Herstein: Topics in Algebra - Homomorphisms

by Bret Sherfinski

June 16, 2015

5. Let U = {xyx−1 y −1 | x, y ∈ G}. In this case Û is written as G0 and is called the

commutator subgroup of G.

(a) Prove that G0 is normal in G.

(b) Prove that G/G0 is abelian.
(c) If G/N is abelian, prove that N ⊇ G0 .
(d) Prove that if H is a subgroup of G and H ⊇ G0 then H is normal in G.

Proof:

(a) Let u ∈ U then xyx−1 y −1 where x, y ∈ G. Hence, gug −1 = g(xyx−1 y −1 )g −1 =

(gxg −1 )(gyg −1 )(gx−1 g −1 )(gy −1 g −1 ) = x0 y 0 (x0 )−1 (y 0 )−1 ∈ U where x0 = gxg −1 ,y 0 =
gyg −1 and hence x0 , y 0 ∈ G. Thus, by Herstein 2.7.4(b), Û = Ĝ is normal in G.

(b) Let x, y ∈ G then G0 (xyx−1 y −1 ) = G0 so G0 xy = G0 yx and since G0 is normal in G

by part(a) we have (G0 x)(G0 y) = (G0 y)(G0 x).
Thus G/G0 is abelian.

(c) Suppose G/N is abelian then for x, y ∈ G, (N x)(N y) = (N y)(N x) so that N xy =

N yx and N xyx−1 y −1 = N . Hence, xyx−1 y −1 ∈ N and therefore U ⊆ N where N
is subgroup of G and it contains U , so we must conclude according to our work in
Herstein 2.7.4(a) that Û = G0 ⊆ N .

(d) Let h ∈ H, g ∈ G then ghg −1 h−1 ∈ G0 ⊆ H, so ghg −1 ∈ H. Hence, H is normal in

G.