MATH 479: Linear Algebraic Groups

Lie-Kolchin theorem

Today we would like to prove the following theorem:

Theorem 0.1. Let G ⊂ GL(V ) be a closed connected solvable subgroup. Then

G has a common eigenvector, i.e., there exists a homomorphism χ : G → C∗
and a vector v ∈ V \ {0} such that gv = χ(g)v for all g ∈ G.

1. Show that Theorem 0.1 implies in particular that G is conjugate to a

subgroup of upper triangular matrices (i.e., G is trigonalizable).
2. Show the theorem for the case, where G is an abelian group.
3. Let N ⊂ G be a normal closed subgroup. For a homomorphism χ : N →
C∗ we define Vχ ⊂ V to be the subspace of vectors v such that gv = χ(g)v
for all v ∈ V and all g ∈ N .
Show that for each homomorphism χ : N → C∗ and for each h ∈ G there
exists a homomorphism χ0 : N → C∗ such that hVχ = Vχ0 .