Department of Mathematics

Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani

Algebra-1, Math F215
First Semester 2019-20 Practice Problem Set Instructor: Jitender Kumar

Groups

1. Show that G = {3n : n ∈ Z} is a commutative group with respect to multiplication of

integers.

2. Show that the set Q of all rational numbers other than −1 is an abelian group with
respect to the binary operation ∗ defined by

a ∗ b = a + b + ab.

3. Let G = {(a, b) : a, b ∈ R and not both zero} and ∗ be binary operation defined by

(a, b) ∗ (c, d) = (ac − bd, ad + bc).

Show that (G, ∗) is an abelian group.

4. Let G = {(a, b) : a 6= 0, b ∈ R} and ∗ be binary operation defined by

(a, b) ∗ (c, d) = (ac, bc + d).

Show that (G, ∗) is a non-abelian group.

 
a 0
5. Let G be the set of all real 2 × 2 matrices , where a 6= 0. Show that G is an
0 a−1
abelian group under matrix multiplication.

6. Prove that the set of all nth roots of unity, where n is fixed positive integer, forms an
abelian group under usual multiplication of complex numbers.
       
1 0 1 0 −1 0 −1 0
7. Let G = {I, A, B, C}, where I = ,A = ,B = ,C = .
0 1 0 −1 0 1 0 −1
Show that G forms a group under matrix multiplication. (This group is known as the
Klein four group.)

8. Let Q8 = {±I, ±J, ±K, ±L}, where

       
1 0 i 0 0 1 0 i
I= ,J = ,K = ,L = .
0 1 0 −i −1 0 i 0

Show that Q8 is a non-abelian group with respect to matrix multiplication (This group
is known as the Quaternion group.)
 9. Prove that if G is an abelian group, then (a.b)n = an .bn for all a, b ∈ G and all positive
integers n.

10. If G is a group in which (a.b)n = an .bn for three consecutive integers n and for all
a, b ∈ G, then show that G is abelian.

11. Show that the conclusion of Problem 10 does not follow if we assume the relation
(a.b)i = ai .bi for just two consecutive integers.

12. If G is a finite group, then show that there exists a positive integer N such that aN = e
for all a ∈ G.

13. Show that a group G satisfying a2 = e for all a ∈ G must be abelian.

Subgroups

14. If H is a subgroup of G and a ∈ G, then show that

aHa−1 = {aha−1 : h ∈ H}

is a subgroup of G.

15. If a ∈ G define N(a) = {x ∈ G : xa = ax} (i.e. the set of all elements in G that
commute with a). Show that N(a) is a subgroup of G. (N(a) is usually called the
normalizer or centralizer of a ∈ G.)

16. The center of a group G is defined by Z(G) = {z ∈ G : zx = xz ∀x ∈ G} (i.e. the

set of elements in G that commute with every element of G). Show that Z(G) is a
subgroup of G.

17. Let H and K be subgroups of G.

(i) Show that H ∩ K is always a subgroup of G.

(ii) Show that H ∪ K need not be a subgroup of G.

18. Let H be a subgroup of G. Show that

(i) Ha = H iff a ∈ H; aH = H iff a ∈ H.

(ii) Ha = Hb iff ab−1 ∈ H; aH = bH iff a−1 b ∈ H.
(iii) Ha (or aH) is a subgroup of G iff a ∈ H.
(iv) Hh = H iff h ∈ H.
(v) b ∈ Ha iff Ha = Hb.

19. If a and b are two elements of a group G, then

 (i) o(a) = o(xax−1 ) = o(x−1 ax) for all x ∈ G.
(ii) o(ab) = o(ba).
(iii) o(a) = o(a−1 ).
(iv) If am = e, then o(a) divides m.

20. Let a, b ∈ G such that ab = ba and (o(a), o(b)) = 1. Then show that o(ab) = o(a)o(b).

21. Prove or disprove: If a, b are elements in a group G such that the order of a is 2 and
the order of b is 3, then order of ab is 6.

22. If a is any element of a group G, show that

o(a)
o(an ) = .
(n, o(a))

23. If in a group G, a5 = e, aba−1 = b2 for some a, b(6= e) ∈ G, then find o(b).

24. Let G be a group and a ∈ G such that a24 = e, a12 6= e, a8 6= e. Find the o(a).

25. How many generators does a cyclic group of order n have?

26. How many generators does an infinite cyclic group have?

27. If G is a finite cyclic group and m is a positive integer such that m divides o(G), then
there exists a unique subgroup of G of order m.

28. Consider U24 . What is its order? Is it cyclic? Find the inverse of each of its elements.

29. Prove that every group of order less than 6 is abelian.

30. Find the smallest subgroup of Z containing 18, 30 and 40.

31. If G is a group of order 35, show that it can not have two subgroup of order 7.

32. Suppose G is a finite group of order pq, where p and q are primes (p > q). Show that
G has at most one subgroup of order p.

33. If o(G) = 6 and H 6= K are subgroups of G each is of order 2, then HK cannot be a

subgroup of G.

Normal subgroups and Quotient groups

34. Show that the center of group G defined as Z(G) = {z ∈ G : zx = xz ∀x ∈ G} is a

normal subgroup of G.

35. If H is a subgroup of G and N is normal subgroup of G, then show that H ∩ N is

normal subgroup of H.
36. Let N and M be two normal subgroup of G such that N ∩ M = {e}. Show that for
any n ∈ N, m ∈ M, nm = mn.

