Groups: Isomorphism

Groups: Isomorphism

What is a Group Isomorphism

  • A group isomorphism is a bijective function f that preserves the group operation, meaning if G and H are groups and f : G -> H is a function, then:

    1. For all a, b in G, f(ab) = f(a)f(b).
    2. f is a bijection (one-one and onto).

  • If there exists an isomorphism between two groups, we say that the groups are isomorphic, denoted by G is isomorphic to H or G ≈ H.

  • Isomorphic groups are structurally the same but their elements may be different. They have the same group properties, but not necessarily the same elements.

Properties of Group Isomorphisms

  • Being a bijection, isomorphisms preserve order elements and group order. If the order of an element a in G is n, the order of f(a) in H will also be n.

  • Isomorphisms also preserve the identity element, i.e., if e is the identity in G then f(e) is the identity in H.

  • Isomorphisms preserve inverses. If a is an element of G and a' is its inverse, then the inverse of f(a) in H is f(a').

  • The composition of two isomorphisms is also an isomorphism. If f: G→H and g: H→K are two isomorphisms, then their composition g∘f: G→K is also an isomorphism.

Identifying Group Isomorphisms

  • Finding an isomorphism involves identifying a function that maps each element of one group to an element in the other group while preserving the group operation.

  • Tabular representation can be useful for identifying isomorphisms. The first step is to establish a one-to-one correspondence between the elements of the two groups. Then, construct tables for the groups and check if the structure is preserved.

  • Make sure your function confirms to all properties of an isomorphism. If it fails to hold any one property, it is not an isomorphism.

The Significance of Group Isomorphisms

  • Group isomorphisms help us understand the structure of groups, which is a key concept in algebra. By identifying isomorphisms, we can explore properties that are preserved across different groups.

  • They play an important role in abstract algebra and number theory by helping the simplification of complex structures, making them easier to study.

  • Isomorphic groups appear in a wide variety of mathematical disciplines, including geometry, topology, and analysis.