Skip to main content

All Questions

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
1 vote
1 answer
209 views

A question about automorphism group of abelian group

Does anyone know any references that describe automorphism group $\operatorname{Aut}(\mathbb R^n\times \mathbb T^m)$? I searched for a long time but couldn't find it.
4 votes
1 answer
426 views

Is $\mathbb Z$ prime in the class of abelian groups?

Let $B$, $C$, and $D$ be abelian groups such that $\mathbb Z\times B$ is isomorphic to $C\times D$. Is there a group $E$ such that $C$ or $D$ is isomorphic to $\mathbb Z\times E$? Reference: page 263 ...
72 votes
9 answers
18k views

Is there a slick proof of the classification of finitely generated abelian groups?

One of the proofs that I've never felt very happy with is the classification of finitely generated abelian groups (which says an abelian group is basically uniquely the sum of cyclic groups of orders $...
8 votes
1 answer
217 views

Bilinear forms on abelian $p$-groups: Images of weak metabolizers in the Frattini quotient

Suppose $G$ is a finite abelian $p$-group for $p$ an odd prime and $b : G \times G \to \mathbf{Q}/\mathbf{Z}$ is a non-degenerate symmetric bilinear form. A subgroup $H \leq G$ is a weak metabolizer ...
8 votes
1 answer
353 views

Structure of a single automorphism of a finite abelian p-group

A finite abelian $p$-group $H$ is homogenous when it is the direct sum of cyclic groups of the same order $p^r$, i.e. $H \cong \big(\mathbb{Z}/p^{r}\mathbb{Z}\big)^{e}$. Every finite abelian $p$-group ...
4 votes
1 answer
216 views

"Universal" abelian p-groups

Let $p$ be a prime number. I am interested in the abelian groups $G$ with the following property: (U) every finite abelian $p$-group $A$ admits a monomorphism $A\hookrightarrow G$. In other words, ...
18 votes
2 answers
876 views

Groupoid cardinality of the class of abelian p-groups

$\DeclareMathOperator\Aut{Aut}\newcommand\card[1]{\lvert#1\rvert}$So, after going over the classification of finite abelian groups in a class I was teaching this winter, I got curious about whether it ...
4 votes
2 answers
227 views

Maximal subgroups of finite abelian $2$-groups

Suppose $G$ is a finite abelian $2$-group, and $S$ is a subset of $G$, $\langle S\rangle=G$,$S^{-1}=S$,$e\notin S$. How to determine whether there exists a maximal subgroup $M$ of $G$, such that $S$ ...
5 votes
2 answers
331 views

Computing the Abelian invariants of a subgroup of a f.g. Abelian group

We have a f.g. Abelian group $A$ given as a direct sum of $N$ cyclic subgroups $C_{k_j}=\langle x_j\rangle$, with $k_j\in \{2,\dots,\infty\}$, $1\leq j \leq N$, and the associated homomorphism $\phi:\...
1 vote
0 answers
134 views

Isomorphic quotients of a countably infinitely-generated free abelian group

Let $F$ denote the free abelian group on countably infinite generators. I am trying to understand the relationship between normal subgroups $A$ and $B$ of $F$ with isomorphic quotients. So is there a ...
3 votes
1 answer
182 views

Almost free group without the Specker group as a subgroup

An Abelian group is almost free whenever every countable subgroup is free Abelian. Famously, the Specker group $\mathbf Z^{\mathbf N}$ is almost free. What are examples of almost free groups that are ...
3 votes
2 answers
205 views

Descending chain in $\mathbb{Z}$ with certain confining property, but not strongly

Call a sequence $A_1 \supseteq A_2 \supseteq \cdots$ of subsets of $\mathbb{Z}$ confining if for all $i$ we have $A_i \supseteq A_{i+1}+A_{i+1}$. (Let us insist that the $A_i$ are symmetric and ...
3 votes
1 answer
243 views

Can a non-free Whitehead group embed as a discrete subgroup of a normed space?

