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Section C.21 January 2012

Subsection Section I: Groups

Activity C.173. Problem 1.

Let \(G\) be a (not necessarily finite) group and \(H\) and \(K\) normal subgroups such that \(G = HK\text{.}\) Prove that \(G/(H\cap K)\cong G/H \times G/K.\)
Solution.
Let \(f:G\to G/H\times G/K\) defined such that \(f(g)=(gH, gK)\text{.}\) Let \(x,y\in G\text{.}\) Then
\begin{equation*} \begin{align} f(xy)&=(xyH,xyK)\\ &=(xHyH,xKyK)\\ &=(xH,yH)\cdot(xKyK)\\&=f(x)f(y), \end{equation*}
showing \(f\) is a homomorphism.
Let \((xH,yK)\in G/H\times G/K\text{.}\) As \(x,y\in G=HK\text{,}\) we have \(x=hk\) and \(y=h'k'\) with \(h,h'\in H\) and \(k,k'\in K\text{.}\) As \(k'\in K\) and \(h\in H\) we see \((xH,yK)=(kH,h'K)\text{.}\)
Consider \(g=kh'\in G\) and
\begin{equation*} f(g)=f(kh')=(kh'H,kh'K)=(kH,h'K)=(xH,yK), \end{equation*}
making \(f\) surjective as well.
Let \(g\in H\cap K\text{.}\) Then \(f(g)=(gH,gK)=(H,K)\text{,}\) and so \(g\in\ker(f)\text{.}\) Let \(g\in\ker(f)\text{.}\) Then \(f(g)=(H,K)\text{,}\) so \(gH=H\) and \(gK=K\text{,}\) placing \(g\in H\cap K\text{.}\) Thus, by the First Isomorphism Theorem, we have \(G/(H\cap K)\cong G/H \times G/K.\)

Activity C.174. Problem 2.

Suppose \(G\) is a finite group which has precisely one subgroup of order \(d\) for each divisor \(d\) of \(|G|\text{.}\) Prove that \(G\) is cyclic.
Solution.
First, suppose that \(G\) is a \(p\)-group. Let \(g\in G\) have biggest order. Let \(h\in G\text{.}\) So \(|h|\bigg||g|\text{.}\) Since \((g)\leq G\text{,}\) it also has exactly one subgroup for each divisor. But \((h)\) has the same order as one of those subgroups, so they must be the same group. So \(h\in(g)\text{.}\) Since \(h\) was arbitrary, then \(G\leq (g)\text{.}\) So when \(G\) is a \(p\)-group then it is cyclic.
If its not a \(p\)-group then we can decompose \(|G|\) into relatively prime powers of primes, all of which are \(p\)-groups and maintain this property. Thus \(G\) is the product of relatively prime cyclic groups, making it cyclic itself.

Activity C.175. Problem 3.

Let \(G\) be a group of order \(90 = 2 · 3^2 · 5\) and let \(\Syl_3(G)\) denote the set of Sylow \(3\)-subgroups of \(G\text{.}\)
  1. Suppose for any \(Q, Q' \in \Syl_3(G)\) either \(Q = Q'\) or \(Q \cap Q' = {1}\text{.}\) Prove that \(G\) is not simple.
  2. Suppose there exists \(Q, Q' \in \Syl_3(G)\) such that \(|Q \cap Q'| = 3\text{.}\) Prove that \(G\) is not simple.
Hint.
Consider the normalizer of \(Q \cap Q'\text{.}\)
Solution.
Let \(G\) be a group of order \(90 = 2 · 3^2 · 5\) and let \(\Syl_3(G)\) denote the set of Sylow \(3\)-subgroups of \(G\text{.}\)
  1. Suppose by way of contradiction that \(G\) is simple. By Sylow’s Theorems we know the following:
    • \(n_3|10\) and is congruent to \(1\mod{3}\text{.}\) As \(G\) is simple there must be ten.
    • \(n_5|18\) and is congruent to \(1\mod 5\text{.}\) As \(G\) is simple there must be six.
    Since each Sylow \(3\)-subgroup will have \(3^2-1=8\) non-identity elements and they are all distinct that accounts for \(80\) elements of order \(3\text{.}\) However, there are also \(24\) elements or order \(5\) to account for, which is a problem. Thus \(G\) cannot be simple.
  2. Suppose now that there exists \(Q, Q' \in \Syl_3(G)\) such that \(|Q \cap Q'| = 3\text{.}\) Given this intersection, we know that \(|QQ'|=9\cdot 9/3=27\text{.}\) Additionally, note that as \(Q \cap Q'\) is a subgroup of both \(Q\) and \(Q'\) with index \(3\text{.}\) Since this is the smallest prime dividing the order of both \(Q\) and \(Q'\text{,}\) by Theorem 5.16 we see that \(Q \cap Q'\) is normal in both.
    We now consider the normalizer of \(Q \cap Q'\text{,}\) which we denote \(N\) for simplicity. As \(N\) is a subgroup of \(G\) its order must divide \(90\) by Lagrange’s Theorem. However, \(QQ'\leq N\text{,}\) and so \(N\) must have at least \(27\) elements, leaving the options of \(45\) and \(90\text{.}\) If \(|N|=90\) then \(N=G\text{,}\) making \(Q\cap Q'\) normal in \(G\text{,}\) a problem.
    If \(|N|=45\) then \([G:N]=2\text{,}\) the smallest prime dividing \(G\text{.}\) Thus \(N\) is still normal by Theorem 5.16, which is still a problem. Hence \(G\) cannot be simple.