37. Let H be any subgroup of index 2 in G. Show that H is normal subgroup of G.

38. If H is the only subgroup of finite order m in the group G, then show that H is a
normal subgroup of G.

39. Give an example of a non-abelian group each of whose subgroup is normal.

40. Let H < G and N(H) = {g ∈ G : gHg −1 = H}. Prove that

(i) N(H) is a subgroup of G.

(ii) H is normal in N(H).
(iii) H is normal in G if and only if N(H) = G.

41. If H and K are normal subgroups of G, then show that HK = {hk : h ∈ H, k ∈ K} is

a normal subgroup of G.
\
42. If H is a subgroup of G and N = xHx−1 , then prove that N is a normal subgroup
x∈G
of G.

43. For any two real number a, b ∈ R; define a mapping fab : R → R such that fab (x) =
ax + b ∀x ∈ R. Let G = {fab : a 6= 0}. Prove that G is a group under the composition
of mappings. Further show that N = {f1b : f1b ∈ G} is a normal subgroup of G.
G G
44. Let N be a subgroup of a cyclic group G. Show that N is cyclic. If N
is cyclic, can we
conclude G is cyclic ? Give reason or counterexample.
K
45. Let H and K be a normal subgroups of a group G such that H ⊂ K, show that H
is
G
a normal subgroup of H .
G
46. If Z is the center of a group G such that Z
is cyclic, then show that G is abelian.

Homomorphisms and Automorphisms

NM N
47. If N and M are normal subgroups of G, then prove that M
≈ N ∩M
.

48. Let N be a normal subgroup of the group G as defined in Problem 43. Then show that
G/N is isomorphic to the group of nonzero real numbers under multiplication.

49. Let G be the group of nonzero complex numbers under multiplication and let N be
the set of complex numbers of absolute value 1. Show that G/N is isomorphic to the
group of all positive real numbers under multiplication.
50. Let G be a finite abelian group of order n and let m be an integer relatively prime to
n. Show that every g ∈ G can be expressed as g = xm for some x ∈ G.

51. Show that any infinite cyclic group is isomorphic to the group (Z, +).

52. Show that a finite cyclic group of order n is isomorphic to Zn .

53. Show that any two cyclic group of the same order are isomorphic.

54. Prove or disprove the following:

(i) If G and G′ are two groups of order 6, then they are isomorphic.
(ii) If G and G′ are two groups of order 31, then they are isomorphic.

55. Show that T : G → G such that T (x) = x−1 for all x ∈ G is an automorphism if and
only if G is abelian.

56. Let G be a group such that x2 6= e for some x ∈ G, then G has a nontrivial automor-
phism.

57. If G is an infinite cyclic group, then show that the group Aut(G) of automorphisms on
G is isomorphic to a cyclic group of order two.

58. If G is an finite cyclic group of order n, then show that the group Aut(G) of automor-
phisms on G is isomorphic to Un . Also, find o[Aut(G)].

59. Let G = {e, a, b, ab} such that a2 = b2 = e, ab = ba. Show that G is a group (known
as Klein’s 4-group). Determine Aut(G). Further, show that Aut(G) ≈ S3 .

60. Let T : G → G be an automorphism such that T (a) = an for all a ∈ G. Show that
an−1 ∈ Z(G)(center of G) for all a ∈ G.

Cayley’s Theorem

61. Prove that a group of order 99 is not simple.

62. Prove that a group of order 28 is not simple.

63. Prove that a group of order p2 , where p is a prime number, must have a normal
subgroup of order p.

Permutation Groups

64. Determine which of the following are even permutations.

(i) (1 2 3 4 5)(1 4 5)(2 3)

 (ii) (1 3 2)(1 4 5 6)
1 n!
65. Prove that there are r (n−r)!
distinct cycles of length r (r ≤ n) in Sn .
66. If σ = (1 2 3)(1 4 5) ∈ S5 , then find σ 99 .
67. Let σ ∈ S7 and suppose σ 4 = (2 1 4 3 5 6 7). Find σ.
68. Let φ : Z24 → S8 be a homomorphism such that φ([1]) = (2 5)(1 4 6 7). Then find
ker φ and φ([14]).
69. Prove that there is no permutation a such that a−1 (1 2 3)a = (1 3)(5 7 8).
70. Prove that the center of a symmetric group S3 is trivial i.e. Z(S3 ) = {e}.
71. Determine the order of each element in A4 .
72. Show that A4 has no subgroup of order 6.

Class Equation, Cauchy’s Theorem

73. Let G be a non-abelian group of order p3 , where p is a prime number. Show that
o[Z(G)] = p.
74. Prove that every abelian group of order 6 is cyclic.
75. Prove that every abelian group of order pq, where p, q are distinct primes, is cyclic.
Sylow’s Theorem

76. Show that a Sylow p-subgroup of a finite group G is unique if and only if it is normal.
77. Prove that if a group G of order 28 has a normal subgroup of order 4, then G is abelian.
78. Prove that a group of order 30 is not simple.
79. Discuss the number and nature of the Sylow 3-subgroups and Sylow 5-subgroups of
order 32 · 52 .
80. Let o(G) = pq, where p and q are distinct primes such that p < q. Show that if p does
not divide (q − 1), then G is cyclic.
81. Let G be a group of order 231. Show that the 11-Sylow subgroup is in the center of G.
82. If G is of order p2 q, where p, q are primes, prove that either a p-Sylow subgroup or a
q-Sylow subgroup of G must be normal in G. In other words, If G is group of order
p2 q, where p, q are primes, show that G is not simple.
83. How many Sylow 5-subgroups are there in S5 . Exhibit two.
84. How many Sylow 3-subgroups are there in S5 . Exhibit five.