Group Theory
Table of Contents
- 1. Group
- 2. Order
- 3. Lagrange's Theorem
- 4. Group Homomorphism
- 5. Normal Subgroup
- 6. Quotient Group
- 7. Group Action
- 8. Conjugacy Class
- 9. Opposite Group
- 10. Group Extension
- 11. Nilpotent Group
- 12. Solvable Group
- 13. Cayley's Theorem
- 14. Classification Theorem
- 15. Reference
1. Group
1.1. Definition
A group \( (G, \cdot) \) is a set \( G \) equipped with binary operation \( \cdot\colon G\times G \to G \), such that
- Associativity: \( \forall a,b,c \in G, (a\cdot b)\cdot c = a\cdot (b\cdot c) \)
- Identity Element: \( \exists e \in G, \forall g \in G, e\cdot g = g\cdot e = g \)
- Inverse Element: \( \forall g\in G, \exists g^{-1} \in G, g\cdot g^{-1} = g^{-1}\cdot g = e \)
1.2. Finite Groups
1.2.1. Cyclic Group
- \(C_n\)
Rotation of \(n\) elements.
1.2.2. Klein Four-Group
- \(V\) or \(K_4\)
- Or Vierergruppe
Symmetries of a rectangle.
1.2.3. Dihedral Group
- \(D_n\) in geometry
- \(D_{2n}\) in abstract algebra, as its order is \(2n\).
Symmetry of \(n\)-gon.
1.2.4. Symmetric Group
- Permutation Group
- \(S_n\)
Permutations of \(n\) elements.
1.2.5. Alternating Group
- \( A_n \)
The subset of even permutations of the symmetric group.
1.2.6. Quaternion Group
- \(Q\) or \(Q_8\)
Set of quaternion basis and its negatives.
1.2.7. Dicyclic Group
- \(\mathrm{Dic}_n\)
1.2.8. Groups of Lie-Type
Related to the Lie group as a rational points of the reductive linear algebraic group over the field of real numbers.
1.2.9. Sporadic Groups
- Why Do Sporadic Groups Exist? - YouTube
- The automorphisms of the Schteiner system yields a sporadic groups called \(M_{24}\), and subsequently fixing few of them, \(M_{23}, M_{22}, M_{12}, M_{11}\) are constructed.
- The Schteiner system \(s(5,8,...)\) is related to the Golay code
- It is also related to the first few numbers in 23rd row of Pascal's triangle adds up to the powers of 2, namely 211.
1.3. Infinite Groups
1.3.1. Real General Linear Group
- \[\mathrm{GL}(n, \mathbb{R})\]
1.3.2. Real Special Linear Group
- \[ \mathrm{SL}(n, \mathbb{R}) \]
1.3.3. Symplectic Group
- \[ \mathrm{Sp}(n, \mathbb{R}) \]
Special case of the real special linear group.
1.3.4. Euclidean Group
\(\mathrm{E}(n)\), \(\mathrm{ISO}(n)\) Inhomogeneous special orthogonal group.
1.3.4.1. Definition
- The group of isometries of a Euclidean space \(\mathbb{E}^n\)
1.3.4.2. Special Euclidean Group
\(\mathrm{SE}(n)\), \(\mathrm{E}^+(n)\) Subgroup of Euclidean group that preserves the handedness.
- Affine transformations out of rotations and translations, but it is more than just that as every compositions of them needs to be within the group.
- An element of this transformation or the result of it is called a pose.
- The homogeneous representation of its Lie algebra looks like:
- \[ A = \begin{bmatrix} 0 & -\omega & v_x \\ \omega & 0 & v_y \\ 0 & 0 & 1\end{bmatrix} \]
1.4. Abelian Groups
They are the direct products of the cyclic groups of order \(p^n\)s.
2. Order
- \(o(g), \mathrm{ord}(g), o(G), |G|\)
- The order of an element \(g\in G\) is the smallest nonzero natural number \(n\) such that \[ g^n = e. \]
- The order of a group \(G\) is the number of elements within \(G\).
- For \(g\in G\), \(|g| \big| |G|\) by the Lagrange's theorem
- For a finite group \(G\) of order \(n\),
- the number of elements in \(G\) with the order \(d\) elements in \(G\) is a multiple of, possibly zero times, \(\varphi(d)\),
- where \(d\) is a divisor of \(n\) and \(\varphi\) is the Euler's totient function.
