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8 votes
1 answer
216 views

Cohomology of the Baer-Specker group

Let $A = \prod_{i \in \mathbb{N}} \mathbb{Z}$ be the Baer-Specker group; that is, a countably infinite product of the integers. We will consider this as a discrete abelian group. Are the higher ...
Piotr Pstrągowski's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
497 views

Short exact sequence $0\to \mathbb Z\to A \to \mathbb R \to 0$

Does every short exact sequence $0\to \mathbb Z\to A \to \mathbb R \to 0$ split in the category of Abelian groups?
Richard P.'s user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
70 views

Alternating $n$-homomorphism on abelian group is skew of $n$-cocycle

Let $A$ be a finitely generated abelian group. Let $c$ be a 2-cocycle on $A$, where $A$ acts trivially on $\mathbb{C}^\times$. It is well-known that the skew-map $$ c(a_1,a_2) \longmapsto \frac{c(a_1,...
Bipolar Minds's user avatar
10 votes
2 answers
1k views

Classification of subgroups of finitely generated abelian groups

A finitely generated abelian group $A$ is isomorphic to a direct sum of cyclic groups. I am interested in an extension of this result on couples of abelian groups $(A,B),$ where $B$ is a subgroup of $...
Sergei Ivanov's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
337 views

Can all proper sublattices of $\mathbb{Z}^n$ be generated cyclically?

Let $\Lambda \subset \mathbb{Z}^n$ be a proper sublattice (so that $\Lambda \ne \mathbb{Z}^n$). We say that $\Lambda$ is cyclically generated if there exists a matrix $M \in \text{GL}_n(\mathbb{Z})$ ...
Stanley Yao Xiao's user avatar
37 votes
1 answer
1k views

If $A$, $B$ are abelian groups such that $\mathrm{Hom}(A, G) \cong \mathrm{Hom}(B, G)$ for all abelian groups $G$, must $A$ and $B$ be isomorphic?

$\DeclareMathOperator\Hom{Hom}$The question is in the title. If the isomorphism $\Hom(A, G) \cong \Hom(B, G)$ is natural in $G$ then this is just the Yoneda Lemma. If $A$ and $B$ are finitely ...
Carlos Esparza's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
98 views

Hales' generalization of the stacked bases theorem (seeking a proof)

In his paper Analogues of the stacked bases theorem, published in the proceedings of a 1976 conference, A.W. Hales claimed some interesting generalizations of the stacked bases theorem for abelian ...
Jose Brox's user avatar
  • 2,992
0 votes
1 answer
557 views

Abelian groups and their subgroups

It is well known that every finite abelian group is a direct product of cyclic groups. So for every $n$ every finite abelian group of exponent $n$ is a direct product of cyclic groups of order at most ...
user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
133 views

Irreducible non-Abelian subgroup of $\mathrm{U}_n(\mathbb{C})$, containing diagonal matrices

Consider an irreducible non-Abelian subgroup $\mathrm{H}$ of group of unitary matrices $\mathrm{U}_n(\mathbb{C})$, that contains the subgroup of diagonal matrices. Does there exist any result ...
Mini's user avatar
  • 85
8 votes
0 answers
309 views

A $\mathsf{ZF}$ example of a nonreflexive group which is isomorphic to its double dual?

Given a group $G$ denote by $G^\ast=\mathrm{Hom}(G,\Bbb Z)$ its dual and by $j\colon G\to G^{\ast\ast}$ the canonical homomorphism $g\mapsto (f\mapsto f(g))$. A group is reflexive iff $j$ is an ...
Alessandro Codenotti's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
329 views

Is there a free profinite abelian group on a profinite set?

