# Isomorphism proof

1. Jun 17, 2007

### happyg1

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Prove that $$Aut(Z_2\oplus Z_4) \cong D_8$$

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution
To start,
I wrote out all of the elements of $$Z_2\oplus Z_4$$. There are 8 of them, of course. Then I need to find the automorphisms of it. It looks to me like they would be the same as Aut(D8),which I have. I have proved (I think) that $$Aut(D_8)\cong D_8$$. I'm just unsure HOW to go about this one.

Could I show with a cayley table that $$Z_2\oplus Z_4$$ is nonabelian and it's clearly of order 8, so then the isomorphism holds?

I just get stuck on these types of problems. the idea of isomorphisms is still pretty fresh to me and so are the groups themselves.

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks
CC

Last edited: Jun 17, 2007
2. Jun 18, 2007

### happyg1

OK,

I know that $$Aut(D_8)\cong D_8$$. That is, The automorphism group of D8 is isomorphic to D8.

I have the elements of D8 as$$1,r,r^2,r^3,a,ra,r^2a,r^3a$$ where a is a horizontal flip and r is a rotation of 90 degrees, where $$r^4=1,a^2=1$$

The elements of$$Z_2\oplus Z_4$$ are:
(0,0)(0,1)(0,2)(0,3)(1,0)(1,1)(1,2)(1,3), taking $$Z_2=(0,1);Z_4=(0,1,2,3)$$

the orders of these elements are:
(0,0)=1=1
(0,1)=r=4
(0,2)=$$r^2$$=2
(0,3)=$$r^3$$=4
(1,0)=a=2
(1,1)=ra=4
(1,2)=$$r^2$$a=2
(1,3)=$$r^3$$a=4

So since the two groups' elements match up with the orders, $$D_8\cong Z_2\oplus Z_4$$

And I know that $$Aut(D_8)\cong D_8$$, so then $$Aut(D_8)\cong D_8\cong Z_2\oplus Z_4$$So knowing that, the automorphism group of$$Z_2\oplus Z_4\cong D_8$$

Am I closer?

CC

Last edited: Jun 18, 2007
3. Jun 18, 2007

### AKG

Just because the orders match up doesn't mean that the groups are isomorphic. D8 is non-abelian, Z2 x Z4 is abelian. They are NOT isomorphic. But anyways, if X is isomorphic to Y, and Aut(X) is isomorphic to Z, then Aut(Y) is isomorphic to Z.

4. Jun 18, 2007

### happyg1

OK,
I see that the structure of the 2 groups can't possibly be the same. So no isomorphism between $$Z_2\oplus Z4$$ and D8.

So I'm back to square 1. I need to figure out what the automorphism group of$$Z_2\oplus Z_4$$

I think that Z2 has 2 autos, {Identity,1} and I think that Z4 has {identity,1,3} as its autos. I'm not sure if that's right, and I don't see how it helps me here....

Any hints?
CC

5. Jun 18, 2007

### StatusX

Well, if you have no idea where to start, then you might try listing all the automorphisms, and then worry about figuring out what group they form. To do this, note that to specifiy an isomorphism (in fact, any homomorphism), it suffices to specify it on a generating set. In this case, we could take, eg, (1,0) and (0,1). These must be mapped to another pair of generators of order 2 and 4 respectively, and it can be shown this condition is also sufficient, so it remains to find all such pairs. Since there are 3 elements of order 2 and 4 of order 4, there are apparently 8 pairs that generate the group and 4 that don't. For example, (0,2),(0,1) doesn't.

6. Jun 20, 2007

### happyg1

OK,
I don't mean to be dense here, but I'm just not GETTING this.
It makes sense to me that (1,0),(0,1) generates the group because 1 generates Z2 and 1 also generates Z4, so putting that together, you get $$Z_2\oplus Z_4$$
My confusion comes when I try to find the other generating pairs.

I think that (1,0),(0,3) is a generating pair by the same logic as above.

(0,1),(1,2) is confusing me. I see that 1 generates Z2, then I have for Z4 both 1 and 2. Now 1 generates Z4, but 2 doesn't. Does the overlap matter?

