Can a group be isomorphic to one of its quotients?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the isomorphism between groups and their quotients, specifically addressing infinite groups. It is established that for any quotient Q:=G/N, there is no subgroup H that is isomorphic to Q when G is the infinite group ##\mathbb{Z}## or its infinite product ##\mathbb{Z}\times\mathbb{Z}\times...##. The example of the simple group ##S_5## is cited to illustrate the lack of correspondence between subgroups and quotient groups, emphasizing that non-trivial subgroups can exist without corresponding non-trivial quotients.

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WWGD
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Of course it must be an infinite group, otherwise |G/N|=|G|/|N| and then {e} is the only ( and trivial) solution. I understand there is a result that for every quotient Q:=G/N there is a subgroup H that is isomorphic to Q. Is that the case?
 
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How about an infinite product ##\mathbb{Z}\times\mathbb{Z}\times...## and quotient out by the first factor?

WWGD said:
I understand there is a result that for every quotient Q:=G/N there is a subgroup H that is isomorphic to Q. Is that the case?
No, there is no subgroup of ##\mathbb{Z}## that is isomorphic to ##\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}.##
 
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Infrared said:
How about an infinite product ##\mathbb{Z}\times\mathbb{Z}\times...## and quotient out by the first factor?No, there is no subgroup of ##\mathbb{Z}## that is isomorphic to ##\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}.##
Thanks. Sorry, I believe the result I quoted (may)apply to infinite groups.
 
WWGD said:
Thanks. Sorry, I believe the result I quoted (may)apply to infinite groups.
No, even if the quotient is infinite, it is still false. There is no subgroup of ##\mathbb{Z}\times\mathbb{Z}## that is isomorphic to ##\left(\mathbb{Z}\times\mathbb{Z}\right)/\left(\{0\}\times 2\mathbb{Z}\right)\cong\mathbb{Z}\times\left(\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}\right).##
 
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Re the lack of correspondence between subgroups and quotient groups, I though of another argument: just take a simple group. It will have non-trivial subgroups but no non-trivial quotient. Maybe simplest vase is ##S_5##, the permutation group on 5 elements . It has the alternating subgroup, which cannot be a quotient by cardinality reasons.
 

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