Exercise 14.3.12

This exercise will use the notation of the proof of Proposition 14.3.20.

(a)
Suppose that V 𝔽 p n is a nontrivial subspace such that g ( V ) V for all g G 0 . Use the cosets of V in 𝔽 p n to prove that G is imprimitive.
(b)
Explain why 𝔽 p n is normal in G , and prove that G 𝔽 p n G 0 . Use this to prove part (b) of Proposition 14.3.20.

Answers

Proof. Here

𝔽 p n G AGL ( n , 𝔽 p ) S p n .

(a) Consider a complete system { a 1 , , a k } of representatives of cosets of V in 𝔽 p n , so that the cosets of V are the disjoint cosets

R 1 = a 1 + V , , R k = a k + V .

Then 𝔽 p n = i = 1 k ( a i + V ) is the disjoint union of parallel affine subspaces.

Let g G AGL ( n , 𝔽 p ) . Recall (see the text following Corollary 14.3.18) that

G = { γ A , w w 𝔽 p n , A G 0 } ,

thus g = γ A , w , for some w 𝔽 p n and A G 0 . For all v V

g ( a i + v ) = A ( a i + v ) + w = A a i + w + A v .

Since A G 0 , A V V , thus g ( a i + v ) ( A a i + w ) + V . The cosets R i , 1 i k , partition 𝔽 p n , thus there is some index j such that A a i + w R j = a j + V , so that A a i + w + V = a j + V , and

g ( a i + V ) a j + V .

Moreover, the cosets R i = a i + V have same cardinality, and g is bijective, therefore | a j + V | = | a i + V | = | g ( a i + V ) | . This proves

g ( a i + V ) = a j + V .

To conclude, there is a partition of 𝔽 p n such that for every 1 i k , we have g ( R i ) = R j for some 1 j k . Since 1 < | V | < p n , then k > 1 and | R 1 | = = | R k | > 1 . This proves that G S p n is imprimitive. (b) We have seen in Exercise 2 that the group homomorphism

φ { AGL ( n , 𝔽 q ) GL ( n , 𝔽 q ) γ A , v A .

induces an isomorphism

AGL ( n , 𝔽 q ) 𝔽 q n GL ( n , 𝔽 q ) .

Consider the restriction φ 0 of φ , defined by

φ 0 { G G 0 γ A , v A .

Since G = { γ A , w w 𝔽 p n , A G 0 } , φ 0 is surjective, and ker φ 0 = { γ I n , w w 𝔽 p n } 𝔽 p n , thus, with the usual identification { γ I n , w w 𝔽 p n } = 𝔽 p n , 𝔽 p n is a normal subgroup of G , and

G 𝔽 p n G 0 .

Now we prove (b).

By Theorem 8.1.4, G is solvable if and only if 𝔽 p n and G 𝔽 p n are normal. Since we know that 𝔽 p n is a normal subgroup of G , we obtain the equivalence

G  is solvable  G 0  is solvable.

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2022-07-19 00:00
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