NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

S.Chipindirwi

FACULTY OF APPLIED SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED MATHEMATICS

SMA2102: MODERN ALGEBRA

Test 2:

Time : 2 hours

Candidates should attempt ALL questions.

A1. If P and Q are subgroups of a group U , and if P ∪ Q is also a subgroup, prove that
either P ⊆ Q or Q ⊆ P . [6]

A2. Prove that a group G is Abelian if and only if (ab)−1 = a−1 b−1 , ∀a, b ∈ G. [6]

A3. If H and K are subgroups of a group G and x ∈ G, prove that the intersection of the
left cosets of H and K in G gives the left coset of the intersection of H and K. [8]

A4. In an additive group of integers Z, determine < 3 > and < −2 >. Give the orders of
3 and −2. [10]

A5. (a) Define a group homomorphism. [4]

(b) Let G, G1 and G2 be groups so that µ1 : G → G1 , µ2 : G → G2 , are group
homomorphisms. Prove that µ : G1 → G2 defined by
µ(x) = (µ1 (x), µ2 (x)), ∀x ∈ G is a well-defined group homomorphism. [6]

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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