- Math 500 -

Abstract Algebra I
- Fall 2014 -
Midterm 1 - October 10, 2014
(Duration of the exam: 50 minutes)

1. (25 Points) Give an example of a group G and a normal subgroup

H ⊂ G such that G and H ⊕ G/H are not isomorphic.

Solution 1: Let G = Dn , with n ≥ 3. If we let H ⊂ Dn be the

cyclic subgroup of order n, then H has index 2 so it is a normal subgroup.
Moreover, Dn /H ' Z2 so we have that H ⊕ Dn /H ' Zn ⊕ Z2 is an abelian
group. Hence, H ⊕ Dn /H cannot be isomorphic to Dn .

Solution 2: Let G = Z4 and H = {0, 2} ⊂ Z4 . Then H ' Z2 and

G/H ' Z2 , so that H ⊕ G/H ' Z2 ⊕ Z2 . All elements in this group have
order 2, so it cannot be isomorphic to G = Z4 .

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 2. (25 Points) Let G and H be two groups which admit presentations:

(i) G: {a, b, {a6 = 1, b8 = 1, ab = ba}};

(ii) H: {c, d, {c2 = 1, d24 = 1, cd = dc}}.

Show that G and H are isomorphic.

Solution 1: Note that G and H are abelian groups and we can write
their relations as matrices:
   
6 0 2 0
0 8 0 24

We can transform one matrix to the other using elementary operations in

the row/columns as follows:
         
6 0 6 8 −2 8 −2 8 2 0
−→ −→ −→ −→
0 8 0 8 −8 8 0 −24 0 24

Therefore, the two groups are isomorphic.

Solution 2: If we let F = Z ⊕ Z be the free abelian group on the set

{c, d}. It follows that we have (unique) surjective group homomorphisms
φ : F → G such that φ(c) = a3 and φ(d) = ab. Since a3 has order 2 and
ab has order 24 in G, we conclude that the kernel of φ is generated by c2
and d24 . Hence, by the first isomorphism theorem we obtain an induced
isomorphism:
φ : H ' F/hc2 , d24 i → G.

Solution 3: Noting that G ' Z6 ⊕ Z8 and G ' Z2 ⊕ Z24 , we observe

that:
G ' Z6 ⊕ Z8 ' Z2 ⊕ Z3 ⊕ Z8 ' Z2 ⊕ Z24 ,
where we used that Zm ⊕ Zn ' Zmn if gdc(m, n) = 1.

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 3. (25 Points) Let G be a group of order 297. Show that G is solvable.

Hint: What can you say about the Sylow subgroups of G?

Solution 1: Notice that that |G| = 297 = 33 × 11. By the Sylow

Theorems, the number of Sylow 3-subgroups of G is equal to 1 (mod 3),
and divides 11. Hence, there exists exactly one subgroup P ⊂ G of order
27, which must be normal. On the other hand, the number of Sylow 11-
subgroups of G is equal to 1 (mod 11), and divides 27. Hence, there exists
exactly one subgroup Q ⊂ G of order 11, which must be normal.
The intersection P ∩ Q must be trivial, since |P ∩ Q| must divide both
the order of P and Q. On the other hand, P Q has 27 × 11 = |G| elements.
We conclude that G ' P × Q.
Finally, observe that P is a p-group, so it is nilpotent. Also, Q ' Z11 is
nilpotent. Hence, G = P × Q is nilpotent, and hence solvable.

Solution 2: Notice that that |G| = 297 = 33 × 11. By the Sylow

Theorems, the number of Sylow 3-subgroups of G is equal to 1 (mod 3), and
divides 11. Hence, there exists exactly one subgroup H ⊂ G of order 27,
which must be normal. Note that quotient G/H has 11 elements, so it is
isomorphic to Z11 .
On the other hand, since H ⊂ G has order 27 = 33 its center C(H) is
non-trivial, so it has order either 3, 9 or 27. It follows that H/C(H) has
order either 32 , 3 or 1, so it must be abelian (any group of order p2 or p is
abelian). We conclude that G has an abelian tower:

G B H B C(H) B {e}

Therefore, G is solvable.

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 4. (25 Points) Let G be a p-group. Find the lengths of any composition
series of G.

Solution: Assume that |G| = pm and consider a composition series:

G B G1 B G2 B · · · B Gr = {e},

Each Gk has order a power of p, so the quotient Gk /Gk+1 also has order
a power of p. Since any p-group has a non-trivial center, the only simple
group of order a power of p is Zp . Therefore, |Gk /Gk+1 | = p for all k, so it
follows that |Gk | = pm−k and the length is r = m.