Pre-requisites.
I assume you are familiar with basic notions of sets, injections, bijec-
tions, and proof. Other than that, the only facts you need are the following:
Definition 0.1 (What’s a group?). A group is a pair (G, m) where G
is a set, and m is a map
m : G × G → G.
We will usually write1
m(g, h) := g · h := gh.
The pair (G, m) must satisfy the following:
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Fall 2017 Math 122 Homework
THE PROBLEMS
1. Some basics
(a) Show that the empty set does not admit a group structure. (That is,
there does not exist a group G that contains no elements.)
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Fall 2017 Math 122 Homework
(b) Show that the identity element of a group G is unique. (That is, if two
elements e and e0 satisfy the defining property of the identity element,
then e = e0 .)
2. Homomorphisms
(b) Show that there exists a map of sets ψ : Z → Z such that ψ ◦ φ3 = idZ .
Here, idZ is the function from Z to Z sending any number to itself; i.e.,
the identity function on Z. It is not “the identity of Z,” i.e., 0.
(d) For any integer k, define a map of sets φk : Z → Z by φ(n) = kn. Show
this defines a group homomorphism from Z to Z. Determine all k for
which this map is an isomorphism.
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Fall 2017 Math 122 Homework
(a) Let G and H be two groups such that each group contains only one
element. Show that G and H are isomorphic as groups. (That is, there
is a unique group of cardinality 1.)
(b) Let G and H be two groups such that each group contains only two
elements. Show that G and H are isomorphic as groups.
(a) Let G be the set of all real power series i≥0 ai xi in a single variable
P
x, such that the constant term a0 is non-zero. Prove or disprove: G is
a group under multiplication of power series.
(b) What if G is the set of all power series with integer coefficients ai such
that a0 is 1 or −1? Is it a group under multiplication of power series?
(a) Find a group G such that, for any group H, there is always a bijection
between the set of group homomorphisms φ : G → H, and the set of
elements of H. Note G is independent of H.
(b) Construct a group G such that, for any group H, there is always a
bijection between the set of group homomorphisms φ : G → H, and
the collection of ordered pairs of elements (h1 , h2 ) where h1 , h2 ∈ H.
Note G is independent of H.