3. Lagrange's Theorem
3.1. Coset
- Coset of a subgroup \(H
- Two elements \(h_1,h_2\in G\) is in the same (left) coset of \(H\), if and only if \(h_1^{-1}h_2 \in H\).
- Notice that the operation \(h_1^{-1}h_2\) cancels the \(g\) in \(gH\).
- Two elements \(h_1,h_2\in G\) is in the same (left) coset of \(H\), if and only if \(h_1^{-1}h_2 \in H\).
3.2. Index of a Subgroup
- \(|G:H|\), \([G:H]\), \((G:H)\)
- For a group \(G\) and its subgroup \(H\), the index \(|G : H|\) is the number of left cosets of \(H\) in \(G\), equivalently, the number of right cosets of \(H\) in \(G\).
3.3. Statement
- For a finite group \(G\) and its subgroup \(H\),
\[ |G| = |G:H|\cdot|H|. \]
- In particular, the order \(|g|\) of any element \(g\in G\) is a divisor of \(|G|\), since \(g\) generates a cyclic group of order \(|g|\).
- For infinite group, it can be taken as the cardinal numbers.
3.4. Proof
- The equivalence relation \[ h_1\sim h_2 \iff h_1^{-1}h_2 \in H \] forms a partition into cosets.
- Each cosets are of the same order by the bijection between them.
- The property of a group: Every element has its inverse.
- The index \(|G:H|\) is defined to be the number of cosets.
- Therefore the statement is proven.
4. Group Homomorphism
4.1. Definition
Group homomorphism is a map \( f\colon G \to H \) between two groups \( G, H \), that respect the group operations \( \cdot_G, \cdot_H \): \[ \forall g, h \in G, f(g\cdot_G h) = f(g) \cdot_H f(h). \]
4.2. Group Isomorphism
Group homomorphism with inverse homomorphism: \[ \exists f^{-1}\colon H\to G, f^{-1}\circ f = 1_G \land f\circ f^{-1} = 1_H. \]
4.2.1. Examples
\( \mathbb{Z}_p^\times \cong \mathbb{Z}_{p-1} \) where \( \mathbb{Z}_p^\times \) is the largest multiplicative group that can be constructed within \( \mathbb{Z}_{p} \).
Half of \( \mathbb{Z}_p^{\times} \) are square numbers.
\( \mathrm{Aut}(\mathbb{Z}_n) \cong \mathbb{Z}_n^{\times} \)
4.3. Inner and Outer Automorphism
For a group \(G\), the function of the form \[ \varphi_g\colon G\to G \colon x\mapsto g^{-1}xg \] is called (right) conjugation by \(g\) (often denoted by \( x^g \)), which is an endomorphism of \(G\).
It is an automorphism since it has left and right inverse \(\varphi_{g^{-1}}\), therefore any automorphism that arises from conjugation is called an inner automorphism. They form a group called inner automorphism group \( \operatorname{Inn}(G) \). \(\mathrm{Inn}(G)\) is a normal subgroup of the automorphism group \(\mathrm{Aut}(G)\). Furthermore, Then quotient group is called outer automorphism group: \[ \mathrm{Out}(G) = \mathrm{Aut}(G)/\mathrm{Inn}(G). \]
5. Normal Subgroup
- \(N\triangleleft G\)
- A subgroup \(N\) of the group \(G\) such that: \[ \forall g \in G, \forall n \in N: gng^{-1} \in N. \]
- It is the kernel of some group homomorphism.
5.1. Properties
- Left coset is equal to the right coset: \(gN = Ng\).
- This can be recognized as the property of the identity element: \([g][e] = [e][g]\).
5.2. Center
- Center \(\operatorname{Z}(G)\) of a group \(G\) is the set of
elements that commute with every element of \(G\):
- \[ \operatorname{Z}(G) := \{z\in G\mid \forall g\in G, zg = gz\}. \]
- \(\mathrm{Z}\) form the German, Zentrum, meaning 'center'.
5.2.1. Properties
- The center is a normal subgroup: \(\operatorname{Z}(G) \triangleleft G\)
- It is also a characteristic subgroup, but not necessarily fully characteristic.