Subsection Section II: Rings and Fields

Activity C.176. Problem 4.

Let \(F\) be a field of characteristic \(p > 0\text{,}\) \(a \in F\text{,}\) and consider the polynomial \(f(x)=x^p -x-a \in F[x]\text{.}\)
  1. Prove that \(f(x)\) is either irreducible over \(F\) or it splits into distinct linear factors over \(F\text{.}\)
  2. Suppose \(f(x)\) is irreducible over \(F\) and let \(L\) be a splitting field of \(f\) over \(F\text{.}\) Prove that the Galois group of \(L\) over \(F\) is cyclic.
Hint.
If \(\alpha\) is a root of \(f(x)\text{,}\) consider \(\alpha + j\) for \(j \in \Z/p\text{.}\)
Solution.
Let \(F\) be a field of characteristic \(p > 0\text{,}\) \(a \in F\text{,}\) and consider the polynomial \(f(x)=x^p -x-a \in F[x]\text{.}\)
  1. Suppose \(f\) has a root, \(\alpha\text{,}\) in \(F\text{.}\) Then \(\alpha^p-\alpha-a=0\text{.}\) Consider \(\alpha+j\) for some \(j\in\Z/p\text{,}\) and observe \((\alpha+j)^p-(\alpha+j)-a\text{.}\) By The Freshman’s Dream, CITEX we have \(\alpha^p+j^p-\alpha-j-a\text{,}\) but as \(\alpha^p-\alpha-a=0\text{,}\) we really have \(j^p-j\text{.}\) By Fermat’s Little Theorem, CITEX \(p|j^p-j\text{,}\) and thus \(f(\alpha+j)=0\text{.}\) Thus we have found \(p\) roots of \(f\text{,}\) and thus \(f\) splits into linear factors.
  2. Suppose \(f(x)\) is irreducible over \(F\) and let \(L\) be a splitting field of \(f\) over \(F\text{.}\) Let \(\alpha\) be a root of \(f\text{.}\) Consider \(F(\alpha)\text{.}\) By part (1), \(F(\alpha)\) contains all the roots of \(f\text{,}\) hence \(L=F(\alpha)\text{.}\) As \(f\) is monic and irreducible, it is the minimum polynomial of \(f\text{,}\) and thus \([L:F]=p\text{.}\) Hence \(|\Gal(L/F)|=p\text{.}\) All groups of prime order are cyclic CITEX, completing the proof.

Activity C.177. Problem 5.

