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 $G$.
We prove that $H$ is normal in $G$. (The fact that $H$ is a subgroup in $G$ is left as an exercise.)
For any element $g \in G$ and $h \in H$, we have
\[f(ghg^{-1})=f(g)f(h)f(g)^{-1}\]
since $f$ is a group homomorphism.
Since $f(g) \in G’$, $f(h)\in H’$, and $H’$ is normal in $G’$, we see that
\[f(ghg^{-1})=f(g)f(h)f(g)^{-1} \in H’.\]
Thus by the definition of $H$, the element $ghg^{-1} \in H$.
This proves that $H$ is a normal subgroup in $G$.
Subgroup of Finite Index Contains a Normal Subgroup of Finite Index
Let $G$ be a group and let $H$ be a subgroup of finite index. Then show that there exists a normal subgroup $N$ of $G$ such that $N$ is of finite index in $G$ and $N\subset H$.
Proof.
The group $G$ acts on the set of left cosets $G/H$ by left multiplication.
Hence […]
Normal Subgroups, Isomorphic Quotients, But Not Isomorphic
Let $G$ be a group. Suppose that $H_1, H_2, N_1, N_2$ are all normal subgroup of $G$, $H_1 \lhd N_2$, and $H_2 \lhd N_2$.
Suppose also that $N_1/H_1$ is isomorphic to $N_2/H_2$. Then prove or disprove that $N_1$ is isomorphic to $N_2$.
Proof.
We give a […]
Image of a Normal Subgroup Under a Surjective Homomorphism is a Normal Subgroup
Let $f: H \to G$ be a surjective group homomorphism from a group $H$ to a group $G$.
Let $N$ be a normal subgroup of $H$. Show that the image $f(N)$ is normal in $G$.
Proof.
To show that $f(N)$ is normal, we show that $gf(N)g^{-1}=f(N)$ for any $g \in […]
Group Homomorphism, Preimage, and Product of Groups
Let $G, G'$ be groups and let $f:G \to G'$ be a group homomorphism.
Put $N=\ker(f)$. Then show that we have
\[f^{-1}(f(H))=HN.\]
Proof.
$(\subset)$ Take an arbitrary element $g\in f^{-1}(f(H))$. Then we have $f(g)\in f(H)$.
It follows that there exists $h\in H$ […]
A Subgroup of the Smallest Prime Divisor Index of a Group is Normal
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 $G$.
Hint.
Consider the action of the group $G$ on the left cosets $G/H$ by left […]
Equivalent Definitions of Characteristic Subgroups. Center is Characteristic.
Let $H$ be a subgroup of a group $G$. We call $H$ characteristic in $G$ if for any automorphism $\sigma\in \Aut(G)$ of $G$, we have $\sigma(H)=H$.
(a) Prove that if $\sigma(H) \subset H$ for all $\sigma \in \Aut(G)$, then $H$ is characteristic in $G$.
(b) Prove that the center […]
A Group Homomorphism is Injective if and only if Monic
Let $f:G\to G'$ be a group homomorphism. We say that $f$ is monic whenever we have $fg_1=fg_2$, where $g_1:K\to G$ and $g_2:K \to G$ are group homomorphisms for some group $K$, we have $g_1=g_2$.
Then prove that a group homomorphism $f: G \to G'$ is injective if and only if it is […]
Pullback Group of Two Group Homomorphisms into a Group
Let $G_1, G_1$, and $H$ be groups. Let $f_1: G_1 \to H$ and $f_2: G_2 \to H$ be group homomorphisms.
Define the subset $M$ of $G_1 \times G_2$ to be
\[M=\{(a_1, a_2) \in G_1\times G_2 \mid f_1(a_1)=f_2(a_2)\}.\]
Prove that $M$ is a subgroup of $G_1 \times G_2$.
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