Herstein: Topics in Algebra - Subgroups and A Counting

Principle
by Bret Sherfinski

May 24, 2015

12. If G is a group and H, K are two subgroups of finite index in G, prove that H ∩ K is
of finite index in G. Can you find an upper bound for the index of H ∩ K in G?

Proof: Observe that Herstein is preparing the reader for this question with Herstein 2.5.10
and Herstein 2.5.11. Defining G and Hn as in Herstein 2.5.10 and Herstein 2.5.11 we know
[G : Hm ] = m, [G : Hn ] = n and furthermore that [G : Hm ∩ Hn ] = [m, n]. In chapter 1
mn
we proved an important result from elementary number theory that [m, n] = , so we
(m, n)
have the obvious upper bound for [G : Hm ∩ Hn ] = [m, n] as [G : Hm ][G : Hn ] = mn. This
illustrates or suggests with a concrete example what we need to show in the general case.

Since [G : H] and [G : K] are finite we can write:

G = Hx1 ∪ Hx2 ∪ · · · ∪ Hxr

and
G = Ky1 ∪ Ky2 ∪ · · · ∪ Kys

where [G : H] = r and [G : K] = s. Therefore,

G = G ∩ G = (Hx1 ∪ Hx2 ∪ · · · ∪ Hxr ) ∩ (Ky1 ∪ Ky2 ∪ · · · ∪ Kys )

[
= (Hxi ∩ Kyj ).
1≤i≤r
1≤j≤s

Hence, we need to consider the sets Hxi ∩ Kyj in the union. Suppose Hxi ∩ Kyj 6= ∅
so that for some g ∈ G, g ∈ Hxi ∩ Kyj . As right cosets in G we have Hg = Hxi and
Hg = Kyj , so that we can write Hg ∩ Kg = Hxi ∩ Kyj . A small argument, set theoretical
in nature, can show that Hg ∩ Kg = (H ∩ K)g. That is, Hxi ∩ Kyj = Hg ∩ Kg = (H ∩ K)g

1
 2

so each Hxi ∩ Kyj is either ∅ or some coset of H ∩ K in G. Since

[
G= (Hxi ∩ Kyj )
1≤i≤r
1≤j≤s

is a finite union, Hxi ∩ Kyj is either ∅ or some coset of H ∩ K in G we know every coset
of H ∩ K appears in this union as cosets are either equal or disjoint and their union fills
out all of G. We can conclude not only [G : H ∩ K] is finite but also

[G : H ∩ K] ≤ [G : H][G : K]
since there are at most [G : H][G : K] sets Hxi ∩ Kyj .