Homework 7 - Solutions: G Be A Group of Order 55. G Is Generated by Two Elements X, Y, With The Relations X y Yxy X R

MAT 444 – H.
Barcelo
Spring 2004
Homework 7 – Solutions
Section 6.5
Question:
4. Let G be a group of order 55.
a) Prove that G is generated by two elements x, y, with the relations
x11 = 1, y 5 = 1, yxy −1 = x r , for some r, 1 ≤ r < 11 .
Answer:
a) Assume | G | = 55 = 5.11 . By the third Sylow theorem we can conclude that G has one
Sylow 11-subgroup and either 1 or 5 Sylow 5-subgroups.
Let H be the only Sylow 11-subgroup, then H = x where | x | = 11 . Let K be a Sylow
5-subgroup, then K = y where | y | = 5 . Since the orders of H and K are distinct
primes we have that H ∩ K = 1 . Hence, the product map p : H × K → G is injective,
but | HK | = 55 and HK ≤ G , so G ≈ H × K . Next, since H G , then yHy −1 = H
which means that yxy −1 = x r for some 0 ≤ r < 11 . But if r = 0 we have
yxy −1 = 1 ⇒ x = 1 a contradiction. Thus yxy −1 = x r for 1 ≤ r < 11 .
Question:
b) Prove that the following values of r are not possible: 2, 6, 7, 8, 10.
Answer:
b) Note that for any integer t, yxt y −1 = ( yxy −1 ) ( yxy −1 )… ( yxy −1 ) = ( x r )t = x rt
t factors
−5 −1 −4
x = y xy = y yxy y = y x y
5 4 4 4 r
But =
= xr
5
Which means that r 5 ≡ 1 mod 11 . Hence the integers 2, 6, 7, 8 and 10 are not possible
solutions to this equation while 1, 3, 4, 5, or 9 are possible solutions.
Question:
c) Prove that the remaining values are possible, and there are two isomorphism classes of
groups of order 55.
MAT 444 – Barcelo
Homework 4 Page 2
Answer:
c) Let n5 = 1 then K = y G and from proposition 2.8.6 we have that
G ≈ H × K ≈ C11 × C5 ≈ C55 and thus G is the cyclic (abelian) group of order 55. If
n5 ≠ 1 then clearly K is not a normal subgroup of G, and thus G is not abelian. We claim
that all the groups Gi = x, y ; x11 , y 5 , yxy −1 x −i are isomorphic for i = 3, 4, 5, 9 . One
way to do this is to show that say Gi for i = 3, 4, 5 are isomorphic to G9 . So in G9 we
have that yxy −1 = x9 . Notice that in G3 we have yxy −1 = x3 . Substituting y 2 for y we
have that y 2 x y −2 = yx3 y −1 = x9 . But y 2 is also a generator for K = y . Thus
G3 = x, y′ ; x11 , ( y′)5 , y′x( y′) −1 x −9 ≈ G9 , where y′ = y 2 . Similarly for G4 substitute
y 3 for y, and in G5 y 4 for y , to obtain G4 ≈ G5 ≈ G3 ≈ G9 .
Section 6
Question:
18. Prove that if a proper normal subgroup of Sn contains a 3-cyle, it is An .
Answer:
Let H Sn be a proper normal subgroup of Sn for n ≥ 3 and assume that σ ∈ H , where σ
is a 3-cycle.
Since H Sn we have that τ Hτ −1 = H , ∀τ ∈ Sn , which means that τ σ τ −1 ∈ H , ∀τ ∈ Sn ,

hence that H contains all 3-cyles of Sn since 3-cycles are all conjugate to one another. Thus,
we have that An ≤ H ; but since [ Sn : An ] = 2 and since H is a proper subgroup of Sn , we
have that An = H . Note, in this proof we are assuming the result of exercise #17 that says
that An is generated by 3-cycles.
Section 8
Question:
9. The commutator subgroup C of a group G is the smallest subgroup containing all
commutators.
a) Prove that the commutator subgroup is a characteristic subgroup.
Answer:
a) Let G be a group and C = {aba b a, b ∈ G} be the smallest subgroup of G that
−1 −1
contains C; this means that C is generated by elements of the form

(aba −1b −1 )i for i = 1, or − 1 , note that if i = − 1 (aba −1b −1 ) −1 = bab −1a −1 which is of the
form cdc −1d −1 . Let γ ∈ Aut(G ) . Then γ (aba −1b −1 ) = γ (a) γ (b) γ (a) −1γ (b) −1 ∈ C . Since
γ is a group automorphism if the generators of C are mapped into C then γ (C ) = C .
Typeset by Georgeann Lorentz

MAT 444 – Barcelo
Homework 4 Page 3
Question:
b) Prove that G / C is an abelian group.
Answer:
b) Since γ ∈ Aut(G ) , then for all inner automorphisms I g we have that
I g (C ) = gCg −1 = C . Thus C G . Next, consider G / C ⋅ ∀ a, b ∈ G we have that
aba −1b −1 ∈ C ⇒ aba −1b −1C = C
⇒ ab(ba) −1 C = C
⇒ abC (ba ) −1 C = C
⇒ (ab)C = (ba )C
⇒ aC ⋅ bC = bC ⋅ aC
which means that G / C is abelian
Question:
14. Let N be a normal subgroup of a group G. Prove that G / N is abelian if and only if N
contains the commutator subgroup of G.
Answer:
Let N G . First we show that if N ⊇ C , where C is the commutator subgroup of G, then
G / N is abelian. Since N ⊃ C , then for all a, b ∈ G we have that aba −1b −1 ∈ N . Then
proceed as in the previous exercise.
Next we show that if G / N is abelian then N contains C. ∀ a, b ∈ G we have that

aNbN = bNaN ⇒ abN = baN
⇒ (ba ) abN = N
⇒ a −1b −1abN = N
⇒ a −1b −1ab ∈ N ∀ a, b ∈ G
⇒ N contains C .

MAT 444 – Barcelo
Homework 4 Page 4
Miscellaneous Problems
Question:
7. Let H, N be subgroups of a group G, and assume that N is a normal subgroup.
a) Determine the kernels of the restrictions of the canonical homomorphism
π : G → G / N to the subgroups H and HN.
b) Apply the First Isomorphism Theorem to these restrictions to prove the Second
Isomorphism Theorem: H / H ( H ∩ N ) is isomorphic to ( HN ) / N .
Answers:
See Fraleigh’s book: A first course in Abstract Algebra, page 211.
Question:
8. Let H, N be normal subgroups of a group G such that H ⊃ N , and let
H = H /N, G = G/N .
a) Prove that H is a normal subgroup of G .
c) Use the composed homomorphism G → G → G / H to prove the Third Isomorphism

Theorem: G / H is isomorphic to G / H .
Answers:
See Fraleigh’s book: A first course in Abstract Algebra, page 211.

Homework 7 - Solutions: G Be A Group of Order 55. G Is Generated by Two Elements X, Y, With The Relations X y Yxy X R

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MAT 444 – H.

Since H Sn we have that τ Hτ −1 = H , ∀τ ∈ Sn , which means that τ σ τ −1 ∈ H , ∀τ ∈ Sn ,

contains C; this means that C is generated by elements of the form

Typeset by Georgeann Lorentz

Next we show that if G / N is abelian then N contains C. ∀ a, b ∈ G we have that

Typeset by Georgeann Lorentz

c) Use the composed homomorphism G → G → G / H to prove the Third Isomorphism

Typeset by Georgeann Lorentz

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