Conjugacy 129

-{lo.-)eo).0.4}
a-(2). (a(13) e(12)}}
Example- 18.10
Find the conjugacy classes of D,
Solution: Let D, = {e, a, d , a', b, ab, atb, a'b} with d = e , b = e, and ba = a'b.

It follows from the relationship bad' = a'b, that an element of the form d commutes with o t

and only if a =a'.

This holds if and only if i = 2. But on the other hand, the same relation can be used to show
that commutes with every other element of D, Further, a similar computation shows that any
element ofthe form db fails to commute with a, so Z{D,) = {e, d}.
This, the conjugacy classes with exactly one element are fe} and {}. It is always true that
c Ca), since any power ofx must commute with x.
Thus te, a.d, d'}cC(a) and we must have equality,since ag ZD,).
C(a) +D
With these background, let us now find the conjugacy classes of DP
) Conjugacy class of e : CHe)
Cle)= {e}, since xexrl = e for all x e D

i) Conjugacy class of a: Cla)

Ifx = a, then xarl= a, but ifr = ab, then xarl = adba(ab)1

abablai

=ababab' =a"ba =b|

=da'b=a|:8=e
a [for i=2]
Cl(a)={a, a'}
ii) Conjugacy class of a :Cl(*)
Ifx =a, then xa'rl =
Ifx db, then xa'r =a'ba'a'b = d'a'ba'b

=a'a'ab2

-dda' :=e

:. ClHe)= {ad}