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Oxymoron
Apr18-05, 12:22 AM
Question
Let G=GL(2,\mathbb{R}) be the group of invertible 2\times 2 martrices with real entries. Consider the action of G on itself by conjugation. For the element
A= \left(\begin{array}{cc}
2 & 1 \\
0 & 3
\end{array}\right)
of G, describe (i) the orbit and (ii) the isotropy group of A
Sorry, I have no working out because I am completely stumped. Can anyone give me some helpful hints or pointers. Thanks
Oxymoron
Apr18-05, 12:45 AM
The orbit is going to be of the form
O_A = \{gA\,|\, g\in GL(2,\mathbb{R})\}
Here g can be found by the following way
gA = Ag where g \in GL(2,\mathbb{R})
\left(\begin{array}{cc}a & b \\ c & d\end{array}\right)\left(\begin{array}{cc}2 & 1 \\ 0 & 3\end{array}\right) = \left(\begin{array}{cc}2 & 1 \\ 0 & 3\end{array}\right)\left(\begin{array}{cc}a & b \\ c & d\end{array}\right)
\left(\begin{array}{cc}2a & a+3b \\ 2c & c+3d\end{array}\right) = \left(\begin{array}{cc}2a+c & 2b+d \\ 3c & 3d\end{array}\right)
Which implies that 2c = 3c = 0 \Leftrightarrow c = 0. Hence
\left(\begin{array}{cc}2a & a+3b \\ 0 & 3d\end{array}\right) = \left(\begin{array}{cc}2a & 2b+d \\ 0 & 3d\end{array}\right)
And we can write
g = \left(\begin{array}{cc}a & d-a \\ 0 & d\end{array}\right)
Therefore the orbit can be described as
O_A = \{gA\,|\, g\in GL(2,\mathbb{R})\}
So
O_A = \left(\begin{array}{cc}2a & -2a + 3d \\ 0 & 3d\end{array}\right)\quad \forall a,b \in \mathbb{R}
how does this look?
Oxymoron
Apr18-05, 12:58 AM
The isotropy group is the subgroup of GL(2,\mathbb{R}) consisting of the elements that do not move A. That is
G_A = \{gA = A\,|\,g\in GL(2,\mathbb{R})\}
Therefore we have
\left(\begin{array}{cc}2a & -2a+3d \\ 0 & 3d\end{array}\right) = \left(\begin{array}{cc}2 & 1 \\ 0 & 3\end{array}\right)
So a = 1, \, d = 1 . Therefore
G_A = \left(\begin{array}{cc}1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1\end{array}\right) = e
the isotropy subgroup consists of the identity element.
Oxymoron
Apr19-05, 11:56 PM
Anyone know if I have done this correctly? Anyone?
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