Paper 3, Section II, D

Groups
Part IA, 2015

Let G,HG, H be groups and let φ:GH\varphi: G \rightarrow H be a function. What does it mean to say that φ\varphi is a homomorphism with kernel KK ? Show that if K={e,ξ}K=\{e, \xi\} has order 2 then x1ξx=ξx^{-1} \xi x=\xi for each xGx \in G. [If you use any general results about kernels of homomorphisms, then you should prove them.]

Which of the following four statements are true, and which are false? Justify your answers.

(a) There is a homomorphism from the orthogonal group O(3)\mathrm{O}(3) to a group of order 2 with kernel the special orthogonal group SO(3)\mathrm{SO}(3).

(b) There is a homomorphism from the symmetry group S3S_{3} of an equilateral triangle to a group of order 2 with kernel of order 3 .

(c) There is a homomorphism from O(3)\mathrm{O}(3) to SO(3)\mathrm{SO}(3) with kernel of order 2 .

(d) There is a homomorphism from S3S_{3} to a group of order 3 with kernel of order 2 .