Group of Order 18 is Solvable
Problem 118
Let $G$ be a finite group of order $18$.
Show that the group $G$ is solvable.
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Add to solve later Add to solve later If a Subgroup Contains a Sylow Subgroup, then the Normalizer is the Subgroup itself
Problem 117
Let $G$ be a finite group and $P$ be a nontrivial Sylow subgroup of $G$.
Let $H$ be a subgroup of $G$ containing the normalizer $N_G(P)$ of $P$ in $G$.
Then show that $N_G(H)=H$.
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Add to solve later The Preimage of a Normal Subgroup Under a Group Homomorphism is Normal
Problem 116
Let $G$ and $G’$ be groups and let $f:G \to G’$ be a group homomorphism.
If $H’$ is a normal subgroup of the group $G’$, then show that $H=f^{-1}(H’)$ is a normal subgroup of the group $G$.
Add to solve later Express a Vector as a Linear Combination of Other Vectors
Problem 115
Express the vector $\mathbf{b}=\begin{bmatrix}
2 \\
13 \\
6
\end{bmatrix}$ as a linear combination of the vectors
\[\mathbf{v}_1=\begin{bmatrix}
1 \\
5 \\
-1
\end{bmatrix},
\mathbf{v}_2=
\begin{bmatrix}
1 \\
2 \\
1
\end{bmatrix},
\mathbf{v}_3=
\begin{bmatrix}
1 \\
4 \\
3
\end{bmatrix}.\]
(The Ohio State University, Linear Algebra Exam)
Add to solve later Compute the Product $A^{2017}\mathbf{u}$ of a Matrix Power and a Vector
Problem 114
Let
\[A=\begin{bmatrix}
-1 & 2 \\
0 & -1
\end{bmatrix} \text{ and } \mathbf{u}=\begin{bmatrix}
1\\
0
\end{bmatrix}.\]
Compute $A^{2017}\mathbf{u}$.
(The Ohio State University, Linear Algebra Exam)
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Add to solve later Isomorphism Criterion of Semidirect Product of Groups
Problem 113
Let $A$, $B$ be groups. Let $\phi:B \to \Aut(A)$ be a group homomorphism.
The semidirect product $A \rtimes_{\phi} B$ with respect to $\phi$ is a group whose underlying set is $A \times B$ with group operation
\[(a_1, b_1)\cdot (a_2, b_2)=(a_1\phi(b_1)(a_2), b_1b_2),\]
where $a_i \in A, b_i \in B$ for $i=1, 2$.
Let $f: A \to A’$ and $g:B \to B’$ be group isomorphisms. Define $\phi’: B’\to \Aut(A’)$ by sending $b’ \in B’$ to $f\circ \phi(g^{-1}(b’))\circ f^{-1}$.
\[\require{AMScd}
\begin{CD}
B @>{\phi}>> \Aut(A)\\
@A{g^{-1}}AA @VV{\sigma_f}V \\
B’ @>{\phi’}>> \Aut(A’)
\end{CD}\]
Here $\sigma_f:\Aut(A) \to \Aut(A’)$ is defined by $ \alpha \in \Aut(A) \mapsto f\alpha f^{-1}\in \Aut(A’)$.
Then show that
\[A \rtimes_{\phi} B \cong A’ \rtimes_{\phi’} B’.\]
Add to solve later Nontrivial Action of a Simple Group on a Finite Set
Problem 112
Let $G$ be a simple group and let $X$ be a finite set.
Suppose $G$ acts nontrivially on $X$. That is, there exist $g\in G$ and $x \in X$ such that $g\cdot x \neq x$.
Then show that $G$ is a finite group and the order of $G$ divides $|X|!$.
Add to solve later Symmetric Matrices and the Product of Two Matrices
Problem 111
Let $A$ and $B$ be $n \times n$ real symmetric matrices. Prove the followings.
(a) The product $AB$ is symmetric if and only if $AB=BA$.
(b) If the product $AB$ is a diagonal matrix, then $AB=BA$.
Add to solve later Galois Group of the Polynomial $x^p-2$.
Problem 110
Let $p \in \Z$ be a prime number.
Then describe the elements of the Galois group of the polynomial $x^p-2$.
Add to solve later Conjugate of the Centralizer of a Set is the Centralizer of the Conjugate of the Set
Problem 109
Let $X$ be a subset of a group $G$. Let $C_G(X)$ be the centralizer subgroup of $X$ in $G$.
For any $g \in G$, show that $gC_G(X)g^{-1}=C_G(gXg^{-1})$.
