Let G be a group and let H and K be subgroups of G with H is a normal subgroup of G. Define the subset of G
HK = {hk : h in H and k in K}
(a) Show that HK is a subgroup of G
(b) If K is also normal in G, show that HK is a normal subgroup of G
HK = {hk : h in H and k in K}
(a) Show that HK is a subgroup of G
(b) If K is also normal in G, show that HK is a normal subgroup of G
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(a) first we need to show that HK is closed under multiplication. that is:
for h,h' in H, and k,k' in K, we need to show that:
(hk)(h'k') is in HK.
now since H is normal, for any k in K, kH = Hk.
in particular, kh' = h"k, for some h" in H, so:
(hk)(h'k') = h(kh')k' = h(h"k)k' = (hh")(kk'), which is in HK.
secondly, we must show that if hk is in HK, then so is:
(hk)^-1 = k^-1h^-1.
now k^-1H = Hk^-1 (since H is normal), so k^-1h^-1 = h'k^-1,
for some h' in H, and h'k^-1 is in HK.
(b) suppose H,K are normal.
then g(hk)g^-1 = (ghg^-1)(gkg^-1)
= h'k', for some h' in H (since ghg^-1 = h', since H is normal)
and k' in K (since gkg^-1 = k', since K is normal),
which shows that gHKg^-1 is contained in HK, so HK is normal.
for h,h' in H, and k,k' in K, we need to show that:
(hk)(h'k') is in HK.
now since H is normal, for any k in K, kH = Hk.
in particular, kh' = h"k, for some h" in H, so:
(hk)(h'k') = h(kh')k' = h(h"k)k' = (hh")(kk'), which is in HK.
secondly, we must show that if hk is in HK, then so is:
(hk)^-1 = k^-1h^-1.
now k^-1H = Hk^-1 (since H is normal), so k^-1h^-1 = h'k^-1,
for some h' in H, and h'k^-1 is in HK.
(b) suppose H,K are normal.
then g(hk)g^-1 = (ghg^-1)(gkg^-1)
= h'k', for some h' in H (since ghg^-1 = h', since H is normal)
and k' in K (since gkg^-1 = k', since K is normal),
which shows that gHKg^-1 is contained in HK, so HK is normal.