SESSION OBJECTIVES

At the end of the session, pre-service mathematics

teachers are expected to:
a. describe isomorphism;
b. show whether a given binary operation observes
isomorphism, and;
c. give the definition for the binary operation to
make it isomorphic.
ISOMORPHISM
Suppose two students, one American and another Filipino, are asked to
count a handful of objects. The American student says “one, two, three,
four, five…” while the Filipino student says “isa, dalawa, tatlo, apat,
lima…”.
Are two students doing different things?
They are both counting the objects, but they are using different
terminology to do it. Similarly, when one person says “three plus six is nine”
and another says “tatlo dagdagan ng anim ay siyam” the two are in
agreement on the concept they are describing, but they are using
different terminology to describe the concept.
ISOMORPHISM
Consider the algebraic structure Suppose that the elements are
defined by the Cayley’s table replaced as follows: a↔y, b↔x, , c↔z.
below.

Rearranging the entries in the order x, y, z (as heads of rows and

columns), we have:
ISOMORPHISM
The three tables are all structurally alike, but are described in different
ways.
To verify, consider the first and the third table, and the mapping a↔y,
b↔x, , c↔z.
a*a=b x*x=y ↔ b*b=a
a*b=c x*y=z ↔ b*a=c
a*c=a x*z=x ↔ b*c=b
b*a=c y*x=z ↔ a*b=c
b*b=a y*y=x ↔ a*a=b
b*c=b y*z=y ↔ a*c=a
c*a=a z*x=x ↔ c*b=b
c*b=b z*y=y ↔ c*a=a
c*c=c z*z=z ↔ c*c=c
Clearly, the two operations are preserved.
ISOMORPHISM
When two structures defined in different terms are really the same, then
we say there is an isomorphism between these two structures.
The term isomorphism is derived from the Greek words isos which means
“same” or “equal” and morphe which means “form”.

Below gives the mathematical definition of isomorphism.

Definition:
Let S, ∗ and S′, ∗′ be binary algebraic structures. An isomorphism of S
with S’ is a one-to-one function Ø mapping S onto S ’ such that
Ø (x * y) = Ø (x) * ’ Ø (y) for all x, y  S.
In notation, S  S’. That is, S and S’ are isomorphic binary structures.
ISOMORPHISM
HOW TO SHOW THAT BINARY STRUCTURES ARE ISOMORPHIC
Step 1. Define the function Ø that gives the isomorphism of S with S’. That
is, we need to describe what Ø(s) is to be for every s  S .
Step 2. Show that Ø is one-to-one function. That is, suppose that
Ø (x) = Ø (y) in S’, then define from this that x = y in S.
Step 3. Show that Ø is onto S’. That is, suppose that s’  S’ is given and
show that there exists s  S such that Ø (s) = s’.
Step 4. Show that Ø is operation-preserving, that is, show Ø (x * y) = Ø (x) *’
Ø (y) for all x, y  S.
ISOMORPHISM
Illustrative Example no. 1
Show that R, + is isomorphic to R+ , • where Ø (x) = 2x for x  R.
Step 1. Define the
function Ø that gives the
isomorphism of S with S’.
That is, we need to
describe what Ø(s) is to
be for every s  S .
ISOMORPHISM
Illustrative Example no. 1
Show that R, + is isomorphic to R+ , • where Ø (x) = 2x for x  R.
Step 2. Show that Ø is one-
to-one function. That is,
suppose that Ø (x) = Ø (y)
in S’, then define from this
that x = y in S.
ISOMORPHISM
Illustrative Example no. 1
Show that R, + is isomorphic to R+ , • where Ø (x) = 2x for x  R.
Step 3. Show that Ø is onto
S’. That is, suppose that s’
 S’ is given and show that
there exists s  S such that
Ø (s) = s’.
ISOMORPHISM
Illustrative Example no. 1
Show that R, + is isomorphic to R+ , • where Ø (x) = 2x for x  R.
Step 4. Show that Ø is
operation-preserving, that
is, show Ø (x * y) = Ø (x) *’
Ø (y) for all x, y  S.
ISOMORPHISM
Illustrative Example no. 2
Show that R, + is isomorphic to R, + where Ø (n) = n3 .
Step 1. Define the
function Ø that gives the
isomorphism of S with S’.
That is, we need to
describe what Ø(s) is to
be for every s  S .
ISOMORPHISM
Illustrative Example no. 2
Show that R, + is isomorphic to R, + where Ø (n) = n3 .
Step 2. Show that Ø is one-
to-one function. That is,
suppose that Ø (x) = Ø (y)
in S’, then define from this
that x = y in S.
ISOMORPHISM
Illustrative Example no. 2
Show that R, + is isomorphic to R, + where Ø (n) = n3 .

Step 3. Show that Ø is

onto S’. That is,
suppose that s’  S’ is
given and show that
there exists s  S such
that Ø (s) = s’.
ISOMORPHISM
Illustrative Example no. 2
Show that R, + is isomorphic to R, + where Ø (n) = n3 .
Step 4. Show that Ø is
operation-preserving, that
is, show Ø (x * y) = Ø (x) *’
Ø (y) for all x, y  S.
ISOMORPHISM
Illustrative Example no. 3
Below are NOT isomorphic structures. Which among the four properties
does it violate?
Z, + with Z+, + where Q, + with Q, + where
Ø (n) = 3n + 7 for n  Z. Ø (n) = n2 for n  Q.
ISOMORPHISM
Illustrative Example no. 4
The map Ø: Q→ Q defined by Ø (x) = 3x – 1 for x  Q is one-to-one and onto Q. Give the
definition for the binary operation * on Q such that Ø is an isomorphic mapping. In each
case, give the identity element for * on Q.
a.) Q, + with Q, ∗
ISOMORPHISM
Illustrative Example no. 4
The map Ø: Q→ Q defined by Ø (x) = 3x – 1 for x  Q is one-to-one and onto Q. Give the
definition for the binary operation * on Q such that Ø is an isomorphic mapping. In each
case, give the identity element for * on Q.
b.) Q, ∗ with Q, +
ISOMORPHISM
Illustrative Example no. 4
The map Ø: Q→ Q defined by Ø (x) = 3x – 1 for x  Q is one-to-one and onto Q. Give the
definition for the binary operation * on Q such that Ø is an isomorphic mapping. In each
case, give the identity element for * on Q.
c.) Q, ∙ with Q, +
ISOMORPHISM
Illustrative Example no. 4
The map Ø: Q→ Q defined by Ø (x) = 3x – 1 for x  Q is one-to-one and onto Q. Give the
definition for the binary operation * on Q such that Ø is an isomorphic mapping. In each
case, give the identity element for * on Q.
d.) Q, ∗ with Q, ∙