Let $\mathit{Profinite}_{\mathrm{Ab}}$ be the category of profinite abelian groups, and let $\mathit{Profinite}_{\mathrm{Set}}$ be the category of profinite sets. Does the forgetful functor $$\mathit{...
Profinite Questioner's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
293 views

Abelian torsion-free group with $\mathbb{Z}_2\times\mathbb{Z}$ as automorphism group

Let $A$ be an abelian torsion-free group. If $A$ is isomorphic with the group of rational numbers whose denominators are powers of, say, $2$, then its automorphism group is isomorphic with $\mathbb{Z}...
Alex Doe's user avatar
  • 287
1 vote
0 answers
74 views

Pure (ordered) subgroups

Let $H,G$ be abelian groups with $H \leq G$. We say that $H$ is a pure subgroup of $G$ if for every $n \in \mathbb N$ and $h \in H$ the following holds: If $h$ is $n$-divisible in $G$, then $h$ is $n$-...
Epsilon's user avatar
  • 111
6 votes
1 answer
417 views

Finite-by-torsion-free abelian groups (or compact abelian groups with finitely many components)

Here's a question I should know the answer to but don't: Suppose $1\to F \to G \to G/F \to 1$ is a short exact sequence of abelian groups with $F$ finite and $G/F$ torsion-free. Must the sequence ...
Sean Eberhard's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
383 views

Finite dimensional compact abelian group that is not a product of connected and a totally disconnected

Let $G$ be a compact abelian group. A compact abelian group is said to have dimension $n$ if $\dim_\mathbb{Q} \mathbb{Q}\otimes \hat G = n$. Equivalently one can show that this holds if $G$ is ...
TopGroups's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
153 views

On decomposition of finite Abelian groups

It is easy to see that for any finite Abelian group $G$ and any numbers $a,b$ with $|G|=ab$ there exist a subgroup $A\subset G$ and a subset $B\subset G$ such that $|A|=a$, $|B|=b$ and $G=A+B$, where $...
Taras Banakh's user avatar
13 votes
1 answer
791 views

How nearly abelian are nilpotent groups?

It is not uncommon to read that "nilpotent groups are 'close to abelian'."1,2 Can this sentiment be made precise in the sense of the Turán and Erdős definition of "the probability that two elements of ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
907 views

What is $\mathrm{Hom}(\mathbb{Q},\mathbb{Z}(p^{\infty}))$?

What is $\mathrm{Hom}(\mathbb{Q},\mathbb{Z}(p^{\infty}))$? I have a reference that says the group in question is $\mathbb{Q}_p,$ the additive group of the quotient field of the $p$-adic integers. Can ...
Chris Leary's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
507 views

Co-finite type abelian groups

Suppose $B$ is an abelian group such that for every integer $n\ge 1$, the $n$-torsion subgroup $B[n]$ is finite. Let $B_{\rm tor} = \varinjlim_{n\ge 1} B[n]$ be the torsion subgroup of $B$. Is it ...
user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
176 views

Trivial Tate modules

Let $A$ be an abelian group, and $p$ a prime. I'll call $$T_p(A) := \text{Hom}_{\mathbf{Z}}(\mathbf{Q}_{p}/\mathbf{Z}_{p}, A).$$ If $A$ is finite, then $T_p(A)$ is trivial, but the converse is not ...
user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
190 views

Logic article on first-order invariants of abelian groups

I remember reading an article published in the 1970s by a Polish mathematician describing the first-order invariants of a torsion-free abelian group. I do not recollect the author's name, the title of ...
Phill Schultz's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
181 views

Characterisation of a class of group homomorphisms related to a central extension

Let $S$ and $R$ be groups and say $\sigma: S \twoheadrightarrow R$ is a group homomorphism that is a central extension; that is, it is surjective (extension) and its kernel is contained in the centre ...
Christopher Townsend's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
96 views

A kind of cancellation ; exchange problem for groups

For which $(m,n,k,l) \in (\mathbb N\cup \{0\})^4$ , with $m\le n ; k\le l$ , does there exist a group $G$ with a finite subnormal series with torsion-free Abelian quotients such that $G \times \mathbb ...
user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
109 views

Symmetric analogue of "alternating bihomomorphism is skew of 2-cocycle" theorem

Let $G$ be a finite abelian group. It is well-known that every alternating bihomomorphism $\Omega:G\times G \to \mathbb{C}^\times$ arises as the skew $\kappa/\kappa^T$ of a 2-cocycle $\kappa \in Z^2(G,...
Bipolar Minds's user avatar
5 votes
0 answers
444 views

Subgroups and quotients of an abelian pro-finite group

It is well known that every subgroup $H$ of a finite abelian group $G$ is isomorphic to a quotient of $G$. I'm wondering whether there is a counterpart for profinite groups. For example is it true ...
user106317's user avatar
14 votes
1 answer
696 views