Other pairs I came up with:
(0,3)(1,2)----->generates Z2 once,Z4 once, subgroup of Z4 as well
(1,1)(1,0)----->generates Z2 twice, Z4 once
(1,1)(1,2)----->generates Z2 twice,Z4 once, subgroup of Z4 as well
(1,1)(0,2)----->generates Z2 once, Z4 once, subgroup of Z4 as well
(1,3)(1,0)----->generates Z2 twice, Z4 once
(1,3)(1,2)----->generates Z2 twice, Z4 once, subgroup of Z4 as well
(1,3)(0,2)----->generates Z2 once, Z4 once, subgroup of Z4 as well

and your example,(0,2)(0,1) generates Z2 none and Z4 once, subgroup of Z4 as well.

Am I making my confusion clear?

Which pairs are the correct pairs?

HELP!!
CC

7. Jun 20, 2007

### CompuChip

In this case, you can just check by writing out the options.
For example, (0, 1) and (1, 2) generate the group, because by adding (0, 1)'s I can make {0} x Z4.
I can make Z2 x {0}, it is {(1, 2)+2(0,1), 2(1, 2)}
In fact, any element (n, m) I can create by first taking 1 or 2 times (1, 2) to get the first component right, and then adding (0, 1) as often as I want to get the second correct (it doesn't change the first one anymore).

Try to understand this. If you think you have it, try to see why this works (and also (1, 2),(0,3) work, and (1,1),(0,3) does as well, but (1, 2), (1, 0) doesn't).

The trick is to think about the entire thing at once as pairs of numbers, which I can just add and then take modulo 2 in the first, modulo 4 in the second component; rather than as separate groups which I have to generate first and put together then.

8. Jun 20, 2007

### happyg1

I thought that I had to have am element of order 2 and an element of order 4 to generate the group. (1,1)(0,3) are both 4th degree.

I'm LOST here.
CC

9. Jun 20, 2007

### Hurkyl

Staff Emeritus
No. In order to generate a group, you simply need to be able to write every element of your group in terms of elements in your generating set.

OTOH, one being of order 2 and one being of order 4 is a necessary condition for them to be the images of (1, 0) and (0, 1) under an automorphism.

Last edited: Jun 20, 2007
10. Jun 20, 2007

### happyg1

OK
is this correct?
11, 02=(1,3)
01,10=(1,1)
03,10=(1,3)
03,12=(1,1)
13,02=(1,1)
01,12=(1,1)
and each one of those are generators for the group (I THINK) I get an ordered pair that generates both sets.
these are the ones I'm not sure of:
11,12=(0,3)....+(1,1)=(0,0) but I don't think I can DO that here..I'm changing both entries...
13,10=(0,3)...+(1,0)=(1,3)..I *think* that works?
11,10=(0,1)....+(1,0)=(1,1)..I *think* that works?
13,12=(2,5)=(0,1)+(1,2)=(1,3)...don't know about that, changing both entries.

so with the 6 at the top and the 2 i *think* work, am I getting this at all?

And of course, 01,02 doesn't work and neither does 03,02

Thanks,
CC

Last edited: Jun 20, 2007
11. Jun 20, 2007

### StatusX

Try to think through it in a more logical, step by step manner.

To see if a pair (a,b), (c,d) generates the group, note that this means precisely that for any (x,y) there exist integers n,m such that:

n(a,b)+m(c,d) = (x,y)

ie, as integers, you need simultaneous solutions to the equations:

na+mc=x (mod 2)
nb+md=y (mod 4)

The second equation tells you that at least one of b,d must be 1 or 3, since otherwise you'll only ever get even numbers. Whichever pair contains the 1 or 3 will necessarily be of order 4, so the other one must be of order 2. We can assume b is 1 or 3, so (a,b) is of order 4. Then for (c,d) to be of order 2, d must be 0 or 2.

Now just go through it. If b=1,d=0, the solutions are exactly those with n=y (mod 4), m= anything. You need to pick a and c so that among these n and m (for any y) you can obtain all the solutions x. For example, a=1,c=1 will work, but a=1,c=0 will not.

You can go from here either by brute force, or by applying more logical thinking to reduce the amount of mindless checking you need to do. In a problem like this with small numbers, brute force is usually easier, but for problems with bigger numbers, or (god forbid) letters instead of numbers, you'll have to do every step logically and abstractly, and it doesn't hurt to get used to it.

12. Jun 20, 2007

### happyg1

Hi,
I really appreciate your input on this problem.
I still don't know if my thought process is right or wrong.
Please tell me if my work is right or wrong.

I HAVE tried to think it through in a logical step by step manner. I've been stuck on this problem for 3 days. I'm frustated. I just don't understand this. I thought that I WAS using brute force. I thought that I FINALLY was understanding this automorphism thing...and I'm STILL wrong. I think that I've simply looked at this thing too long for it to make any sense to me.