- The quotient group is isomorphic to the inner automorphism group:
\(G/\operatorname{Z}(G) \cong \operatorname{Inn}(G)\).
- See N/C theorem
- An element is central whenever its conjugacy class contains only the element itself: \(\operatorname{Cl}(g) = \{g\}\).
- The center is the intersection of all the centralizers
of elements of \(G\):
- \[ \operatorname{Z}(G) = \bigcap_{g\in G}\mathrm{C}_G(g) \]
5.3. Core
- Special Normal Subgroup
5.4. Normal Core
- Normal Interior
- Largest normal subgroup of a subgroup \(H\) of a group \(G\).
- The core of \(H\) with respect to a subset \(S\subseteq G\) is: \[ \mathrm{Core}_S(H) := \bigcap_{s\in S}s^{-1}Hs. \]
5.5. p-core
- For a prime \(p\), the \(p\)-core \(O_p(G)\) of a finite group \(G\) is the largest normal \(p\)-subgroup of \(G\).
- It is normal core of every Sylow \(p\)-subgroup \(\mathrm{Syl}_p(G)\) of the group \(G\).
6. Quotient Group
- \(G/N\)
- Quotient group of \(G\) moded out by \(N\) is denoted \(G/N\), and read \(G\) mod \(N\).
- \[ G/N = \{gN : g\in G \} \]
- The multiplication is well defined since informally: \[ g_1N g_2N = g_1g_2 NN = g_1g_2N \] by the definition of the normal subgroup.
- The group \(H\) isomorphic to \(G/N\) describes the group structure of the equivalence classes.
- The information about the automorphism of \(N\) between \(g_1N\) and \(g_2N\) is lost.
7. Group Action
The group action is often curried, and group action of a group \(G\) on a set \(X\) is a group homomorphism from \(G\) to group of endomorphisms on \(X\). \(\rho\colon G \to \mathrm{Aut}(X)\)
7.1. Definition
7.1.1. Left Group Action
For a group \(G\) with identity element \(e\), and a set \(X\), the left group action \(\alpha\) of \(G\) on \(X\) is a function: \[ \alpha\colon G\times X\to X, \] that satisfies the following two axioms:
- Identity: \(\alpha(e,x) = x\)
- Compatibility: \(\alpha(g, \alpha(h, x)) = \alpha(gh,x)\)
- Group action and the multiplication in the group is compatible.
7.1.2. Right Group Action
Likewise, \(\alpha\colon X\times G \to X\) with
- Identity: \(\alpha(x,e) = x\)
- Compatibility: \(\alpha(\alpha(x,g), h) = \alpha(x, gh)\)
Action on the other side can be constructed by composing with the inverse operation of the group.
- \(\alpha'(x, g) = \alpha((g)^{-1}, x)\)
- \[ \alpha'(x, gh) = \alpha(h^{-1}g^{-1}, x) = \alpha(h^{-1}, \alpha(g^{-1}, x)) = \alpha'(\alpha'(x,g), h) \]
Action of a group on one side is the action of the opposite group on the other side.
7.2. Orbit
Orbit of \( x \in X \) is given by: \[ G\cdot x := \{ g\cdot x \mid g\in G\}. \]
The quotient of the action is the set of all orbits of \( X \) under the action of \( G \), denoted by \( X / G \).
7.3. Stabilizer
The stabilizer subgroup of \( G \) with respect to \( x \) is the set of all elements in \( G \) that fix \( x \): \[ G_x := \{ g\in G\mid g\cdot x = x\}. \]
7.3.1. Properties
- \( G_x \) is a subgroup of \( G \) (typically not normal)
7.4. Invariant
Let \( g\in G \) be fixed. The left invariants by \( g \) is: \[ X^g := \{x\in X\mid g\cdot x = x\}. \]
7.5. Orbit-Stabilizer Theorem
7.5.1. Statement
Let \( x \in X \) be fixed. The map \( f\colon G \to X \colon g \mapsto g\cdot x \) induces a bijection between the set \( G / G_x \), the cosets of the stabilizer subgroup \( G_x \), and the orbit \( G\cdot x \).
\[ |G\cdot x| = [G:G_x] = |G| / |G_x| \]
7.5.2. Proof
The image of the map \( f \) is the orbit \( G\cdot x \), and by compatibility \( f(g) = f(h) \) if and only if \( g^{-1}h \in G_x \). Therefore, each coset match each element of orbit.
