Homomorphisms and Cyclic Groups

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the properties of homomorphisms in the context of cyclic groups. The original poster presents a problem involving a cyclic group \( G \) generated by an element \( a \) and another group \( G' \) with an element \( b' \). The tasks include demonstrating the uniqueness of a homomorphism from \( G \) to \( G' \), conditions for the existence of such a homomorphism, and criteria for injectivity.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the uniqueness of the homomorphism by considering the mapping of powers of \( a \) to powers of \( b \). There are questions about the implications of the orders of the elements involved and how they relate to the existence of a homomorphism. Some participants express uncertainty about proving certain properties and the use of divisibility in their reasoning.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided constructive suggestions for constructing the homomorphism and verifying its properties. There is an ongoing exploration of the implications of the orders of the elements, with various interpretations being discussed. While there is no explicit consensus, the dialogue indicates a productive exchange of ideas and reasoning.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the constraints of the problem, including the definitions of homomorphisms and the significance of the orders of the elements involved. There is also mention of the original poster's exam preparation, which may influence the urgency and focus of the discussion.

sutupidmath
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Homework Statement

Well, first i appologize for posting problems so often, but i have an exam coming up soon, so i am just working some problems on my own.

Problem:

Let G be a cyclic group [a](generated by a). Let b' be any element of a grou p G'.
(i)Show that ther eis at most one homomorphism from G to G' with [tex]\theta(a)=b'[/tex]
(ii)Show that there is a homomorphism [tex]\theta[/tex] from G to G' with [tex]\theta(a)=b'[/tex] if and only if the order of b' is an integral divisor of the order of a.
(iii) state a condition on the orders of a adn b' fro the homomorphism (ii) to be injective.



Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


(i) [tex]\theta:G->G'[/tex] [tex]\theta(a)=b'[/tex] I am not sure whether i am getting the question right. I am assuming that in this case b' would be a fixed element of G' right. ??Because with this in mind, will my reasoning/proof follow below.

Well, i think that if b'=e' then we will certainly have a homomorphism. SInce

for any two elements x,y in G, where [tex]x=a^m,y=a^m[/tex] we would have

[tex]\theta(a^ma^n)=\theta(a^{m+n})=e'=e'e'=\theta(a^m)\theta(a^n)[/tex] so such a mapping would be a group homomorphism between these two groups.
Now,as in one of my previous questions(which i haven't received any answers yet) i am having trouble how to go about proving that we cannot have any other hommomorphism defined by this theta. So how would i prove this?

(ii)=> let [tex]\theta:G->G'[/tex] [tex]\theta(a)=b'[/tex] be a homomorphism. Let o(a)=p and o(b')=q.WE want to show that q|p??

Ok, let [tex]e'=\theta(e)=\theta(a^p)=[\theta(a)]^p=(b')^p=>q|p[/tex]
<= Let q|p. Now we want to show that [tex]\theta:G->G'[/tex] [tex]\theta(a)=b'[/tex] is a homomorphism.?

That is we want to show that for any two elements x,y in G, where [tex]x=a^m,y=a^n[/tex] [tex]\theta(xy)=\theta(a^ma^n)=\theta(a^m)\theta(a^n)??[/tex]

I'm not sure how to go about this one either?
 
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Instead of taking b to be identity, just construct the only possible homomorphism. Powers of a must be mapped to powers of b. If you change one of the powers of a to map to a different power of b you no longer have a homomorphism.
 
AHA! So, you are saying to construct my isomorphism for part (i) something like this:

[tex]\theta(a^i)=b^i[/tex] for i in Z. Well, yeah, i easily showed that this is a homomorphism.

Now, to prove that this is the oly one in this case, i assumed that the following construction is still a homomorphism

[tex]\theta(a^i)=b^j[/tex] where i is different from j. Without loss of generality, i supposed that i>j=> there exists an integer k such that i=j+k, so the above mapping would look sth like this:

[tex]\theta(a^i)=b^{i+k}[/tex] THen i showed that this is not a homomorphism.

Well thnx for this.
 
Well, for (ii) Here it is again what i think, for <= part.

SInce q|p=> p=kq for some integer k.

Now, if we construct a mapping [tex]\theta(a^i)=b^i[/tex] similar to what we did before,( whic i am not sure we an do here too), then we would have:

[tex]\theta(e)=\theta(a^p)=(b')^p=(b')^kq=(e')^k=e'[/tex] so this means that by this kind of mapping the identity is preserved.

So, now let x,y be in G. with [tex]x=a^m,y=a^n[/tex] so

[tex]\theta(xy)=\theta(a^ma^n)=\theta(a^{m+n})=(b')^{m+n}=(b')^m(b')^n=\theta(a^m)\theta(a^n)[/tex] so would this prove it?

I am not sure this is correct, since i think i didn't use the fact that q|p anywhere in this last part? MOreove, i don't even see how to use it...
 
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Last edited:
sutupidmath said:
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Yeah, i think you are right...But, wait until someone else confirms it..:biggrin:
 

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