Practice Problems for Exam I

Math 112 Spring, 2013

List of Theorems and Themes

For each theorem, you should be able to: 1. State the theorem precisely. 2. Explain what the theorem says in concise non-technical language. 3. Outline a proof (including any denitions and other theorems that must be used). 4. State where/how each assumption in the statement of the theorem is used in the proof. 5. Explain the motivation of proving such a theorem (where do the theorems t in in terms of the development of the class). 6. Explain the implications and applications of the theorem (what does the theorem allow you to do? Why should I care about it? What are some specic applications of the theorem?) The theorem are: I. Galois theorem regarding the insolubility of general polynomial equations and groups of permutations. (No proof is necessary) II. The Orbit-Stabilizer Theorem III. The Class Formula IV. Sylows Theorems (1-3) (Proofs for 2 and 3 are not expected) V. Theorem giving the construction of fractional elds. VI. Theorem showing that elements of R[x] are R-linear combinations of powers of x. (please also give the denition of R[x] and x)

List of Exercises
Group Actions & Burnsides Lemma
1. Let H be a subgroup of index n of a group G such that no non-trivial normal subgroup of G is contained in H . Prove that G is isomorphic to a subgroup of Sn . 2. Given a group action of G on a set X . I. The action is called faithful if given g G, the property g x = x for all x X necessarily implies that g = eG , the identity element of G. II. The action is called transitive if for any x, y X , there exist g G with g x = y . 1

III. The action is called free if given g G and x X with g x = x, it necessarily follows that g = eG . Answer the following: (a) State a condition regarding the homomorphism : G SX that is equivalent to the action of G on X being faithful in the sense of I. Prove that the two denition of a faithful action are equivalent. (b) State a condition regarding the number of distinct orbits of X that is equivalent to the action of G on X being transitive in the sense of II. Prove that the two denitions of a transitive action are equivalent. (c) If G acts transitively on X , show that there exist g G such that g has no xed point. That is, for every x X , g x = x. (d) Consider the natural action of D4 on a square represented as a set consisting of four vertices, two diagonals and two axes (horizontal and vertical) X = {v1 , v2 , v3 , v4 , d1 , d2 , ah , av }. Is the action of D4 faithful? (e) Show that G acts faithfully on X if and only if no two distinct elements of G have the same action on each element of X . 3. Let X be a nite set and assume G is a nite group acting on X . (a) If y = g x for some g G and x, y X , show that g StabG (x)g 1 = StabG (y ). (b) Assume that G acts faithfully and transitively on X and let N be a normal subgroup of G with N = {e}. Prove that there is no element of X which is xed by every element of N. 4. Let |G| = pn and suppose that |Z (G)| = pn1 for p prime. Probe that G is Abelian. 5. In how many rotationally distinct ways can the vertices of a cube be labeled if each vertex is labeled with either a 0 or a 1? 6. A circular necklace contains nine beads. Each bead is featureless, so that the necklace has no front or back, and we may ip the necklace over. How many dierent necklaces can be constructed from three white beads and six red beads?

Class Equation & Sylow Theorems

1. (a) Show that if G is a group of order pn for some prime p and positive integer n, then G has a nontrivial center Z (G). (b) Show that if G is a group of order p2 for some prime p, then G is Abelian. 2. Show that any group of order 351 is not simple. 3. Prove that any group of order 1500 = 22 353 is not simple.

Rings, Domains & Fields

1. (a) Show that every nonzero element of Zn is a unit of a zero-divisor. (b) Show that if R is a nite commutative ring with unity. Prove that every nonzero element of R is either a zero-divisor or a unit. What happens if we drop the nite condition on R. (c) Describe all the zero-divisors and units of Z Q Z. 2. Let R be a ring with unity. If the product of any pair of nonzero elements of R is nonzero, prove that ab = 1 implies ba = 1. 2

3. Show that a commutative ring with no zero-divisors has a unity. 4. Suppose that a and b belong to a commutative ring and ab is a zero-divisor. Show that either a or b is a zero-divisor. 5. Show that any nite eld has order pn where p is prime (Hint: use the FTFAG).

Ring Homomorphisms
1. (a) Is the ring 2Z isomorphic to 3Z? (b) Is the ring 2Z isomorphic to 2Z? (c) Determine all the ring homomorphisms from Z6 to Z6 . (d) Determine all the ring homomorphisms from Z20 to Z30 . (e) Determine all the ring homomorphisms from Z to Z. (f) Determin all the ring homomorphisms from R to R. 2. Are R and C isomorphic as rings? 3. Let D be an integral domain and F be the eld of quotients of D (i.e. F = F rac(D)). Show that if E is any eld that contains D then contains a subeld isomorphic to F . (Thus, the eld of quotients of an integral domain D is the smallest eld containing D). 4. Let R = a b b |a, b, Z] a and let be the mapping that takes a b b to a b. a

(a) Show that is a homomorphism. (b) Determine the kernel of .