Let \(\a = \sqrt2 + \sqrt5 \in\R\text{.}\)
  1. Find the minimal polynomial \(f(x)\) of \(\a\) over \(\Q\text{.}\)
  2. Let \(E\) be the splitting field of \(f(x)\) over \(\Q\text{.}\) Find the Galois group \(G\) of \(E/\Q\text{.}\)
  3. Find all subgroups of \(G\) and generators for the corresponding intermediate fields of \(E/\Q\text{.}\)
Solution.
Let \(\a = \sqrt2+\sqrt5 \in\R\text{.}\)
  1. Let
    \begin{equation*} \begin{align} f(x)&=(x+\sqrt2 + \sqrt5)(x+\sqrt2 - \sqrt5)(x-\sqrt2 + \sqrt5)(x-\sqrt2 - \sqrt5)\\ &=(x^2-2\sqrt{ 2 }-3)(x^2+2\sqrt{ 2 }-3)\\&=x^4-14x^2+9,\end{align} \end{equation*}
    which factors as two irreducible polynomials and has no roots in \(\Q\text{,}\) making it irreducible. Thus \(f\) is the minimal polynomial of \(\a\)
  2. Notice that \(E=\Q(\sqrt{ 2 },\sqrt{ 5 })\) which also has degree \(4\text{.}\) Let \(G\) denote the Galois group of \(E/\Q\text{.}\) Thus \(G\) is a group of order \(4\text{,}\) making it isomorphic to \(\Z_2\times\Z_2\) or \(\Z_4\text{.}\) Notice that the elements of \(G\) are the following:
    • \(\id(\sqrt{ 2 })=\sqrt{ 2 }\) and \(\id(\sqrt{ 5 })=\sqrt{ 5 }\text{,}\)
    • \(\tau(\sqrt{ 2 })=\sqrt{ 2 }\) and \(\s(\sqrt{ 5 })=-\sqrt{ 5 }\text{,}\)
    • \(\g(\sqrt{ 2 })=-\sqrt{ 2 }\) and \(\s(\sqrt{ 5 })=-\sqrt{ 5 }\text{,}\) and
    • \(\l(\sqrt{ 2 })=-\sqrt{ 2 }\) and \(\s(\sqrt{ 5 })=\sqrt{ 5 }\text{.}\)
    All of these automorphisms have degree \(2\text{,}\) making \(G\cong\Z_2\times\Z_2\text{.}\)
  3. Thus are only two subgroups of \(G\text{,}\) \(H\cong\Z_2\) and \(K\cong\Z_2\text{.}\) The first, \(H\text{,}\) corresponds to \(\Q(\sqrt{ 2 })\) and is generated by \(\sqrt{ 2 }\text{,}\) where \(K\) corresponds to \(\Q(\sqrt{ 5 })\) and is generated by \(\sqrt{ 5 }\text{.}\)

Activity C.178. Problem 6 (*).

Let \(F\) be any field, and let \(x, y\text{,}\) and \(t\) be indeterminates. Prove in detail that \(F[x,y]/(y^2-x^3)\) and \(F[t^2,t^3]\) are isomorphic rings.
Solution.
Coming Soon!

Subsection Section III: Linear Algebra and Modules

Activity C.179. Problem 7 (*).

Consider the following matrix over the complex numbers:
\begin{equation*} A=\left[\begin{array}{cccc} -1 & -9 & 0 & 0 \\ 1 & 5 & 0 & 0 \\ 2 & 7 & 2 & 0 \\ 4 & 13 & 0 & 2 \end{array}\right] \end{equation*}
  1. Show that the characteristic polynomial of \(A\) is \((t-2)^{4}\text{.}\)
  2. Find the Jordan canonical form \(J\) of \(A\text{.}\)
  3. Find an invertible matrix \(P\) such that \(P^{-1} A P=J\text{.}\)
Solution.
Coming Soon!

Activity C.180. Problem 8 (*).

Let \(N\) be a submodule of an \(R\)-module \(M\text{.}\) Using Zorn’s Lemma, prove that there is a submodule \(N'\) such that
  1. \(N\cap N' = (0)\text{,}\) and
  2. \(N''\cap(N + N')\neq(0)\) for every non-zero submodule \(N''\) of \(M\text{.}\)
Solution.
Coming Soon!

Activity C.181. Problem 9 (*).

Let \(A\) be a square matrix over the field \(\C\) of complex numbers.
  1. Suppose \(A\) is invertible. Prove that there is a square matrix \(B\) over \(\C\) such that \(B^2=A\text{.}\)
  2. Show by example that (1) can fail if \(A\) is not assumed to be invertible.
Hint.
Reduce to the case that \(A = I + N\) where \(I\) is the identity matrix and \(N\) is a nilpotent matrix.
Solution.
Coming Soon!