for coursework in Algebraic Structures at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. It covers various topics including the intersection of subgroups, finite order elements in abelian groups, properties of equivalence relations, the quaternion group, and the dihedral group D6. Each section provides proofs and examples to illustrate the concepts discussed.

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46 views5 pages

Math2070 - 202425t2 (Cw3-Sol)

The document contains sample solutions for coursework in Algebraic Structures at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. It covers various topics including the intersection of subgroups, finite order elements in abelian groups, properties of equivalence relations, the quaternion group, and the dihedral group D6. Each section provides proofs and examples to illustrate the concepts discussed.

Uploaded by

racolaurr
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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THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

Department of Mathematics
MATH 2070BC Algebraic Structures 2024-25 Term 2
Coursework 3 SAMPLE SOLUTIONS

Name: Student ID: Score:


Section: B / C (circle one)

1. Show that the intersection H ∩ K of two subgroups H, K of a group G is also a subgroup


of G.

• Since both H and K are subgroups of G, they both contain the identity element eG
of G. Hence, eG ∈ H ∩ K, so H ∩ K is nonempty.
• Given any x, y ∈ H ∩ K, we have x, y ∈ H and x, y ∈ K. Since H and K are both
subgroups of G we have:

xy −1 ∈ H and xy −1 ∈ K,

which implies that xy −1 ∈ H ∩ K.

It now follows from a result (Claim 3.5) proved in class that H ∩ K is a subgroup of G.
2

2. Let G be an abelian group. Show that the set H consisting of those elements of G which
have finite order is a subgroup of G.
The identity element e of G has order 1, so e lies in H.
Given any a, b ∈ H, let m = ord a, n = ord b. By definition of H, m and n are finite
positive integers.
Since G is abelian, we have (ab)mn = amn bmn = (am )n (bn )m = e. Hence, by Theorem
2.2, the element ab has finite order. So, ab ∈ H.
Notice (a−1 )m = (am )−1 = e. Hence a−1 also has finite order.
We conclude that the set H consisting of those elements of G which have finite order is a
subgroup of G.
3

3. Let ≡ be an equivalence relation on a set S. For any element s ∈ S, let [s] denote the
equivalence class of s with respect to ≡. That is:

[s] = {t ∈ S : s ≡ t}

Show that, for any s, s′ ∈ S, if [s] ∩ [s′ ] ̸= ∅, then [s] = [s′ ].


If [s] ∩ [s′ ] ̸= ∅, then there exists t ∈ S which belongs to both [s] and [s′ ], which implies
that s ≡ t and s′ ≡ t. By the symmetry and transitivity properties of an equivalence
relation, we have s′ ≡ s.
For any u ∈ [s], we have u ≡ s ≡ s′ , which implies that u ≡ s′ by transitivity. Hence,
u ∈ [s′ ]. This shows that [s] ⊆ [s′ ].
By the same argument, for any v ∈ [s′ ] we have v ∈ [s], which implies that [s′ ] ⊆ [s].
We conclude that [s] = [s′ ].
4

4. The quaternion group Q consists of eight elements:

Q = {±1, ±i, ±j, ±k}.

The group operation on Q is defined by the following identities:

(−1)2 = 1, i2 = j 2 = k 2 = ijk = −1,

where the symbol 1 denotes the identity element, and −1 commutes with every element
of the group.

(a) Show that:


ij = k, ji = −ij, kj = −jk, ik = −ki
Since k 2 = −1, multiplying both sides of ijk = −1 by −k from the right, we have:

ij = k,

which implies that:


(ij)(ij) = k 2 = −1.
Since j 2 = −1, multiplying both sides of the equation above from the right by j, we
have:
−(ij)i = −j.
Now, multiplying both sides of the equation above from the right by −i, it follows
from i2 = −1 that:
−ij = ji.
The identities kj = −jk and ik = −ki may be obtained similarly.
(b) Consider the cyclic subgroup H = ⟨i⟩ of Q.
i. List all elements of H.
We have:
i2 = −1, i3 = −i, i4 = 1.
Hence:
H = ⟨i⟩ = {1, i, −1, −i}.

ii. List, without repetition, all left cosets of H in Q.


The left cosets of H in G are:

H = {1, i, −1, −i},


jH = {j, −k, −j, k}.
5

5. Consider the dihedral group D6 = {r0 , r1 , . . . , r5 , s1 , s2 , . . . , s6 }, where r0 is the identity


element, each rk corresponds to the anticlockwise rotation by the angle of 2πk/6, and the
sk ’s are reflections.
Find a subgroup of order 4 in D6 , if it exists.
(Hint: By a corollary to Lagrange’s Theorem, any element in a subgroup of order 4 must
have order 1, 2 or 4. Which elements of D6 have such orders? Can you form a subgroup
with 4 such elements?)
Instead of merely giving the solution, let’s explore how one might approach this problem:
Write D6 = {r0 , r1 , . . . , r5 , s1 , s2 , . . . , s6 }, where rk is anticlockwise rotation by 2πk/6,
and each si is a reflection.
Suppose H is a subgroup of order 4 in D6 . By a consequence of Lagrange’s Theorem,
each element of H has order 1, 2 or 4. For the rotations, we have:

ord r1 = ord r5 = 6,

since gcd(1, 6) = gcd(5, 6) = 1; and:

ord r2 = ord r4 = 3; ord r3 = 2.

Hence, the only rotation besides r0 that H could possibly contain is r3 . It now follows
from |H| = 4 that H must contain at least 2 reflections. Since the product of two distinct
reflections is a nontrivial rotation, this implies that H must contain r3 .
A possible candidate for H is therefore:

H = {r0 , r3 , s, sr3 },

where s is a reflection. (Note that sr3 is also a reflection.) Noting that sr3 s = r3−1 = r3 ,
direct verification shows that H is indeed a subgroup of order 4.

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