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Abstract Algebra

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10 views

Abstract Algebra

Uploaded by

Andrew St. John Aiken
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Abstract Algebra MATH 4261 Fall 2024

Midterm
Due: Tuesday, October 8
To get the full credit, write complete, detailed solutions. You may use any of the results from the class without a proof, but you have to
cite them explicitly.

Problem 1. (10 points) Let S = R \ {−1} and define a binary operation · on S by a · b = a + b + ab. Prove that S is
a (commutative) group with respect to ·. (You need to verify the three axioms from the definition of a group.)

Solution. ■

Problem 2. (10 points) Describe all symmetries of a (non-square) rhombus and prove that the set of symme-
tries, say R, forms a group (under composition). Write the elements of R as permutations of the vertices of the
rhombus. Give the Cayley table for the group R.

Solution. ■
Problem 3. (11 points) Let Z22 denote the set {(a1 , a2 ) | a1 , a2 ∈ Z2 }. Define a binary operation + on Z22 by

(a1 , a2 ) + (b1 , b2 ) = (a1 + b1 , a2 + b2 ),

where the addition is modulo 2. For example, (1, 0) + (1, 1) = (0, 1).
a) Give the definition of isomorphism of groups. Prove that Z22 is isomorphic to the group R from Problem 2,
i.e., find a bijection from Z22 to R that respects group operations.
b) Prove that Z22 is not isomorphic to Z4 (which is {0, 1, 2, 3} under addition modulo 4), although both groups
are commutative and have order 4. Hint: determine the orders of elements in both groups.

Solution. ■
Problem 4. (9 points) Let G = {a, b, c, d} be a set. Which of the following tables can be the Cayley table of a
group defined on G? In those cases, also determine the identity element of G.

· a b c d
a a c d a
b b b c d
c c d a b
d d a b c

· a b c d
a a b c d
b b c d a
c c d a b
d d a b c

· a b c d
a a b c d
b b a d c
c c d a b
d d c b a

Solution. ■
Problem 5. (20 points)
a) Find all matrices that represent the symmetries of an equilateral triangle centered at the origin of R2 .
b) Give the definition of the order of an element. Determine the orders of elements of the symmetric group S3 .
Abstract Algebra MATH 4261 Fall 2024

" #
−1 0
Solution. I = , etc.
0 1
!
1 2 3
The order of equals 1, etc. ■
1 2 3

Problem 6. (15 points) Let G be a group and suppose that (ab)2 = a2 b2 holds for all elements a, b ∈ G. Prove
that G is an abelian group.

Solution. ■

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