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Date May 2014 Marks available 2 Reference code 14M.3srg.hl.TZ0.4
Level HL only Paper Paper 3 Sets, relations and groups Time zone TZ0
Command term Prove that Question number 4 Adapted from N/A

Question

Let \(f:G \to H\) be a homomorphism of finite groups.

Prove that \(f({e_G}) = {e_H}\), where \({e_G}\) is the identity element in \(G\) and \({e_H}\) is the identity

element in \(H\).

[2]
a.

(i)     Prove that the kernel of \(f,{\text{ }}K = {\text{Ker}}(f)\), is closed under the group operation.

(ii)     Deduce that \(K\) is a subgroup of \(G\).

[6]
b.

(i)     Prove that \(gk{g^{ - 1}} \in K\) for all \(g \in G,{\text{ }}k \in K\).

(ii)     Deduce that each left coset of K in G is also a right coset.

[6]
c.

Markscheme

\(f(g) = f({e_G}g) = f({e_G})f(g)\) for \(g \in G\)     M1A1

\( \Rightarrow f({e_G}) = {e_H}\)     AG

[2 marks]

a.

(i)     closure: let \({k_1}\) and \({k_2} \in K\), then \(f({k_1}{k_2}) = f({k_1})f({k_2})\)     M1A1

          \( = {e_H}{e_H} = {e_H}\)     A1

          hence \({k_1}{k_2} \in K\)     R1

(ii)     K is non-empty because \({e_G}\) belongs to K     R1

          a closed non-empty subset of a finite group is a subgroup     R1AG

[6 marks]

b.

(i)     \(f(gk{g^{ - 1}}) = f(g)f(k)f({g^{ - 1}})\)     M1

\( = f(g){e_H}f({g^{ - 1}}) = f(g{g^{ - 1}})\)     A1

\( = f({e_G}) = {e_H}\)     A1

\( \Rightarrow gk{g^{ - 1}} \in K\)     AG

(ii)     clear definition of both left and right cosets, seen somewhere.     A1

use of part (i) to show \(gK \subseteq Kg\)     M1

similarly \(Kg \subseteq gK\)     A1

hence \(gK = Kg\)     AG

[6 marks]

c.

Examiners report

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Syllabus sections

Topic 8 - Option: Sets, relations and groups » 8.12 » Definition of a group homomorphism.

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