Proving the Simplicity of a Group of Order 36 Using Sylow Subgroups

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the simplicity of a group of order 36, specifically using Sylow subgroups to explore the conditions under which such a group may or may not be simple. Participants are examining various cases and implications of subgroup intersections, as well as referencing mathematical theories related to group theory.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant assumes there are multiple Sylow-3 subgroups, each of order 9, and discusses the implications of their intersections being trivial or non-trivial.
  • Another participant references their own mathematical notes that discuss the simplicity of groups of non-prime order and suggests checking these for relevant proofs.
  • Some participants propose that if the intersection of Sylow-3 subgroups is non-trivial, it leads to a normal subgroup, indicating that the group is not simple.
  • There is a discussion about the possible orders of the normalizer of the intersection of Sylow subgroups and its implications for the structure of the group.
  • One participant questions the conditions under which two Sylow-3 subgroups can exist and the implications of their intersections.
  • Another participant mentions the normal hull of a subgroup and its properties, asserting that it is always a normal subgroup of G.
  • There are inquiries about the existence of a formula for the order of the normalizer of a subgroup.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the implications of subgroup intersections and the conditions under which a group of order 36 may be simple or not. There is no consensus on the conclusions drawn from the various cases discussed.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific mathematical theories and theorems related to Sylow subgroups and normalizers, but there are unresolved assumptions and conditions that affect the conclusions drawn in the discussion.

Bachelier
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Well it isn't.
I'm trying to prove it.

So I assume there is more than one sylow-3 subgroup, each has order 9, we have 4 of them, now their intersection is either e or has order 3.

if it is e, then we have 32 elements in these subgroups besides e (33rd)

then assume we have more than one sylow-2 subgroup, we should have 3, but then their intersection has order 1, or 2.

So now it works for all cases except when the intersection of the sylow 3 subgroups is 3 and that of the sylow 2-subgrps is 1, then I get the magic number 36.

What should I be looking for in this proof. I was advised there is a way to prove it using this way without the appeal to homomorphisms to Sn.
 
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if you check out my math notes for 843-4-5 on my website you will find proofs that all groups of non prime order n different from 60 are not simple for n < 168.843-1. #9.

http://www.math.uga.edu/%7Eroy/843-1.pdf
 
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mathwonk said:
if you check out my math notes for 843-4-5 on my website you will find proofs that all groups of non prime order n different from 60 are not simple for n < 168.


843-1. #9.

http://www.math.uga.edu/%7Eroy/843-1.pdf

Thanks, I am going to check it now.
btw I corrected my answer to the intersection of sylow p-subgroups. I didn't know that there's a theory on these. The Sylow intersection.

so the ord(sylow intersection) divides the original group but must NOT be equal or larger to the order of any sylow-p-group (which is the same for all since they are all isomorphic).
 
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when it comes to group theory, Hungerford's introductory textbook is truly weak. Not to confuse with his Graduate textbook Algebra though.
 
suppose we have the "bad case" where we have the intersection of the sylow 3-subgroups is non-trivial. let's call one of these sylow 3-subgroups P.

this means that \bigcap_{x \in G}xPx^{-1} is a subgroup of order 3. show this is a normal subgroup of G, and then G is not simple.

there is also another way:

suppose we have 2 sylow-3-subgroups H,K with non-trivial intersection. what are possible orders for N(H∩K)?

(first rule out 3 and 9. from the first sylow theorem we know there is a subgroup of G of order 9, that H∩K is normal in. this rules out 3. now rule out 9, since...?)
 
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Deveno said:
suppose we have the "bad case" where we have the intersection of the sylow 3-subgroups is non-trivial. let's call one of these sylow 3-subgroups P.

this means that \bigcap_{x \in G}xPx^{-1} is a subgroup of order 3. show this is a normal subgroup of G, and then G is not simple.

there is also another way:

suppose we have 2 sylow-3-subgroups H,K with non-trivial intersection. what are possible orders for N(H∩K)?

(first rule out 3 and 9. from the first sylow theorem we know there is a subgroup of G of order 9, that H∩K is normal in. this rules out 3. now rule out 9, since...?)

I'm inclined to think that our subgroup \bigcap_{x \in G} \ xPx^{-1} is nothing but the original intersection subgroup. The reason: xPx-1 is nothing but another sylow-3-subgrp. Thus the order is 3. Also since for all x in G, if we take x \bigcap x^{-1} then we end up in the same grp hence it's normal.
 
Deveno said:
suppose we have 2 sylow-3-subgroups H,K with non-trivial intersection. what are possible orders for N(H∩K)?

(first rule out 3 and 9. from the first sylow theorem we know there is a subgroup of G of order 9, that H∩K is normal in. this rules out 3. now rule out 9, since...?)

How can we have 2 Sylow 3-subgroups and 2 \not \equiv 1 \mod{3}
 
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Bachelier said:
How can we have 2 Sylow 3-subgroups and 2 \not \equiv 1 \mod{3}

no, i don't mean we have ONLY 2. i mean suppose we have 4. pick any two of them, call them H and K. they have a non-trivial intersection. what is the order of the normalizer of this intersection?

(hint: any subgroup of G of order 9 is abelian. thus H∩K is normal in both H and K, which means that |N(H∩K)| > 9. since both H and K are in N(H∩K), this means that 9 divides N(H∩K). so we have 9 divides |N(H∩K)| and |N(H∩K)| divides 36. what possibilities does this give?)

Bachelier said:
I'm inclined to think that our subgroup \bigcap_{x \in G} \ xPx^{-1} is nothing but the original intersection subgroup. The reason: xPx-1 is nothing but another sylow-3-subgrp. Thus the order is 3. Also since for all x in G, if we take x \bigcap x^{-1} then we end up in the same grp hence it's normal.

the group \bigcap_{x \in G} \ xPx^{-1} is called the normal hull of P. it is always a normal subgroup of G. see this thread: https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=555966
 
First let me ask this please, regarding the normalizer, is there a formula for its order?
 
  • #10
Bachelier said:
First let me ask this please, regarding the normalizer, is there a formula for its order?

in general, no. but for any subgroup H of G, we have H ≤ NG(H) ≤ G. so normalizers can be used when we need to find "bigger" subgroups of G containing H.
 

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