Is Any Subgroup of a Finite Group with Smallest Prime Order Divisor Normal?

  • MHB
  • Thread starter Euge
  • Start date
In summary, a subgroup is a subset of a group that satisfies the group axioms and a finite group is a group with a finite number of elements. The smallest prime order divisor of a finite group is the smallest prime number that can evenly divide the number of elements in the group. A subgroup is normal if it is invariant under conjugation by any element in the larger group. It is important to know if a subgroup of a finite group with smallest prime order divisor is normal because it can help us understand the structure and properties of the larger group, and normal subgroups have many important applications in group theory.
  • #1
Euge
Gold Member
MHB
POTW Director
2,073
244
Here is this week's POTW:

-----
If $p$ is the smallest prime divisor of the order of a finite group $G$, prove that any subgroup of $G$ of index $p$ is normal.

-----

Remember to read the https://mathhelpboards.com/showthread.php?772-Problem-of-the-Week-%28POTW%29-Procedure-and-Guidelines to find out how to https://mathhelpboards.com/forms.php?do=form&fid=2!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
This week's problem was solved correctly by Olinguito and castor28. You can read castor28's solution below.
Let $G$ be a finite group, and $H$ a subgroup of $G$ with $(G:H)=p$, where $p$ is the smallest prime divisor of $|G|$.

The action of $G$ by left multiplication on the cosets of $H$ defines a homomorphism $\varphi:G\to S_p$ where $S_p$ is the symmetric group on $p$ points. Let $K=\ker\varphi$.

If $g\in K$, then $gH=H$; this shows that $K\subset H$. The image of $\varphi$ has order:
$$
(G:K) = (G:H)(H:K) = p(H:K)
$$
This image is a subgroup of $S_p$, which has order $p!$. This shows that $p(H:K)$ divides $p!$, and $(H:K)$ divides $(p-1)!$.

Now, $(H:K) \mid (G:K) \mid |G|$. As the smallest prime divisor of $|G|$ is $p$ and all the prime divisors of $(p-1)!$ are smaller than $p$, we conclude that $(H:K)=1$ and $K=H$. As $K$ is normal in $G$ as the kernel of a homomorphism, this shows that $H\lhd G$.
 

FAQ: Is Any Subgroup of a Finite Group with Smallest Prime Order Divisor Normal?

What is a subgroup?

A subgroup is a subset of a group that also satisfies the group axioms of closure, associativity, identity, and inverse. In other words, it is a smaller group within a larger group.

What is a finite group?

A finite group is a group that has a finite number of elements. This means that the group's operation is defined for a finite set of elements.

What is the smallest prime order divisor of a finite group?

The smallest prime order divisor of a finite group is the smallest prime number that can evenly divide the number of elements in the group.

What does it mean for a subgroup to be normal?

A subgroup is normal if it is invariant under conjugation by any element in the larger group. In other words, if the subgroup is normal, it remains unchanged when its elements are multiplied on the left and right by elements from the larger group.

Why is it important to know if a subgroup of a finite group with smallest prime order divisor is normal?

It is important to know if a subgroup of a finite group with smallest prime order divisor is normal because it can help us understand the structure and properties of the larger group. Additionally, normal subgroups have many important applications in group theory, such as the construction of quotient groups and the classification of finite simple groups.

Back
Top