SJEM 2213/SJES2216 ALGEBRA I

Chapter 4 Homomorphism
4.1. Definition. Let G, K be two groups. A function : G K is called a homomorphism from
G to K if and only if (ab) (a) (b), a, b G.
4.2. Theorem. Let G, K be two groups and : G K a homomorphism. Then
(i) (1G ) 1K ;
(ii) (a 1 ) (a) 1 , a G ;
(iii) (a n ) (a) n , a G, n ;
(iv) (a) a , a G, if a .
Proof.
(i) Note that 1G1G 1G .
Then (1G1G ) (1G ).

(1G ) (1G ) (1G ).

(1G ) 1K .
(ii) Let a G.
Note that a a 1 1G .

( homomorphism.)

Then (a a 1 ) (1G ).

(a) (a 1 ) 1K .
(a) 1 (a 1 ).
(iii) We prove by mathematical induction on n.
Let a G.
If n 0, then (a n ) (a 0 )
(1G )
1K
(a) 0
(a) n .
Suppose (a n ) (a) n for some n 0.
Then (a n1 ) (a n a)
(a n ) (a)
(a) n (a)
(a) n 1
So (a n ) (a) n , n 0.

( homomorphism and (i) above)

(from (i))

---------(1)

(from (1))
----------(2)

Let n 0.
Then (a n ) ((a 1 ) n )

(a 1 ) n
( (a) 1 ) n
(a) n .
So, (a n ) (a) n , n .

(from (2))
(from (ii))

(iv) Let a G and suppose a m.

Then a m 1G .

(a m ) (1G ).
(a) m 1K .
(a) m.
( a) a .

4.3. Definition. Let G, K be two groups and : G K a homomorphism. Then

(i) is called injective (a) (b), then a b, a, b G;
(ii) is called surjective k K , then at least an element g G such that ( g ) k ;
(iii) is called a isomorphism is injective and surjective.
In this case, we say G is isomorphism with K. We write G K .
Note.
(i) G K K G ;
(ii) G K does not mean G K as a set but means (G, ) is the same as ( K , ) as a group.
4.4. Corollary. Let G , K . Then G K if and only if G K and the multiplication
table for G and K are the same.
Proof. Theorem 4.3 & Theorem 4.2(i), (ii), (iii).
4.5. Definition. Let G,K be two groups and : G K a homomorphism. Then
(i) if X G, then ( X ) { (a) | a X } is called the image of X;
(ii) if Y K , then 1 (Y ) { a | (a) Y } is called the pre-image of Y.

Note.
(i) (G) K ; if is surjective (G) K ;
(ii) 1 ( K ) G ;
(iii) X G ( X ) (G);
(iv) Y K 1 (Y ) 1 ( K );
(v) a X (a) ( X );
(vi) b 1 (Y ) (b) Y ;
(vii) h ( X ) h (c) for a, c X ;
(viii) (a) ( X ) (a) (c) for a, c X ;

(refer to (v) & (vii))

4.6. Theorem. Let G, K be two groups and : G K a homomorphism. Then

(i) if X G, then ( X ) K ;
(ii) if X G, then ( X ) (G),
i.e., if is surjective, then ( X ) K ;
(iii) if Y K , then 1 (Y ) G ;
(iv) if Y K , then 1 (Y ) G .
Proof.
(i) Note that 1G X .
So 1K (1G ) ( X ).
Therefore (X ) is not an empty set.
Let h, k ( X ).
Then a, b X such that h (a), k (b).
So h k 1 (a) (b) 1
(a) (b 1 )

(ab 1 )
(X ).
Hence ( X ) K .
(iii) Note that 1K Y .
From Theorem 4.3, (1G ) 1K Y .

( ab 1 X G )

So 1G 1 (Y ).
Therefore 1 (Y ) is not an empty set.
Let a, b 1 (Y ).
Then (a), (b) Y .
So (a) (b) 1 Y .
(a) (b 1 ) Y .
(ab 1 ) Y .

ab 1 1 (Y ).
So 1 (Y ) G.
(ii) & (iv) Exercise.