I haven't ever had any algebraic strructures or group theory,ever.

I know it's easy to you guys. I am a more concrete thinker and I'm having a difficult time relating all of this to things that my mind likes to think about.

I give up on this for another day.
I'll get some more paper out and try this again later.

BTW,
are ANY of the pairs I came up with correct?
Thanks,

CC
....the capitol letters aren't meant to be *shouty*..I'm just SOOOO very frustrated with this problem...

13. Jun 20, 2007

### Hurkyl

Staff Emeritus
Really, I'm not sure what you're thought processes are. I'm sure it will help at least one of us if you took a deep breath and started from at the very top.

Incidentally, my idea of a brute force approach would be to:

Let G = Z2 x Z4.

(1) Write down all candidates for a homomorphism G -> G.
(2) Check to see which are homomorphisms.
(3) Check to see which are automorphisms.
(4) Compute the multiplication table on the automorphisms.
(5) Compute the multiplication table for D8.
(5) Find a permutation of the elements of Aut(G) that makes the multiplication tables the same.

I suppose this isn't the only brute force approach one might take, though.

(By "candidate", I'm thinking of the theorem that any homomorphism is uniquely determined by its value on a generating set. Since we've chosen a generating set with 2 elements, a candidate for a homomorphism is simply a choice of an image for each generator)

14. Jun 21, 2007

### happyg1

Hello,
I am working on this some more. I have had time to carefully go through everything again and I understand HOW to find the generators now.
I got
(10)(01)
(01)(12)
(03)(10)
(11)(10)
(11)(12)
(13)(10)
(13)(12)
Now I need to permute them to make the table the same, right?
I have the table for D8, and I'm not quite sure how to proceed here. I feel like getting the generators...and understanding WHY they work was a huge step for me....Do I just start out and say(01)--->(03) and just go from there?
Help me move forward here!
Thanks
CC

15. Jun 21, 2007

### happyg1

I think I got it.
I just assigned (01)=r and (01)=a from my cayley table for D8. then I made the table and it WORKS!
Yeah!
Thank you SO MUCH for your patience with me on this. I GOT IT!

CC

16. Jun 21, 2007

### Hurkyl

Staff Emeritus
Just to be sure the whole thing is clear... you invoked these facts:

(1) (1,0) and (0,1) is a generating set for Z2xZ4.
(2) Any homomorphism is uniquely determined by its value on any generating set.
(3) Automorphisms preserve the orders of elements.
(4) For finite groups, a homomorphism is surjective iff it's an automorphism.

Together, these tell you that the automorphisms of Z2xZ4 correspond uniquely to pairs of elements of Z2xZ4 that satisfy:
(a) The first element has order 2
(b) The second element has order 4
(c) Together, the two elements generate Z2xZ4

You then proceeded to find all pairs of elements of Z2xZ4 that satisfied conditions (a), (b), and (c).

I'm unclear about how you went on to show that Aut(G) is congruent to D8. First, if we let
x = The automorphism corresponding to <(1,0), (1,1)>
y = The automorphism corresponding to <(1,2), (0,1)>,​
then how did you determine that
xy = The automorphism corresponding to <(1,2), (1,1)>?​
Second, did you write down all 64 entries in the multiplication table and determine it was the same as the multiplication table for D8, or did you use another method?

In particular, both D8 is not the only group whose elements can be written as:
{1, a, a^2, a^3, r, ra, ra^2, ra^3}​
One can also list the elements of Z2xZ4 and of Z8 in such a fashion. Heck, you can even write Z6 in such a fashion! (Although there to be two repeats in the above expression)

Last edited: Jun 21, 2007
17. Jun 21, 2007

### happyg1

Hi,
I had proved (with my professors' help) that Aut(D8)=D8. I have the table of all of those automorphisms, so it wasn't too difficult to write out the automorphisms for Z2 x Z4, just replacing the ordered pairs with the letters that I used in that chart.
I let (01)(10) be r a, where r is degree 4 and a is degree 2, generators for D8 corresponding to the 2 generators for Aut(Z2 x Z4). I just proceeded in the same fashion for each pair and got the permutation table that matches AUT(D8) and since I know that AUT(D8)=D8, I'm there.

I did show my work to the professor, and he agreed that it was ("the sledge hammer method") but valid.

So I guess I'm OK. At least the problem taught me a LOT. I'm glad I got it finally.

Thanks again for all of your help.

CC