- #1
Essnov
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I'm taking a first course in algebra, and in my textbook, there is the following problem:
a) Show that, for every natural # n, there is a subgroup A of Q+ such that |Q+/H| = n.
b) Suppose that B is a proper subgroup of Q. Show that |Q / B| = ∞.
c) Conclude that Q+ ≠ Q.
I did parts a and b just fine, but I'm not sure if I see how to (properly) conclude from them that Q+ ≠ Q.
I'm thinking that if there is to be a bijection from Q+ → Q, then there should be a bijection from Q+ / A → Q / B, but that's not possible since Q+ / A and Q / B should at least have the same order.
So basically if P : Q+ → Q is a bijection, the following are also bijections:
For g in Q+, h in Q,
R taking g to gA
S taking h to hB
So the composition S o P o R-1 should be a bijection from Q+ / A → Q / B, which is (I think) a contradiction, so there should be no such P.
Am I doing this properly or am I missing something more obvious?
a) Show that, for every natural # n, there is a subgroup A of Q+ such that |Q+/H| = n.
b) Suppose that B is a proper subgroup of Q. Show that |Q / B| = ∞.
c) Conclude that Q+ ≠ Q.
I did parts a and b just fine, but I'm not sure if I see how to (properly) conclude from them that Q+ ≠ Q.
I'm thinking that if there is to be a bijection from Q+ → Q, then there should be a bijection from Q+ / A → Q / B, but that's not possible since Q+ / A and Q / B should at least have the same order.
So basically if P : Q+ → Q is a bijection, the following are also bijections:
For g in Q+, h in Q,
R taking g to gA
S taking h to hB
So the composition S o P o R-1 should be a bijection from Q+ / A → Q / B, which is (I think) a contradiction, so there should be no such P.
Am I doing this properly or am I missing something more obvious?