Group of order pq && nonnormal subgroup

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SUMMARY

A nonabelian group G of order pq, where p and q are distinct primes with p < q, necessarily contains a nonnormal subgroup of index q. This conclusion is derived from Cauchy's theorem, which guarantees the existence of elements of order p and q, leading to the generation of subgroups of respective indices. The subgroup of index p is normal, while the subgroup of index q cannot be normal, confirming G's nonabelian nature. Furthermore, G acts on the nonnormal subgroup by conjugation, resulting in an injective homomorphism into the symmetric group Sq.

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  • Understanding of group theory concepts, particularly nonabelian groups.
  • Familiarity with Cauchy's theorem in group theory.
  • Knowledge of group actions and conjugation.
  • Basic understanding of symmetric groups, specifically S(q).
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Students of abstract algebra, particularly those studying group theory, as well as mathematicians interested in the properties of nonabelian groups and their subgroup structures.

hermanni
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I saw the following problem on my abstract algebra book (dummit && foote) , I tried to solve it but I couldn't :
Let p, q be primes with p < q . Prove that a nonabelian group G of order pq
has a nonnormal subgroup of index q , so there exists an injective
homomorphism into Sq. Deduce that G is isomorphic to a subgroup of the normalizer in S(q) of the cyclic group
generated by the q-cycle.
I think I need to construct the group and see it's nonabelian.I thought of using
conjugacy and group actions , but I could't get anywhere.Can someone help?
 
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I think you have the right idea. Here is a start. Suppose there is an element of the group that does not commute with all of the others and whose order is p. Let Zp be the cyclic group that it generates.

Then I think that this group can not be normal.

Since conjugation is a homomorphism, if the group were normal then the action would determine an isomorphism of order q of Zp.
But a cyclic group of prime order can not have an isomorphism of order q > p, I think. So Zp can not be normal.

Is this wrong?
 
A more straightforward way to show the first part:

By Cauchy's theorem, there are elements of order p and q, which generate subgroups of index q and p, respectively. The subgroup of index p is normal since its index is the smallest prime dividing |G|, so the other one can't be normal, else G would be abelian (the direct product Zp x Zq).
 
Ok , tinyboss I totally agree with this simple and compact solution. What about the second part? Let H be that subgroup of q and we see G acts on H by conjugation. So there exists a homomorphism from G into Sq , how do we see it's injective ? (is it relevant to the H's nonabelianness? ) Even if we see it , I couldn't get the relationship with this and the third part of the question.
 

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