Are upper and lower triangular matrix groups isomorphic?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter symbol0
  • Start date Start date
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
4 replies · 4K views
symbol0
Messages
77
Reaction score
0
Let G be the group of 2x2 invertible upper triangular matrices and H be the group of 2x2 invertible lower triangular matrices (both groups under multiplication). Are G and H isomorphic? Prove answer.

First I thought they were isomorphic, but couldn't find an isomorphism, so now I believe they are not isomorphic, but can't pinpoint exactly why.
Any suggestions?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Transposition is a good first guess for an isomorphism, since the transpose of an upper triangular matrix is lower triangular, and vice-versa. But transposition isn't a homomorphism, since [tex](AB)^T=B^TA^T[/tex] (the order gets reversed). Kind of like how [tex](AB)^{-1}=B^{-1}A^{-1}[/tex]. Can you combine them?
 
Tinyboss, Why do you say it is a good first guess. As you mention, the order gets reversed.
I don't think they are isomorphic. I know that if there was an isomorphism f, then f(-A)= -f(A) for all matrices A in G. Also, f would map the subgroup D of diagonal matrices to itself.
 
Read the last sentence in tinyboss's reply...
 
Ohh, of course.
Thank you guys.