The stabilizer subgroup \( G_x \) maps to \( x \) itself, and a coset \( gG_x \) corresponds to \( g\cdot x \).
7.6. Burnside's Lemma
- Burnside's Counting Theorem, Cauchy-Frobenius Lemma, Orbit-Counting Theorem.
It counts the number of orbits.
7.6.1. Statement
\[ |X/G| = \frac{1}{|G|}\sum_{g\in G}|X^g| \] where \(G\) is a finite group acting on a set \(X\), and \(X^g\) is the left invarients of \( g \).
In the case of an infinite group \(G\), there is bijection: \[ G\times X/G \longleftrightarrow \bigsqcup_{g\in G} X^g. \]
The number of orbits is equal to the average number of points fixed by each element of \(G\).
7.6.2. Proof
Make a table where the \( i,j \)th entries are \( g_i\cdot x_j \). Each column becomes the orbit of the the top element, possibly with duplicates.
Each column contains \( |G_{x_j}| \) elements that are equal to the top element, and there are \( |G\cdot x| \) columns with the top elements from the same orbit. Therefore if you count the stabilizers from those columns and add up, you get \( |G| \) by the orbit-stabilizer theorem: \[ |G| = |G_x||G\cdot x|. \]
Each orbit contribute \( |G| \) to the total, making the sum \[ \sum_{x\in X}|G_x| = |\{(g,x)\in G\times X\mid g\cdot x = x\}| = \sum_{g\in G}|X^g| \] be equal to \[ \sum_{x\in X}|G_x| = |G| |X/G|. \]
7.6.3. Examples
- Necklace polynomial
- Circular permutation by bins
- Colorings of a Cube
- Incomplete Cubes
7.7. k-Transitive
- A group is called \(k\)-transitive if the group action can map any sequence of length \(k\), into any sequence of length \(k\) respecting the order of the sequence.
8. Conjugacy Class
8.1. Definition
- \( \mathrm{Cl}(g), [g] \)
The conjugacy class is the equivalence class under the equivalence relation of conjugation: \[ a\sim b \iff \exists g\in G, b = gag^{-1}. \]
8.2. Conjugacy Class Equation
Conjugation is an group action of \( G \) on \( G \) itself, in particular an inner automorphism. The centralizer of \( g\in G \) is the stabilizer and conjugacy classe is the orbit. By orbit-stabilizer theorem, \[ |G| = |\mathrm{C}_g||[g]|. \]
The order of the group \(G\) is equal to the sum of the size of its conjugacy classes: \[ |G| = |\mathrm{Z}(G)| + \sum_{[g], g \not\subset \mathrm{Z}(G)}|G:C_g|. \] Notice that each element in the center \(\mathrm{Z}(G)\) forms a conjugacy class by itself, since it is invariant under conjugation.
8.3. Conjugacy of Subset
Two subsets \(S, T\subseteq G\) are conjugate to each other if there exists \(g\in G\) such that \(T = gSg^{-1}\).
The conjugacy class under this equivalence relation is denoted \(\mathrm{Cl}(S)\). It is the conjugacy class within the power set.
Analogous to the conjugacy class of elements: \[|\mathrm{Cl}(S)| = |G:\mathrm{N}_G(S)|.\]
8.4. Centralizer and Normalizer
- Commutant
The centralizer \(\mathrm{C}_G(S)\) (sometimes \(\mathrm{Z}_G(S)\), \( C_g \)) of a subset \(S\) in a group \(G\) is the set of elements of \(G\) that commute with every element of \(S\): \[ \mathrm{C}_G(S) := \{g\in G\mid \forall s\in S, gs = sg\}. \]
Equivalently, set of element \(g\) of \(G\) such that conjugation by \(g\) leaves each element of \(S\) fixed: \[ \mathrm{C}_G(S) := \{g\in G\mid \forall s\in S, gsg^{-1} = s\} \]
The normalizer \(\mathrm{N}_G(S)\) of a subset \(S\) in a group \(G\) is the set of elements of \(G\) that satisfy the weaker condition of leaving the set \(S\) fixed under conjugation: \[ \mathrm{N}_G(S) := \{g\in G\mid gS = Sg\} = \{g\in G \mid gSg^{-1} = S\}. \]
8.4.1. Properties
- \(\mathrm{C}_G(S), \mathrm{N}_G(S) < G\)
- By Lagrange's theorem, \(|\mathrm{C}_G(S)|\) and \( |\mathrm{N}_G(S)|\) divides \(|G|\).