(Y K )

Kernel of
4.7. Definition. Let G, K be two groups and : G K a homomorphism.
Then the kernel { a | (a) 1K }.
Note.
(i) kernel 1 (1K );
(ii) 1G ker nel ;
(iii) kernel G.
4.8. Theorem. Let G,K be two groups and : G K a homomorphism.
Then kernel G.
Proof.
Note that (1G ) 1K .
(Theorem 4.2(i))
Then 1G kernel .
Therefore kernel is not an empty set.
Let a, b kernel and g G.
Then (a) (b) 1K and ( g ) K .
To show that ab 1 and g 1ag kernel , i.e., (ab 1 ) ( g 1 ag ) 1K .
Note that (ab 1 ) (a) (b 1 )

(a) (b) 1
1K 1K1
1K .
1
Then ab kernel .
Now ( g 1 ag ) ( g 1 ) (a) ( g )
( g ) 1 (a) ( g )
( g ) 11K ( g )
( g ) 1 ( g )
1K .
So g 1ag kernel .
Hence kernel G.

4.9. Theorem. Let G, K be two groups and : G K a homomorphism.

Then is injective if and only if kernel {1G }.
Proof.
Suppose kernel {1G }.
Let (a) (b), a, b G.
(a) (b) 1 1K .
(a) (b 1 ) 1K .
(ab 1 ) 1K .
ab 1 ker {1G }.
ab 1 1G .
a b.
So is injective.
Suppose is injective.
Note that {1G } ker .

To show that ker {1G }.

Let a ker .
Then (a) 1K .
From Theorem 4.3, (1G ) 1K .
So (a) (1G ).
a 1G .
ker {1G }.
Therefore the kernel {1G }.

( injective)

FIRST ISOMORPHISM THEOREM

4.10. Theorem. (First Isomorphism Theorem)
Let G, K be two groups and : G K a surjective homomorphism.
Let H ker . Then H G and G / H K .
Proof.
Note that H G since H ker .
Define : G / H K by ( Ha) (a), a G.
(i) To show that is well defined.
Let Ha Hb.
Then ab 1 H ker .

(ab 1 ) 1K .
(a) (b).
( Ha) ( Hb).
So is well defined.
(ii) To show that is a homomorphism.
( HaHb) ( Hab) (ab) (a) (b) ( Ha) ( Hb).
So is a homomorphism.
(iii) To show that is surjective.
Let k K .
Then g G such that ( g ) k.
( surjective)
So Hg G / H and from the definition, ( Hg) ( g ) k.
Therefore, is surjective.
(iv) To show that is injective.
Let ( Ha) ( Hb).
Then (a) (b).
(ab 1 ) 1K .
ab 1 ker H .
Ha Hb.
Therefore, is injective.
Hence, is an isomorphism from G / H to K, i.e., G / H K .

4.11. Theorem. Let G be a group and H G . Define : G G / H by (a) Ha, a G. Then

is a surjective homomorphism from G to G/H with kernel H .
Proof.
(i) To show that is a homomorphism.
(ab) Hab HaHb (a) (b).
Then is a homomorphism.
(ii) To show that is surjective.
Let Hg G / H .
Then g G and from the definition, ( g ) Hg.
So is surjective.
(iii) kernel { a G | (a) H }
{ a G | Ha H }
H.
4.12. Corollary. Let G be a group. Then the number of surjective homomorphism from G onto a
group is the same as the number of normal subgroups in G.
Proof.
Theorem 4.10 & Theorem 4.11.

SJES2216 ALGEBRA I
Chapter 4 Homomorphism
4.1. Definition. Let (G,), ( K ,) be two groups. A function : G K is called a homomorphism
from G to K if and only if (a b) (a) (b), a, b G.
4.2. Theorem. Let G, K be two groups and : G K a homomorphism.
Then
(i) (0G ) 0 K ;
(ii) (a) (a), a G ;
(iii) (na) n (a), a G, n ;
(iv) (a) a , a G, if a .
Kernel of
4.7. Definition. Let G, K be two groups and : G K a homomorphism.
Then the kernel { a | (a) 0 K }.
Note.
(i) kernel 1 (0 K );
(ii) 0G ker nel ;
(iii) kernel G.
4.9. Theorem. Let G, K be two groups and : G K a homomorphism.
Then is injective if and only if kernel { 0G }.