Math 430 – Problem Set 5 Solutions

Due March 18, 2016

10.4. Let T be the group of nonsingular upper triangular 2 × 2 matrices with entries in R; that is, matrices
of the form  
a b
,
0 c
where a, b, c ∈ R and ac 6= 0. Let U consist of matrices of the form
 
1 x
,
0 1
where x ∈ R.
(a) Show that U is a subgroup of T .
1 −x


Solution. Taking x = 0, we see that the identity matrix is in U . The inverse of ( 10 x1 ) is 0 1 ,
which is also in U . Finally,     
1 x 1 y 1 x+y
= ,
0 1 0 1 0 1
which is in U .
(b) Prove that U is abelian.
Solution. This follows from the formula for multiplication of elements of U given above, together
with the commutativity of addition in R.
(c) Prove that U is normal in T .
Solution.
   −1   
a b 1 x a b a ax + b 1/a −b/(ac)
=
0 c 0 1 0 c 0 c 0 1/c
 
1 ax/c
=
0 1
(d) Show that T /U is abelian.
Solution. Note that     
a b a 0 1 b/a
= ,
0 c 0 c 0 1
so every coset in T /U has a representative that is a diagonal matrices. Since diagonal matrices
commute with each other, T /U is commutative.
Alternatively, note that
  0 0  −1  0 0 −1  0
aa ab0 + bc0 1/(aa0 ) −(b0 c + bc0 )/(aca0 c0 )
  
a b a b a b a b
=
0 c 0 c0 0 c 0 c0 0 cc0 0 1/(cc0 )
1 (ab0 − b0 c)/(cc0 )
 
= .
0 1
Since U contains the commutator subgroup of T , T /U is abelian by 10.14.

1
 (e) Is T normal in GL2 (R)?
Solution. No. For example,
     
0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0
= .
1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1

10.7. Prove or disprove: If H is a normal subgroup of G such that H and G/H are abelian, then G is abelian.
Solution. U / T from the previous problem provides a counterexample, as does A3 / S3 .

10.9. Prove or disprove: If H and G/H are cyclic, then G is cyclic.

Solution. A3 / S3 provides a counterexample, as does Z2 / Z2 × Z2 .

10.14. Let G be a group and let G0 = haba−1 b−1 i; that is, G0 is the subgroup of all finite products of elements
in G of the form aba−1 b−1 . The subgroup G0 is called the commutator subgroup of G.

(a) Show that G0 is a normal subgroup of G.

Solution. Suppose γ = aba−1 b−1 is a generator of G0 . Since gγg −1 = (gag −1 )(gbg −1 )(gag −1 )−1 (gbg −1 )−1 ,
we have that gγg −1 ∈ G0 . Since conjugation by g is a homomorphism, every product of such ele-
ments will also be an element of G0 . Thus G0 is normal.
Alternatively, note that gγg −1 = gγg −1 γ −1 γ ∈ G0 since γ ∈ G0 and gγg −1 γ −1 is a commutator.
(b) Let N be a normal subgroup of G. Prove that G/N is abelian if and only if N contains the
commutator subgroup of G.
Solution. Suppose a, b ∈ G. Then

(aN )(bN ) = (bN )(aN ) ⇔ N ab = N ba

⇔ N aba−1 b−1 = N
⇔ aba−1 b−1 ∈ N.

So

G/N is abelian ⇔ (aN )(bN ) = (bN )(aN ) for all a, b ∈ G

⇔ aba−1 b−1 ∈ N for all a, b ∈ G
⇔ G0 ⊆ N.

11.2. Which of the following maps are homomorphisms? If the map is a homomorphism, what is the kernel?
(a) φ : R∗ → GL2 (R) defined by  
1 0
φ(a) =
0 a
0 ). The kernel is {1} ⊂ R∗ .
Solution. This is a homomorphism since ( 10 a0 )( 10 0b ) = ( 10 ab
(b) φ : R → GL2 (R) defined by  
1 0
φ(a) =
a 1
1 0


Solution. This is a homomorphism since ( a1 10 )( 1b a0 ) = a+b 1 . The kernel is {0} ⊂ R.
(c) φ : GL2 (R) → R defined by  
a b
φ =a+d
c d

2
 Solution. This is not a homomorphism since it maps the identity to 2, which is not the identity
in R.
(d) φ : GL2 (R) → R∗ defined by


φ a b = ad − bc
c d

Solution. This is a homomorphism, since

 0
a b0
 0
aa + bc0 ab0 + bd0
  
a b
φ 0 0 =φ
c d c d ca0 + dc0 cb0 + dd0
= (aa0 + bc0 )(cb0 + dd0 ) − (ab0 + bd0 )(ca0 + dc0 )
= ada0 d0 + bcb0 c0 − adb0 c0 − bca0 d0
= (ad − bc)(a0 d0 − b0 c0 )
  0
b0
 
a b a
=φ φ .
c d c0 d0

The kernel is SL2 (R), the subgroup of GL2 (R) consisting of matrices of determinant 1.
(e) φ : M2 (R) → R defined by


φ a b = b,
c d

where M2 (R) is the additive group of 2 × 2 matrices with entries in R.

Solution. This is a homomorphism, since
  0
a b0
 0
b0
    
a b 0 a b a
φ + 0 =b+b =φ +φ .
c d c d0 c d c0 d0

The kernel is the group (under addition) of lower triangular matrices:

  
a 0
: a, b, c ∈ R .
b c

11.9. If φ : G → H is a group homomorphism and G is abelian, prove that φ(G) is abelian.

Solution. If x, y ∈ φ(G) then there exist a, b ∈ G with x = φ(a) and y = φ(b). Then xy = φ(a)φ(b) =
φ(ab) = φ(ba) = φ(b)φ(a) = yx, so φ(G) is abelian.