$\mathbb{Z}$-module structure of the subring generated by an algebraic number

Let $a$ and $b$ be algebraic numbers which are not necessarily algebraic integers. Is there some invariant that allows us to determine whether $\mathbb Z[a]$ and $\mathbb Z[b]$ are isomorphic as $\...
user108921's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
501 views

Exact sequence of $n$th powers of abelian groups

Let $A,B,C$ be finitely generated abelian groups. Assume that there is an exact sequence $$0 \to C \to A^n \to B^n \to 0,$$where $A^n = A \oplus \dotsc \oplus A$ as usual. It is not assumed that $A^n \...
Martin Brandenburg's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
100 views

Alternating bihomomorphism is skew of 2-cocycle - relative situation

Let $G$ be a finite abelian group. It is well-known that every alternating bihomomorphism $\Omega:G\times G \to \mathbb{C}^\times$ (i.e. $\Omega(g,g)=1$) arises as the skew $\kappa/\kappa^T$ of a 2-...
Bipolar Minds's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
130 views

Existence of a transfinite sequence of abelian groups having a strange property

I am studying a paper which uses the following lemma. The context is irrelevant, as the lemma is only used as a technical trick and has no pointer to a reference or hint in the proof but its link to ...
Ivan Di Liberti's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
449 views

Number of torsion-free abelian groups

Let $\mathfrak{c}$ be the cardinality of the continuum. How much Choice, if any, is needed to prove that there are $2^{\mathfrak{c}}$ distinct (mutually nonisomorphic) torsion-free abelian groups of ...
Bruce Blackadar's user avatar
15 votes
1 answer
567 views

Torsion-free abelian group $A$ such that $A \not \simeq A \oplus \Bbb Z \simeq A \oplus \Bbb Z^2$

Is there a torsion-free abelian group $A$ such that $A \not \simeq A \oplus \Bbb Z \simeq A \oplus \Bbb Z \oplus \Bbb Z$ (as groups)? Notice that $\Bbb Z$ is not cancellable, so $A \oplus \Bbb Z \...
Watson's user avatar
  • 1,742
29 votes
0 answers
877 views

The field of fractions of the rational group algebra of a torsion free abelian group

Let $G$ be a torsion free abelian group (infinitely generated to get anything interesting). The group algebra $\mathbb{Q}[G]$ is an integral domain. Let $\mathbb{Q}(G)$ be its field of fractions. ...
Jeremy Rickard's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
209 views

Constructing an explicit extension of a continuous character on a closed subgroup of a certain locally compact abelian group

Let $ G $ be a locally compact abelian group and $ \omega: G \times G \to \mathbb{T} $ a continuous multiplier on $ G $, i.e., \begin{align} \forall r,s,t \in G: \qquad \omega(s,t) ~ \omega(r,s + t) &...
Transcendental's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
145 views

Non-degeneracy of product of group pairings

For $G$ finite abelian group, let $\eta,\omega:G \times G \to \mathbb{C}^\times$ be group pairings. What can I say about the (non-)degeneneracy of the product pairing $\eta \cdot \omega$ in terms of ...
Bipolar Minds's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
219 views

Torsionless not separable abelian groups

A torsionless abelian group $A$ is one for which any element $a\neq 0$ can be sent to a nonzero element of $Z$ by some homomorphism $A\rightarrow Z$ (integers). Equivalently, $A$ can be embedded as a ...
GMark's user avatar
  • 345
3 votes
1 answer
125 views

Uncountable divisible groups and the existence of order-preserving isomorphisms of their subsets

Let $(G,+,0,<)$ be an ordered divisible group of uncountable dimension. Consider the subset $G^{<0}$ of $G$. Question: Are $G$ and $G^{<0}$ isomorphic as ordered sets? Does there exist an ...
N.W.'s user avatar
  • 33
7 votes
1 answer
373 views

On describing a sort of "well-behaved" subgroups of a free abelian group

I found this question when I tried to figure out what kind of subgroups of a free abelian group behave just as well as in the finitely generated case. Let $M$ be a free abelian group and $N$ a ...
Censi LI's user avatar
  • 403
32 votes
3 answers
3k views

Is there a nice explanation for this curious fact about cyclic subgroups?

