Theorem 3.12 Parts (a), (b), (c), & (d) in Gilbert –

Let G be a group.

Part (a)

Show that for any x in G, xn x-n = e for any integer n.

Proof:

We will need the following related claim: x xn = xn x for any integer n.

Since x x1 = x x = x1 x, the claim holds if n = 1. Now assume it holds for

some k . Thenx xk+1 = x (xk x) = (x xk) x = xk+1 x, so it holds for k + 1

and therefore, the principle induction, it holds for all n > 0.

Now it’s clear the claim holds for n = 0, since x x0 = x e = x = e x = x0 x.

Recall: if n < 0, then xn has been defined to be (x*)-nfor x* the inverse of x.

This means x-1 is defined as (x*)-(-1) = x*which is consistent with our usage

of that symbol to date, i.e. x-1 for the inverse of x. Thus, the claim holds for

n = -1, since x x-1 = e = x-1 x.

Suppose n < 0. Then –n > 0 andper the above, we have:

x xn = x (x*)-n = x (x*)-n (x* x) = x ((x*)-n x*) x =

x (x* (x*)-n) x = ((x x*)(x*)-n) x = (x*)-n x = xn x

Therefore, x xn = xn x holds for all integers n any x in G.

Finally, as regardsPart (a) –

For x in G, we have x0 x-0, so the claim holds if n = 0.

We also have that x1 x-1 = x x* = e, so it holds if n = 1.

Suppose now that the claim holds for some k > 0. Then

xk+1 x-(k+1) = (xk x) (x*)k+1 = (xk x) ((x*)k x*) =

(xk x) (x* (x*)k) = (xk(x x*))(x*)k = (xke) (x*)k = xk x-k = e.

Then, by the principle of induction, it holds for all n ≥ 0.

If k < 0, then –k > 0 and,by what we’ve shown,we have

x-k x-(-k) = x-k xk = e, implying(xk)* is x-k so that xk x-k = e.

Part (b)

For any x in G and n & m integers, xn xm = xn+m.

Proof:

Cf. Gilbert (8th Edition) Pg. 157.

Part (c)

For any x in G and integers n & m, (xn)m = xnm.

Proof:

Fix n in Z.

Then since (xn)0 = e = x0 = xn0, the claim holds for m = 0.

Assumethe statement holds for some k . Then from (b),

(xn)k+1 = (xn)k xn = xnk xn = xnk+n = xn(k+1), so it holds for k + 1.

Therefore, by mathematical induction, it must hold for all m > 0.

Finally, let m < 0. Then (xn)m = ((xn)-1)-m = (x-n)-m = x(-n)(-m) = xnm.

Part (d)

Let G be abelian. Then for any x & y in G, (xy)n = xn yn.

Proof:

Since (xy)0 = e =e e = x0 y0, the claim holds for n = 0.

Now assume that the statement holds for some k . Then,because G is abelian,

(xy)k+1 =(xy)k xy = (xkyk) xy =xk(yk x)y =(xk(x yk)y = (xkx) (yky)= xk+1 yk+1,

andso it holds for k + 1. Then by the induction principle, itmust hold for all n≥ 0.

Finally, let n < 0. Then –n > 0 (x y)n= ((x y)-1)-n = (x-1 y-1)-n = (x-1)-n (y-1)-n =xnyn.

For n = 18

Divisors 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 18

Quotients 18, 9, 6, 3, 2, 1

Form the 18 fractions:

1/18, 2/18, 3/18, 4/18, 5/18, …, 17/18, 18/18

Now reduce these to lowest terms:

1/18, 1/9, 1/6, 2/9, 5/18, 1/3, …, 8/9, 17/18, 1

Since e/d is in the reduced list if & only if gcd(e,d) =1,we have

(18) k/18’s, (9) k/9’s, (6) k/6’s,(3) k/3’s,(2) k/2’s, & (1) 1’s

Therefore, 18 = (18) + (9) + (6) + (3) +(2) + (1)

Suppose N is normal in G and take G/N to

denote the set of alldistinct left cosets of N.

Define the following operation on G/N: (g1N)(g2N) = g1g2N.

This is well-defined since if g1N = g1’N and g2N = g2’N, then

(g1g2)-1(g1’g2’) = g2-1(g1-1g1’)g2’∈ N (g1-1g1’∈N & N is normal.

Therefore, g1g2N = g1’g2’N.

The operation is associative since

the group operation in G is associative.

N is an identity and (gN)-1 is just g-1N.

Therefore, G/N is group under this operation.

The order of G/N is [G : N]. It can be shown that

this operation is well-defined iff N is normal in G.

Let G be a finite symmetry group (G = Sym(X) for some

Subset X of R2). Take G to be {f1, f2, …, fn} (so |G| is n).

