Herstein: Topics in Algebra - Subgroups and A Counting

Principle
by Bret Sherfinski

May 21, 2015

9. Suppose H is a subgroup of G such that whenever Ha 6= Hb then aH 6= bH. Prove

that gHg −1 ⊆ H for all g ∈ G.

Proof: To prove gHg −1 ⊆ H for all g ∈ G or equivalently gH ⊆ Hg for all g ∈ G suppose

the contrary there exist g ∈ G such that gH 6⊂ Hg, then for some h1 ∈ H, g ∗ = gh1 ∈ gH
but g ∗ ∈
/ Hg. Therefore, Hg ∗ 6= Hg since right cosets are either equal or disjoint. By
hypothesis we can conclude g ∗ H 6= gH, but we also have g ∗ H = (gh1 )H = gH which is a
contradiction. Thus we have gH ⊆ Hg for all g ∈ G or gHg −1 ⊆ H for all g ∈ G.