Here's something that I noticed that quite surprised me. Let $G$ be a finite abelian group. Consider the following expression. $$ \nu(G) = \sum_{\substack{H \leq G \\ H \text{ is cyclic}}} |H| $$ It ...
Simon Rose's user avatar
  • 6,290
5 votes
1 answer
163 views

Characteristically simple locally compact abelian groups

Say a topological group $G$ is topologically characteristically simple if there does not exist a closed subgroup $1 < K < G$ such that $K$ is invariant under all automorphisms of $G$ (here `...
Colin Reid's user avatar
  • 4,728
6 votes
2 answers
232 views

Finding an "optimal" quotient in a free group

Consider the abelian free group $G = \mathbf{Z}^n$ of rank $n$ and a finite subset $A \subset G \setminus \{0\}$. Since $G$ is residually finite, there is a subgroup $H \subset G$ such that $A \cap H =...
vizietto's user avatar
  • 373
3 votes
2 answers
318 views

Character kernels in the lattice of subgroups of a finite abelian group

I am looking for any efforts that have been made to characterize the character kernels (equivalently, the subgroups yielding cyclic quotients) inside the lattice of subgroups of a finite abelian group....
benblumsmith's user avatar
  • 2,851
6 votes
1 answer
332 views

Zero-sum sets in union-closed families

The Davenport constant $D(G)$ of a finite abelian group $G$ is the minimum integer $n$ such that whenever $a_1, \ldots, a_n \in G$ (not necessarily distinct), there is a non-empty $I \subseteq [n]$ ...
monkeymaths's user avatar
  • 1,169
2 votes
1 answer
682 views

One-dimension Algebraic groups

I am searching for a possible analogue of a result in algebraic groups in a non-commutative setting, so I am looking for different proofs of the following : Let $K$ be an algebraically closed field. ...
Drike's user avatar
  • 1,555
3 votes
1 answer
171 views

Compatible total orderings of the group $\mathbb{Z}^\mathbb{N}$

Given the additive group of the module $\mathbb{Z}^\mathbb{N}$ and a total ordering of the group that is compatible with addition and where $\chi_{\{n\}} > 0$ for all $n \in \mathbb{N}$, can we say ...
Anschel Schaffer-Cohen's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
378 views

Abelian group of finite rank

Let given torsion free abelian group $A$ of finite rank. Let for prime number $p$, given that $\cap_i p^iA =\{0\}$. Is it true that for any $p$- torsion abelian group $B$, $\text{Hom}_{\mathbb{Z}}(A, ...
solver6's user avatar
  • 219
7 votes
1 answer
617 views

Looking for a modern source about Ulm Invariants

I'm looking for a modern, approachable text (preferably a website, textbook, or expository article, and preferably one easily available online or at a library) which can explain the concept of Ulm ...
Richard Rast's user avatar
  • 1,979
94 votes
2 answers
7k views

$A$ is isomorphic to $A \oplus \mathbb{Z}^2$, but not to $A \oplus \mathbb{Z}$

Are there abelian groups $A$ with $A \cong A \oplus \mathbb{Z}^2$ and $A \not\cong A \oplus \mathbb{Z}$?
Martin Brandenburg's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
159 views

Counting elements with certain word length in abelian groups

Given a (finite) abelian group $G = \langle S \mid R \rangle$, has the problem of counting the number of elements which can be expressed as a word (in $S$) of length $\leq k$ been studied? If so, ...
Calle's user avatar
  • 121
1 vote
1 answer
212 views

An example of a non-(locally cyclic) Abelian group whose automorphism group is cyclic not of order $2$

In the wake of my curiosity on this kind of things, I was thinking if there is an example of a non-(locally cyclic) Abelian group whose automorphism group is cyclic not of order $2$. Every example I ...
W4cc0's user avatar
  • 599
10 votes
1 answer
2k views

A group whose automorphism group is cyclic

Is there an Abelian group $A$ which is not locally cyclic whose automorphism group is cyclic ? This question was first posted here.
W4cc0's user avatar
  • 599