Choose any x0 in X and let xi = fi(x0) for i = 1 to n. Set z

Tobe the ‘centroid’ of these points, i.e. z = ∑xi/n. We

claimthat each f in G fixes z:

Let fj be in G with fj(x) = Ax + b. Then

fj(z) = Az + b = ∑Axi/n + b = ∑(Axi+b)/n = ∑fj(fi(x0)/n = z

since the mapping fi fjfi is a bijection of G to G so the terms

fj(fi(x0)) for i from 1 to n must constitute a reordering of the xi’s.

Note: The mapping f  g for g(x) = f(x+z) – z is an isomorphism of

Sym(X) to Sym(X - z) with the g’s all fixing 0. Therefore, Sym(X – z)

is isomorphic to a finite subgroup of O(2) (henceforth, denoted by G’).

From Example 12.10, any A in G’ is either a rotation or a reflection.

There aretwo cases to be considered:

(1)All the A’s in G’ are rotations (I is a rotation);

(2)There exists at least one reflection, T, in G’.

In case (1), either G’ = {I} and is trivial (therefore trivial cyclic)

or G’ includes a non-trivial rotation, say R. This means that G’

includes a rotation matrix with a positive rotation angle, say .

Assume this angle to be the least positive rotation angle of all

therotations in G’(finiteness is needed here). We claim that

the rotation matrix Rgenerates G’: If not, there exists an R

in G’ such that n < (n+1)for some integer n. But this

means that Rnis a rotation in G’ through a positive angle

less than , a contradiction. Therefore, G’ is cyclic.

In case (2), G’ includes at least one reflection, say T. Consider the

mapping from G’ to the multiplicative group {-1, 1} defined by

(A)= det(A). Then  is an epimorphism (det(T) = -1 & det(I) = 1).

By the first isomorphism theorem, G’/Ker is isomorphic to {-1,1}.

Since Ker  includes only the rotations in G’, it is cyclic by case (1).

Therefore, either G’ = {I, T} in which case G’ is cyclic of order 2, or

G’ contains a rotation matrix, say R, with positive rotation angle

such that <R> = Ker . In this case, G’ = Ker  U T Ker  and

G’ = {I, R, R2, …, Rn-1, T, TR, TR2, …, TRn-1}

and, since TR is a reflection, (TR)2 = I showing that TRT = R-1.

This all shows that G’ is isomorphic to the dihedral group Dn/2.

In D4, the only proper nontrivial subgroups are –

H1 = {e, r, r2, r3}, H2 = {e, s, sr2, r2}, H3 = {e, sr3, sr, r2},

K1 = {e, r2}, K2 = {e, s2}, K3 = {e, sr},and K4 = {e, sr3},

where e is the identity, r 90o CCW rotation, and s is reflection

across the y-axis (with the square being in ‘standard position’).

Extras –

For f(x) = Ax + b,

fn(x) = Anx + An-1b + An-2b + … Ab + b

equals Ax + n/2 b + n/2 Ab, if n is even,

orAx + (n+1)/2 b + (n-1)/2 Ab, if n is odd.

<x, y>  <-x + 1, y> is a reflection across x = ½

<x, y>  <-x + c, y> is a reflection across x = c/2

<x, y>  <-x, y + c> is aglide-reflection across x = 0 for c ≠ 0

Suppose X is a bounded set in R2 and f an isometry mapping X into X.

Then does it necessarily follow that f(X) = X? Answer: No, it does not…

Let  be apositive real so that ≠ r  for any rational r (eg.  = 2 or…).

Now define x0 = (1, 0) and xi+1 = Rxi= Ri+1x0for i ≥ 0 with R the CCW

rotation matrix determined by . Finally, take X to be the set {x0, x1, x2, …}.

We claim that themapping f : x  Rx (an isometry) maps X into X properly:

From construction, it’s clear that f maps X into X. But x0 is not the image

of any x in X. If it were, then x0 = Rkx0 for some k > 0 which implies that

sin(k) = 0 or that k = n for some integer n, violating the assumption

that  ≠ r  for any rational r. This shows the set X is countably infinite,

i.e. that the xi’s are distinct. This construction can be taken further…

OTOH, if the isometry has finite order, then the answer is YES:

Suppose f(x) = Ax + b has order n. Then for any y in X,y = fn(y)

implying y = f(fn-1(y)) and, since fn-1(y) is in X, y belongs to f(X).

Define D1 = Sym(“T”)  Z2 and D2 = Sym(‘I”) Klein 4-Group

U(9) = {e = 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8}. Take a = 7 and b = 8.

Then o(a) is 3 & o(b) is 2 and U(9) = {e, a, a2, b, ba, ba2}

U(16) = {e = 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15}. Take a = 5 and b = 7.

Then o(a) is 4 & o(b) is 2 and U(16) = {e, a, a2, a3, b, ba, ba2, ba3}

U(22) = {e = 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21}. Take a = 3 and b = 21.

Then o(a) is 5 & o(b) is 2 and U(22) = {e, a, a2, a3, a4, b, ba, ba2, ba3,ba4}