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Lie Algebras Homework
Lie Algebras Homework
Lie Algebras Homework
Homework 2
Debbie Matthews
2015-04-13
HW2 Debbie Matthews Spring 2015
Problem 3.1
Let I be an ideal of L. Then each member of the derived series or descending
central series of I is also an ideal of L.
To begin with, we note that bilinearity of of the bracket ensures that each
member of the derived series and descending central series of I is in fact a sub-
space of L. So we proceed to check that it closed under the action of adL .
(Derived Series) First note that I (0) = I is an ideal. Assume for induction
that I (n) is an ideal. Cosider I (n+1) = [I (n) , I (n) ]. Let x ∈ L and y, z ∈ I (n) .
By the Jacobi relation
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HW2 Debbie Matthews Spring 2015
Problem 3.2
Prove that L is solvable if and only if there exists a chain of subalgebras L =
L0 ⊇ L1 ⊇ L2 ⊇ . . . ⊇ Lk = 0 such that Li+1 is an ideal of Li and such that
each quotient Li /Li+1 is abelian.
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HW2 Debbie Matthews Spring 2015
Problem 3.3
Let char F = 2. Prove that sl(2, F) is nilpotent.
Since sl(2, F) is the set of all trace zero matrices, consider the standard basis
1 0 0 1 0 0
x= ,y = ,z = .
0 −1 0 0 1 0
With these relations, we observe that [L, L] = span{x}. Then since [x, x] =
[x, y] = [x, z] = 0, we conclude
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HW2 Debbie Matthews Spring 2015
Problem 3.4
Prove that L is solvable (resp. nilpotent) if and only if ad L is solvable (resp.
nilpotent).
(⇒) Armed with the fact above, assume L is solvable. Then there exists
some n ∈ N such that L(n) = 0. Then adL(n) = (adL )(n) = 0 and hence adL is
solvable.
(⇐) Meanwhile if there is some n such that (adL )(n) = 0, then adL(n) = 0.
This means L(n) ⊆ Z(L). Then both L/Z(L) and Z(L) are solvable. Therefore
L is solvable.
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HW2 Debbie Matthews Spring 2015
Problem 3.5
Prove that the nonabelian two dimensional algebra constructed in (1.4) is solv-
able but not nilpotent. Do the same for the algebra in Exercise 1.2.
(1.2 : K) Now we have K (1) = [K, K] = span{y, z}. But since [y, z] = 0, we
again have that K (1) is abelian. Therefore, K (2) = [K (1) , K (1) ] = 0 and thus K
is solvable. However, since [x, y] = z and [x, z] = y we have that (adx )2n y = y
and (adx )2n+1 = z for all n ≥ 0. Thus K n 6= 0 for all n ≥ 0 which means K is
not nilpotent.
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HW2 Debbie Matthews Spring 2015
Problem 3.6
Prove that the sum of two nilpotent ideals of a Lie algebra L is again a nilpotent
ideal. Therefore, L possesses a unique maximal nilpotent ideal. Determine this
ideal for each algebra in Exercise 5.
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HW2 Debbie Matthews Spring 2015
Problem 3.7
Let L be nilpotent, K a proper subalgebra of L. Prove that NL (K) includes K
properly.
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HW2 Debbie Matthews Spring 2015
Problem 3.8
Let L be nilpotent. Prove that L has an ideal of codimension 1.