Tutorial 1

SC-116 Algebraic Structures Autumn 2015

(Groups and Subgroups)

(1) Find all the rotational symmetries of the cube.

b
a
A

D
C

c
C
D

B
A

Clearly, |a| = 3, |b| = 4 |c| = 2. In total there are 2 4 + 3 3 + 1 6 + 1 = 24 line

of symmetries. One can show that they are isomorphic to S4 .
(2) Find the order of
i) 2,6,10 in the additive group Z36 .
Proof. In general for 0 a < n, we have o(a) =
Note that gcd(a, n) lcm(a, n) = a b.
So,
a. 2k = 0 k = 18 o(2) = 18.
b. o(6) = 6.
c. o(10) = 18.

n
(a,n)

lcm(a,n)
.
a


ii)5,7,-7 in the multiplicative group Z12 .
Proof. We have Zn = {a Zn : (a, n) = 1}. Actually, Zn contains those elements
which have multiplicative inverse.
So, Z12 = {1, 5, 7, 11}
a. 5k = 1 k = 2.
b. 7k = 1 k = 2.
c. Since 7 = 5, so o(7) = o(5) = 2.

Note that we do not have to use symbol though we work with an integer say
a, but it represents the class [a] = {. . . , a n, a, a + n, . . . }. For our convenience
1

we work with a instead of [a]. So, we can directly use a = b which is actually
[a] = [b] and not use a b mod(n).
For example, 2k 0 mod (36) is not required, just write 2k = 0 for k = 18.
iii)2 in the multiplicative group Z13 .
Proof. 2k = 1 k = 13.

(3) Let G = {a + 2b R|a, b Q}

i) Prove that G is a group under addition.

Proof. We need to show 4 properties of a group. Clearly, 0 G, so G is not empty

set.

Let a + 2b, c+ d, x + 2y G.

i) Then (a + 2b) + (c + d) = (a + c) + 2(b + d) G.

Hence, G
addition.

is closed under
ii)((a + 2b) + (c + 2d)) + (x + 2y) = = (a + 2b) + ((c + 2d)) + (x + 2y))
(associative)

+ 2b (identity exists)
iii)(a + 2b) + 0 = a
iv)a + 2b + (a) + 2(b) = 0 (inverse exists)
Hence, G is a group under addition.

ii)Prove that the non-zero elements of G are a group under multiplication.

i) (a + 2b)(c + 2d) = = (ac + 2bd) + 2(bc

+ ad)
G.

ii) ((a + 2b)(c + 2d))(x

+ 2y) = = (a + 2b)((c + 2d)(x + 2y)).
iii) (a + 2b) 1 = a + 2b (identity)

2(b)
a
iv) (a + 2b)(c + 2d) = 1 (a + 2b)1 = a2 2b
+
(inverse).
2
a2 2b2
(4) Let S be the set of all real numbers except 1. Define an operation on S by
a b = a + b + ab

i) Show that < S, > is a group.

Proof. a) To check a b S, assume a b = 1

Then a + b + ab = 1 (a + 1)(b + 1) = 0 a = 1 or b = 1 ().
Thus, a b S (closed).
b) (a b) c = (a + b + ab) c = (a + b + ab + c + abc) = = a (b c).(associative)
c) a e = a e = 0.(identity)
d) a b = 0 a + b + ab = 0 b = a1 = (a)
.(inverse)

a+1
ii)Find the solution to the following equation in S. 2 x 3 = 7 (2 + x+ 2x) 3 =
2 + 3x + 3 + 6 + 9x = 11 + 12x = 7 x = (1)
3
(5) Show that G = {z C|z n = 1} is a group under multiplication.
Solution Polar representation of z = |z|ei .
For z G z n = 1 |z|ein = |z|(cos(n) + isin(n)) = 1 + i0.
We get, sin(n) = 0 = 2k
where k = 0, 1, 2, . . . , n 1.
n

Also, |z|cos(2k) = 1 |z| = 1.

So, G = {exp( i2k
) : 0 k n 1}.
n
Next, to verify that it is a group. Note that 1 G so G is not empty.
)exp( i2l
) = exp( i2(k+l) nmod (n) ) G.
a) exp( i2k
n
n
b) (exp( i2k
)exp( i2l
))(exp( i2m
) = = exp( i2k
)(exp( i2l
)(exp( i2m
)) (associan
n
n
n
n
n
tive).
c) 1 is the identity.
)exp( i2(k)
) = 1. (inverse)
d) exp( i2k
n
n
(6) Show that the following subsets of D8 are actually subgroups.
i) {1, r 2 , s, sr 2} ii) {1, r 2, sr, sr 3 }
Solution Draw the group table corresponding to each subset and use the relation
sr = r 1 s wherever necessary.
(7) Draw the lattice diagrams of the Z4 , Z2 Z2 , S3 .
(8) Determine if the following set of matrices are subgroups of GLn (R).
i)The diagonal n n matrices with no zeros on diagonal.
Solution Clearly, identity matrix exists, so its not empty. Now, consider diagonal
matrices A and B. Clearly,AB 1 = (ni=1 aii b1ii )nn is diagonal matrix with non-zero
diagonal entries. Thus, it is a subgroup.
ii)The n n matrices with determinant 1.
Solution Let A and B be two such matrices. Then det(AB) = det(A)det(B) =
1 6= 1. So, it does not form a subgroup.
iii) The set of n n matrices such that AT A = I.
Since the identity matrix exists so the set is not empty.
A A = I = A1 A A1 = AT , since the inverse is unique for each element.
Let A, B be any two such matrices, then we need to show AB 1 belongs to the set.
So, (AB 1 )T (AB) = (AB T )T (AB) = B T AT AB = I. Thus, it forms a group.
T

(9) Show that if H and K are subgroups of a group G then their intersection H K is
a subgroup.
Proof. Since H, K G 1 H K. So, H K 6= .
Now, Let x, y H K x, y H and x, y K xy 1 H and xy 1 K.
Thus, we get xy 1 H K x, y H K. So, H K is closed.
Hence, H K G.
(10) Prove that if x2 = 1 for all x G then G is abelian.

Proof. Given that x2 = 1 x G.

So, x = x1 . Consider x, y G. Then, (xy) G (xy)2 = 1 xyxy = 1 xy =
y 1x1 xy = yx.
Hence, G is abelian.