MATH 113 - WORKSHEET 4

WEDNESDAY 7/17

(1) Is (Z × Z)/h(8, 12)i infinite or finite? If it is finite, what is its order? What is the
order of the element (1, 1) + h(8, 12)i in the quotient group? What about the element
(2, 3) + h(8, 12)i?

Solution: This group is infinite.

Note that h(8, 12)i = {(8n, 12n) | n ∈ Z}.
The element (1, 1) + h(8, 12)i has infinite order, because n · ((1, 1) + h(8, 12)i) =
n · (1, 1) + h(8, 12)i = (n, n) + h(8, 12)i. This is not the identity for any n 6= 0, since
for n 6= 0, (n, n) ∈/ h(8, 12)i.
The element (2, 3) + h(8, 12)i has order 4, since 4 · ((2, 3) + h(8, 12)i) = (8, 12) +
h(8, 12)i = h(8, 12)i, which is the identity in the quotient group.

(2) Is (Z × Z)/h(8, 0), (0, 12)i infinite or finite? If it is finite, what is its order? What is
the order of the element (1, 1) + h(8, 0), (0, 12)i in the quotient group?

Solution: This group is finite of order 96. It is isomorphic to Z8 × Z12 .

Note that h(8, 0), (0, 12)i = {(8n, 12m) | n, m ∈ Z}.
The cosets of h(8, 0), (0, 12)i are of the form (a, b)+h(8, 0), (0, 12)i, where 0 ≤ a < 8
and 0 ≤ b < 12.
The element (1, 1) + h(8, 0), (0, 12)i has order 24 in the quotient group. n · ((1, 1) +
h(8, 0), (0, 12)i) = (n, n) + h(8, 0), (0, 12)i, and the least positive n for which (n, n) ∈
h(8, 0), (0, 12)i is n = 24 = lcm(8, 12).

(3) Consider the map φ : R × R → R given by φ(x, y) = y − 2x. Show φ is a homomor-

phism. Draw a picture of ker(φ) and the cosets of ker(φ) in the plane R2 .

Solution: If φ(x, y) = 0, then y − 2x = 0, so y = 2x. ker(φ) is the line y = 2x in

the plane, and its cosets are the other lines of slope 2. I’ll leave it to you to draw the
picture.

(4) Let N1 and N2 be normal subgroups of G. Show that N1 ∩N2 is also a normal subgroup
of G (you just need to show normality - we checked in class that the intersection of
two subgroups is a subgroup).

Solution 1: Let a ∈ G and n ∈ N1 ∩ N2 . Then since N1 is normal, ana−1 ∈ N1 ,

and since N2 is normal, ana−1 ∈ N2 . So ana−1 ∈ N1 ∩ N2 , which shows that N1 ∩ N2
is normal.

Solution 2: Since N1 and N2 are normal, there are homomorphisms φ1 : G → H1

and φ2 : G → H2 with N1 = ker(φ1 ) and N2 = ker(φ2 ).
Now consider the map ψ : G → H1 ×H2 given by ψ(g) = (φ1 (g), φ2 (g)). It is easy to
check that ψ is a homomorphism. If n ∈ N1 ∩N2 , then ψ(n) = (φ1 (n), φ2 (n)) = (e, e).
1
 Conversely, if ψ(n) = (φ1 (n), φ2 (n)) = (e, e), then n ∈ ker(φ1 ) and n ∈ ker(φ2 ), so
n ∈ N1 ∩ N2 . So N1 ∩ N2 = ker(ψ) and hence is normal.
(5) Show that if φ : G → H is a homomorphism and N E H is a normal subgroup of
H, then φ−1 [N ] is a normal subgroup of G (you just need to show normality - we
checked in class that the preimage of a subgroup is a subgroup).
Solution 1: Let a ∈ G and n ∈ φ−1 [N ]. Then φ(ana−1 ) = φ(a)φ(n)φ(a)−1 ∈ N ,
since φ(n) ∈ N and N is normal in H. So ana−1 ∈ φ−1 [N ]. This shows that φ−1 [N ]
is normal.
Solution 2: Since N is normal, there is a homomorphism ψ : H → K such that
N = ker(ψ). I claim that φ−1 [N ] = ker(ψ ◦ φ). If n ∈ φ−1 [N ], then φ(n) ∈ N =
ker(ψ), so ψ(φ(n)) = e. Conversely, if ψ(φ(n)) = e, then φ(n) ∈ ker(ψ) = N , so
n ∈ φ−1 [N ]. We have realized φ−1 [N ] as the kernel of a homomorphism, so it is
normal.
(6) Give an example to show that if φ : G → H is a homomorphism and N E G is a
normal subgroup of G, φ[N ] is not necessarily a normal subgroup of H.
Solution: Let H = S3 and G = {id, (12)} ≤ S3 . Note that G is not a normal
subgroup of H. Let φ : G → H be the inclusion homomorphism φ(x) = x.
Now let N = G. N = G E G, but φ[N ] = G is not a normal subgroup of H.