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Section 3.1 Cosets

Let G be a group and H a subgroup of G. Define a left coset of H with representative g∈G to be the set

gH={gh:h∈H}.

Right cosets can be defined similarly by

Hg={hg:h∈H}.

If left and right cosets coincide or if it is clear from the context to which type of coset that we are referring, we will use the word coset without specifying left or right.

Example 3.1.

Let H be the subgroup of Z6 consisting of the elements 0 and 3. The cosets are

0+H=3+H={0,3}1+H=4+H={1,4}2+H=5+H={2,5}.

We will always write the cosets of subgroups of Z and Zn with the additive notation we have used for cosets here. In a commutative group, left and right cosets are always identical.

Example 3.2.

Let H be the subgroup of S3 defined by the permutations {(1),(123),(132)}. The left cosets of H are

(1)H=(123)H=(132)H={(1),(123),(132)}(12)H=(13)H=(23)H={(12),(13),(23)}.

The right cosets of H are exactly the same as the left cosets:

H(1)=H(123)=H(132)={(1),(123),(132)}H(12)=H(13)=H(23)={(12),(13),(23)}.

It is not always the case that a left coset is the same as a right coset. Let K be the subgroup of S3 defined by the permutations {(1),(12)}. Then the left cosets of K are

(1)K=(12)K={(1),(12)}(13)K=(123)K={(13),(123)}(23)K=(132)K={(23),(132)};

however, the right cosets of K are

K(1)=K(12)={(1),(12)}K(13)=K(132)={(13),(132)}K(23)=K(123)={(23),(123)}.

The following lemma is quite useful when dealing with cosets. (We leave its proof as an exercise.)

In all of our examples the cosets of a subgroup H partition the larger group G. The following theorem proclaims that this will always be the case.

Proof.

Let g1H and g2H be two cosets of H in G. We must show that either g1H∩g2H=∅ or g1H=g2H. Suppose that g1H∩g2H≠∅ and a∈g1H∩g2H. Then by the definition of a left coset, a=g1h1=g2h2 for some elements h1 and h2 in H. Hence, g1=g2h2h1−1 or g1∈g2H. By Lemma 3.3, g1H=g2H.

Remark 3.5.

There is nothing special in this theorem about left cosets. Right cosets also partition G; the proof of this fact is exactly the same as the proof for left cosets except that all group multiplications are done on the opposite side of H.

Let G be a group and H be a subgroup of G. Define the index of H in G to be the number of left cosets of H in G. We will denote the index by [G:H].

Example 3.6.

Let G=Z6 and H={0,3}. Then [G:H]=3.

Example 3.7.

Suppose that G=S3, H={(1),(123),(132)}, and K={(1),(12)}. Then [G:H]=2 and [G:K]=3.

Proof.

Let LH and RH denote the set of left and right cosets of H in G, respectively. If we can define a bijective map Ï•:LH→RH, then the theorem will be proved. If gH∈LH, let Ï•(gH)=Hg−1. By Lemma 3.3, the map Ï• is well-defined; that is, if g1H=g2H, then Hg1−1=Hg2−1. To show that Ï• is one-to-one, suppose that

Hg1−1=ϕ(g1H)=ϕ(g2H)=Hg2−1.

Again by Lemma 3.3, g1H=g2H. The map Ï• is onto since Ï•(g−1H)=Hg.

Reading Questions Reading Questions

1.

Why do we sometimes need to specify left or right cosets instead of just calling them cosets? When do we not need to worry about this?

2.

Let G=Z6 and H={0,2,4}. List all cosets of H in G. How many are there?

3.

Let G=S4 and H={(1),(12)(34),(13)(24),(14)(23)}. What is the index of H in G? Briefly explain.

4.

After reading the section, what questions do you still have? Write at least one well formulated question (even if you think you understand everything).

Exercises Practice Problems

5.

List the left and right cosets of the subgroups in each of the following.

  1. ⟨8⟩ in Z24

  2. ⟨3⟩ in U(8)

  3. 3Z in Z

  4. A4 in S4

  5. An in Sn

  6. D4 in S4

  7. T in C∗

  8. H={(1),(123),(132)} in S4

Hint.

(a) \(\langle 8 \rangle\text{,}\) \(1 + \langle 8 \rangle\text{,}\) \(2 + \langle 8 \rangle\text{,}\) \(3 + \langle 8 \rangle\text{,}\) \(4 + \langle 8 \rangle\text{,}\) \(5 + \langle 8 \rangle\text{,}\) \(6 + \langle 8 \rangle\text{,}\) and \(7 + \langle 8 \rangle\text{;}\)

(c) \(3 {\mathbb Z}\text{,}\) \(1 + 3 {\mathbb Z}\text{,}\) and \(2 + 3 {\mathbb Z}\text{.}\)

12.

If ghg−1∈H for all g∈G and h∈H, show that right cosets are identical to left cosets. That is, show that gH=Hg for all g∈G.

Hint.

Let \(g_1 \in gH\text{.}\) Show that \(g_1 \in Hg\) and thus \(gH \subset Hg\text{.}\)

17.

Suppose that [G:H]=2. If a and b are not in H, show that ab∈H.

Exercises Collected Homework

1.

Let G be a group and H a subgroup of G. Let a and b be elements of G. Prove that aH=bH if and only if b−1a∈H.

Hint.

Remember you need to prove two directions: first assume \(aH = bH\) and prove that \(b\inv a \in H\text{.}\) Second, assume \(b\inv a \in H\text{,}\) and prove \(aH = bH\text{.}\) To prove this second direction, it would be enough to show that \(a \in bH\) using the fact we proved in class.