- \(\mathrm{C}_G(S) \triangleleft \mathrm{N}_G(S)\)
- \(S\subseteq \mathrm{C}_G(S)\iff S\ \text{abelian}\)
- \(S\subseteq \mathrm{C}_G(\mathrm{C}_G(S))\)
- If a subgroup \(H\) is self-bicommutant, \(H = \mathrm{C}_G(\mathrm{C}_G(H))\)
- \(H
- \(\mathrm{C_G(G)} = G \iff G\ \text{abelian}\)
8.5. Self-Normalizing Subgroup
A subgroup \(H\) of a group \(G\) is called a self-normalizing subgroup of \(G\) if \(\mathrm{N}_G(H) = H\)
8.6. Self-Bicommutant
- C-Closed
A subgroup \(H\) of a group \(G\) is said to be self-bicommutant if \(H = \mathrm{C}_G(S)\) for some subset \(S\) of \(G\).
8.7. N/C Theorem
For a subgroup \(H\) of a gorup \(G\), \[ \mathrm{N}_G(H)/\mathrm{C}_G(H) \cong F < \operatorname{Aut}(H). \]
Corollary (For \(H = G\)) \[ G/\mathrm{Z(G)} \cong \mathrm{Inn}(G). \]
Consider the homomorphism: \(h\colon G\to \mathrm{Inn}(G)\colon g \mapsto (x\mapsto x^g)\), and apply the first isomorphism theorem, with the center associated to the identity automorphism.
9. Opposite Group
9.1. Definition
For a group \((G, * )\), the opposite group is \(G^{\mathrm{op}} = (G, * ')\) with \(g_1*'g_2 = g_2*g_1\).
9.2. Properties
Any antiautomorphism: \(\psi(g*h) = \psi(h)*\psi(g)\) is an isomorphism \(\psi\colon G\to G^{\mathrm{op}}\). In particular, \(\psi(g) = g^{-1}\).
10. Group Extension
10.1. Group Extension Problem
Given a simpler subgroup and a quotient group, in how many ways can we combine these to form other, potentially more complex, groups.
11. Nilpotent Group
\(G\) is a nilpotent group if it has a central series of finite length, that is, a series of normal subgroups where \(G_{i+1}/G_i \le \mathrm{Z}(G/G_i)\).
12. Solvable Group
Group that can be constructed from abelian groups using extensions.
It has a subnormal series whose factor groups are all abelian.
13. Cayley's Theorem
13.1. Statement
Every group is isomorphic to a subgroup of a symmetric group.
14. Classification Theorem
Every finite simple group is isomorphic to one the the following:
- Cyclic group of prime order
- Alternating group of degree at least 5
- Group of Lie type
- Derived subgroup of the groups of Lie type, such as Tits group
- One of the 26 sporadic groups
15. Reference
- Classification of finite simple groups - Wikipedia
- Euclidean group - Wikipedia
- Example of an Interesting Lie Group: SE2 - YouTube
- Chapter 3: Lagrange's theorem, Subgroups and Cosets | Essence of Group Theory…
- Index of a subgroup - Wikipedia
- Semidirect product - Wikipedia
- Group extension - Wikipedia
- Center (group theory) - Wikipedia
- Conjugacy class - Wikipedia
- Opposite group - Wikipedia
- Group action - Wikipedia
- Mathemaniac. Burnside's Lemma Part 1 - combining group theory and combinatorics - YouTube
- Burnside's lemma - Wikipedia
- Exploration & Epiphany - YouTube
- Centralizer and normalizer - Wikipedia
- Inner automorphism - Wikipedia
- Core (group theory) - Wikipedia
- Ultimate Recipe to Construct Every Finite Group - Group Extensions and Computational Group Theory - YouTube
- Robert A. Wilson. The Finite Simple Groups. 2009th Edition. Springer
- Simplifying problems with isomorphisms, explained — Group Theory Ep. 2 - YouTube
- Cayley's theorem - Wikipedia