Exam 1 Solutions

MATH 521B: Abstract Algebra
Exam 1 Solutions
1. Fix a group G. Let a, b ∈ G with ab = ba, |a|, |b| finite, and hai ∩ hbi = {id}. Prove
that |ab| = lcm(|a|, |b|).
Set k = lcm(|a|, |b|). Then (ab)k = ak bk = (a|a| )k/|a| (b|b| )k/|b| = (id)k/|a| (id)k/|b| = id.
Hence, by a lemma proved in class, |ab| divides k, and in particular |ab| ≤ k. Now,
we have id = (ab)|ab| = a|ab| b|ab| so a|ab| = b−|ab| . But since hai ∩ hbi = {id}, we have
a|ab| = b−|ab| = id. Hence |ab| is a multiple of |a|, and is also a multiple of |b|, thus a
multiple of k. So in particular |ab| ≥ k. Combining, |ab| = |k|.
2. Prove that every group G with exactly three elements must be abelian.
Let’s name the elements as {id, a, b}. id commutes with everything, in every group.
Also every element commutes with itself. So the only possibility for G to be non-abelian
is if ab 6= ba. Now, if ab = a, then a−1 ab = a−1 a, which gives b = id, a contradiction.
Similarly, if ab = b, then abb−1 = bb−1 , so a = id, a contradiction. Hence ab = id, and
similarly ba = id. But now ab = ba, and G is abelian.
3. Let G be an abelian group. Let f : G → G be defined via f : x 7→ x2 . Prove that f is

a homomorphism.
For arbitrary x, y ∈ G, we have f (xy) = (xy)2 = xyxy = xxyy = x2 y 2 = f (x)f (y).
4. Fix groups G, H, and a homomorphism f : G → H. Let K be a subgroup of H. Prove

that S = {g ∈ G : f (g) ∈ K} is a subgroup of G.
First, we show that S is closed. For arbitrary x, y ∈ S, we have f (xy) = f (x)f (y).
Since f (x) ∈ K and f (y) ∈ K, we must have f (x)f (y) ∈ K. Thus xy ∈ S, and S is
closed.
Second, S 6= ∅ since f (id) = id ∈ K, so id ∈ S. This is obvious enough to be omitted,
if desired.
Lastly, we show that S contains inverses. Let x ∈ S. There is some x−1 ∈ G such
that xx−1 = id. We have f (id) = f (xx−1 ) = f (x)f (x−1 ), so f (x−1 ) = f (x)−1 . Since
f (x) ∈ K, and K ≤ H, f (x)−1 ∈ K. Thus f (x−1 ) ∈ K, and so x−1 ∈ S.
5. Fix a group G, a subgroup H, and an element a ∈ G. Define aHa−1 = {aha−1 : h ∈ H}.

Prove that aHa−1 is a subgroup of G.
First, we show that aHa−1 is closed. For arbitary x, y ∈ aHa−1 , there must be hx , hy ∈
H such that x = ahx a−1 , y = ahy a−1 . We have xy = ahx a−1 ahy a−1 = a(hx hy )a−1 .
Since H is a subgroup, hx hy ∈ H, and hence xy ∈ aHa−1 .
Second, aHa−1 6= ∅ since id = a(id)a−1 ∈ aHa−1 . This is obvious enough to be omit-
ted, if desired.
Lastly, we show that aHa−1 contains inverses. Let x ∈ aHa−1 . There must be hx ∈ H
such that x = ahx a−1 . Since H is a subgroup, h−1x ∈ H, so we set y = ahx a
−1 −1
and
−1 −1 −1
calculate xy = ahx a ahx a = id.
6. Fix a group G. Recall the group center Z(G) = {a ∈ G : ∀b ∈ G, ab = ba}, and the
T C(x) = {y ∈ G : xy = yx}, which is defined for each x ∈ G. Prove that
centralizer
Z(G) = C(g).
g∈G
First we show ⊆. Let x ∈ Z(G). For any g ∈ G, we have T xg = gx since x is in the
center. Hence x ∈ C(g) for every g ∈ G, and thus x ∈ C(g).
T g∈G
Next we show ⊇. Let x ∈ C(g). In particular, for each b ∈ G, we have x ∈ C(b),
g∈G
so xb = bx. Thus x ∈ Z(G).
7. Fix a group G. For subgroups A, B, we define their product AB = {ab : a ∈ A, b ∈ B}.

Suppose H, K are both subgroups of G that satisfy HK = KH. Prove that HK is a
subgroup of G.
First, we show that HK is closed. For arbitrary x, y ∈ HK, we have x = h1 k1 , y =
h2 k2 , where h1 , h2 ∈ H and k1 , k2 ∈ K. We write their product xy = h1 (k1 h2 )k2 .
Since k1 h2 ∈ KH = HK, there must be some h3 k3 with k1 h2 = h3 k3 . Substituting,
we get xy = (h1 h3 )(k3 k2 ). Since H, K are subgroups, h1 h3 ∈ H and k3 k2 ∈ K. Thus
xy ∈ HK.
Second, HK 6= ∅ since (id)(id) = id ∈ HK. This is obvious enough to be omitted, if
desired.
Lastly, we show that HK contains inverses. Let x ∈ HK. We have x = hk, where
h ∈ H, k ∈ K. Now, h−1 ∈ H, k −1 ∈ K, so k −1 h−1 ∈ KH. But since KH = HK,
there are h1 ∈ H, k1 ∈ K with k −1 h−1 = h1 k1 . Now, we set y = h1 k1 ∈ HK, and
calculate xy = hkk −1 h−1 = id.
8. Consider a solid square prism, i.e. shoebox, with two identical square ends and four
identical rectangular (but not square) sides, as pictured below. Color each face black
or white. How many different ways are there to do this, up to physically possible
isometries of the solid figure?
We have |S| = 26 = 64 colorings, and |G| = 8. The group consists of id, rotations of
90◦ , 180◦ , 270◦ around the long axis, and four more, corresponding to swapping the left
and right squares and simultaneously putting the top face in the top, front, bottom,
and back positions respectively. We have |S id | = 26 , |S 90 | = 23 = |S 270 |, |S 180 | = 24 ,
|S top | = 24 , |S f ront | = 23 , |S bottom | = 24 , |S back | = 23 . Putting it all together we get
|S/G| = 81 (26 + 3 · 24 + 4 · 23 ) = 144 8
= 18.

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MATH 521B: Abstract Algebra

3. Let G be an abelian group. Let f : G → G be defined via f : x 7→ x2 . Prove that f is

4. Fix groups G, H, and a homomorphism f : G → H. Let K be a subgroup of H. Prove

5. Fix a group G, a subgroup H, and an element a ∈ G. Define aHa−1 = {aha−1 : h ∈ H}.

7. Fix a group G. For subgroups A, B, we define their product AB = {ab : a ∈ A, b ∈ B}.

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