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Add to solve later Group of Invertible Matrices Over a Finite Field and its Stabilizer
Problem 108
Let $\F_p$ be the finite field of $p$ elements, where $p$ is a prime number.
Let $G_n=\GL_n(\F_p)$ be the group of $n\times n$ invertible matrices with entries in the field $\F_p$. As usual in linear algebra, we may regard the elements of $G_n$ as linear transformations on $\F_p^n$, the $n$-dimensional vector space over $\F_p$. Therefore, $G_n$ acts on $\F_p^n$.
Let $e_n \in \F_p^n$ be the vector $(1,0, \dots,0)$.
(The so-called first standard basis vector in $\F_p^n$.)
Find the size of the $G_n$-orbit of $e_n$, and show that $\Stab_{G_n}(e_n)$ has order $|G_{n-1}|\cdot p^{n-1}$.
Conclude by induction that
\[|G_n|=p^{n^2}\prod_{i=1}^{n} \left(1-\frac{1}{p^i} \right).\]
Add to solve later A Condition that a Linear System has Nontrivial Solutions
Problem 107
For what value(s) of $a$ does the system have nontrivial solutions?
\begin{align*}
&x_1+2x_2+x_3=0\\
&-x_1-x_2+x_3=0\\
& 3x_1+4x_2+ax_3=0.
\end{align*}
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Add to solve later If a Group is of Odd Order, then Any Nonidentity Element is Not Conjugate to its Inverse
Problem 106
Let $G$ be a finite group of odd order. Assume that $x \in G$ is not the identity element.
Show that $x$ is not conjugate to $x^{-1}$.
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Add to solve later A Subgroup of the Smallest Prime Divisor Index of a Group is Normal
Problem 105
Let $G$ be a finite group of order $n$ and suppose that $p$ is the smallest prime number dividing $n$.
Then prove that any subgroup of index $p$ is a normal subgroup of $G$.
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Add to solve later 10 True or False Problems about Basic Matrix Operations
Problem 104
Test your understanding of basic properties of matrix operations.
There are 10 True or False Quiz Problems.
These 10 problems are very common and essential.
So make sure to understand these and don’t lose a point if any of these is your exam problems.
(These are actual exam problems at the Ohio State University.)
You can take the quiz as many times as you like.
The solutions will be given after completing all the 10 problems.
Click the View question button to see the solutions.
Add to solve later Find the Rank of a Matrix with a Parameter
Problem 103
Find the rank of the following real matrix.
\[ \begin{bmatrix}
a & 1 & 2 \\
1 &1 &1 \\
-1 & 1 & 1-a
\end{bmatrix},\]
where $a$ is a real number.
(Kyoto University, Linear Algebra Exam)
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Add to solve later Possibilities For the Number of Solutions for a Linear System
Problem 102
Determine whether the following systems of equations (or matrix equations) described below has no solution, one unique solution or infinitely many solutions and justify your answer.
(a) \[\left\{
\begin{array}{c}
ax+by=c \\
dx+ey=f,
\end{array}
\right.
\]
where $a,b,c, d$ are scalars satisfying $a/d=b/e=c/f$.
(b) $A \mathbf{x}=\mathbf{0}$, where $A$ is a singular matrix.
(c) A homogeneous system of $3$ equations in $4$ unknowns.
(d) $A\mathbf{x}=\mathbf{b}$, where the row-reduced echelon form of the augmented matrix $[A|\mathbf{b}]$ looks as follows:
\[\begin{bmatrix}
1 & 0 & -1 & 0 \\
0 &1 & 2 & 0 \\
0 & 0 & 0 & 1
\end{bmatrix}.\]
(The Ohio State University, Linear Algebra Exam)
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Add to solve later Determine When the Given Matrix Invertible
Problem 101
For which choice(s) of the constant $k$ is the following matrix invertible?
\[A=\begin{bmatrix}
1 & 1 & 1 \\
1 &2 &k \\
1 & 4 & k^2
\end{bmatrix}.\]
(Johns Hopkins University, Linear Algebra Exam)
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Add to solve later Are Groups of Order 100, 200 Simple?
Problem 100
Determine whether a group $G$ of the following order is simple or not.
(a) $|G|=100$.
(b) $|G|=200$.
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Add to solve later Two Quadratic Fields $\Q(\sqrt{2})$ and $\Q(\sqrt{3})$ are Not Isomorphic
Problem 99
Prove that the quadratic fields $\Q(\sqrt{2})$ and $\Q(\sqrt{3})$ are not isomorphic.
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