Non-Abelian Simple Group is Equal to its Commutator Subgroup

Group Theory Problems and Solutions

Problem 149

Let $G$ be a non-abelian simple group. Let $D(G)=[G,G]$ be the commutator subgroup of $G$. Show that $G=D(G)$.
 
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Definitions/Hint.

We first recall relevant definitions.

  • A group is called simple if its normal subgroups are either the trivial subgroup or the group itself.
  • The commutator subgroup $D(G)=[G,G]$ is a subgroup of $G$ generated by all commutators $[a,b]=a^{-1}b^{-1}ab$ for $a,b\in G$.

The commutator subgroup $D(G)=[G,G]$ is a normal subgroup of $G$.
For a proof, see: A condition that a commutator group is a normal subgroup.

Proof.

Note that the commutator subgroup $D(G)$ is a normal subgroup.
Since $G$ is simple, any normal subgroup of $G$ is either the trivial group $\{e\}$ or $G$ itself. Thus we have either $D(G)=\{e\}$ or $D(G)=G$.
If $D(G)=\{e\}$, then for any two elements $a,b \in G$ the commutator $[a,b]\in D(G)=\{e\}$.

Thus we have
\[a^{-1}b^{-1}ab=[a,b]=e.\] Therefore we have $ab=ba$ for any $a,b\in G$. This means that the group $G$ is abelian, which contradicts with the assumption that $G$ is non-abelian.
Therefore, we must have $D(G)=G$ as required.


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  1. 10/18/2016

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