Herstein: Topics in Algebra - Normal Subgroups and

Quotient Subgroups
by Bret Sherfinski

June 10, 2015

7. Is the converse of Herstein 2.6.6 true ? If yes, prove it, if no, give an example of a
non-abelian group all of whose subgroups is normal.

Proof: Consider the quaternion group Q8 = {±1, ±i, ±j, ±k | i2 = j 2 = k 2 = −1, ij =

−ji = k, jk = −kj = i, ki = −ik = −j}. This is usually defined as a subgroup of the
general linear group GL(2, C) generated by the matrices:
       
1 0 i 0 0 −1 0 i
1= , i= , j= , k=
0 1 0 −i 1 0 i 0

All subgroups are illustrated in the diagram below:

Q8

{1, −1, i, −i} {1, −1, j, −j} {1, −1, k, −k}

{1, −1}

(1)
The subgroups {1, −1, i, −i}, {1, −1, j, −j}, {1, −1, k, −k} have index 2 in Q8 so by Herstein 2.6.2
they are all normal in Q8 .

The subgroup {1, −1} is normal because the elements 1 and −1 commute with every group

1
 2

element in Q8 .

Hence, Q8 (the quaternions) is an example of a non-abelian group all whose subgroups

are normal. Thus, the converse of Herstein 2.6.6 is not true and this a counterexample.