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Section Group Homomorphisms

Worksheet Part 1: Homomorphisms and the First Isomorphism Theorem

The goal of these problems is to explore group homomorphisms and their properties and practice using the First Isomorphism Theorem.

1.

Let \(\R^*\) be the group of nonzero real numbers under multiplication and \(r\) be a positive integer. Show that the map that takes \(x\) to \(x^r\) is a homomorphism from \(\R^*\) to \(\R^*\) and determine the kernel.

2.

In this problem you will determine all possible homomorphisms \(\phi\) from \(\Z_{12}\) to \(\Z_{30}\text{.}\)
(a)
Use the properties of homomorphisms to explain why such a \(\phi\) is totally determined by \(\phi(1)\text{.}\)
(c)
Explicitly list all of the homomorphisms from \(\Z_{12}\) to \(\Z_{30}\text{.}\)

3.

Show that the map \(\pi_G: G\times H \to G\) given by \(\pi_G(g,h)=g\) is a homomorphism (called the projection of \(G\times H\) onto \(G\) ). What is the kernel of this map?

5.

Show that the map \(\phi: \Z\times \Z \to \Z\) given by \(\phi(a,b)=a-b\) is a homomorphism. What is the kernel of this map?

6.

Prove that \((\Z \times \Z)/\subgroup{(1,1)}\isom \Z\text{.}\)

7.

Let \(G\) be an Abelian group, \(G_n=\{g \mid g^n=e\}\text{,}\) and \(G^n=\{g^n \mid g \in G\}\text{.}\) (\(G_n\) is the subgroup of all elements with order dividing \(n\) and \(G^n\) is the subgroup of all \(n\)-th powers.)
Show that \(G/G_n \isom G^n\text{.}\) Why is it important that \(G\) is Abelian in this problem?