Every countable discrete subgroup of a normed space is isomorphic to the direct sum of the group of integers. I wonder whether it is possible to push this beyond such direct-sum (free abelian) groups ...
3 votes
0 answers
70 views

Admissibility of Ulm's invariants

Let $G$ be a reduced abelian $p$-group. We set $G_0=G$. Let $\alpha$ be an ordinal. Inductively, if $\alpha=\beta+1$ is a successor ordinal, we define $$G_{\alpha}=pG_{\beta}.$$ If $\alpha$ is a limit ...
8 votes
2 answers
1k views

A conceptual proof that bounded index subgroups of a bounded torsion abelian group contain bounded index complemented subgroups

Call an abelian group $G = (G,+)$ $m$-torsion for some natural number $m$ if one has $m \cdot x = 0$ for all $x \in G$. A subgroup $H$ of $G$ is said to be complemented if one can write $G = H \oplus ...
4 votes
1 answer
211 views

Nonempty intersection of cosets of finite-index subgroups

$\DeclareMathOperator\lcm{lcm}$This question is crossposted from MSE. Let $H_1,\dots,H_{n+2}$ be cosets of finite-index subgroups of $\mathbb{Z}^n$ and suppose for all $i=1,\dots,n+2$, $\bigcap_{j\neq ...
0 votes
0 answers
90 views

Invariants of primary groups

In Kaplansky's book "Infinite Abelian Groups", an abelian group $G$ is called primary if every element has order power of $p$ for some fixed prime number $p$. It is well-known that every ...
71 votes
28 answers
8k views

Results from abstract algebra which look wrong (but are true)

There are many statements in abstract algebra, often asked by beginners, which are just too good to be true. For example, if $N$ is a normal subgroup of a group $G$, is $G/N$ isomorphic to a subgroup ...
3 votes
0 answers
107 views

(Non)complete abelian groups in the “transfinite p-adic topology”

For an abelian group $A,$ a prime $p$ and an ordinal $\alpha,$ we recursively define $p^\alpha A$ as a subgroup of $A$ such that $p^0A=A,$ $$p^{\alpha+1}A=p(p^\alpha A) \hspace{5mm} \text{and} \...
37 votes
5 answers
11k views

When is Aut(G) abelian?

Let $G$ be a group such that $\operatorname{Aut}(G)$ is abelian. Is then $G$ abelian? This is a sort of generalization of the well-known exercise, that $G$ is abelian when $\operatorname{Aut}(G)$ is ...
4 votes
0 answers
63 views

Possible questions about the Tate-Shafarevich subgroup of a Galois hypercohomology group?

$\newcommand{\wt}{\widetilde}$ Let $n=1,2$. There are infinite torsion abelian groups $H^1$, $H^2$ killed by some natural number $m$. There are finite subgroups $$ {\rm Sha}^1 \subset H^1,\quad ...
28 votes
2 answers
863 views

$A^2$ is isomorphic to $A^{(\omega)}$, but not $A$

Is there an abelian group $A$ with $A\not\cong A\oplus A\cong A\oplus A\oplus A\oplus\cdots$ (a direct sum of countably many copies of $A$)? Edited to add: As no answers are forthcoming, does anyone ...
5 votes
1 answer
313 views

Projective representations of a finite abelian group

Projective representations of a group $G$ are classified by the second group cohomology $H^2(G,U(1))$. If $G$ is finite and abelian, it is isomorphic to the direct product of cyclic groups $$ G\cong ...
9 votes
2 answers
1k views

On the existence of a direct summand containing a fixed subgroup

Let $G$ be a finite abelian group, and $g_1, \ldots, g_n \in G$ such that the cyclic groups that they generate are in direct sum $\langle g_1 \rangle \oplus \cdots \oplus \langle g_n \rangle$. Is it ...
3 votes
1 answer
203 views

normalizer quotient is $\operatorname{GL}_2(p)$

Let $p$ be a prime and let $w$ be a primitive $p$-th root of unity in $\mathbb{C}$. There is an element $e$ of order $p$ in $G=\operatorname{PGL}_n(\mathbb{C})$ where $n=pk$ and $$e=\left[\left(\begin{...
5 votes
1 answer
401 views

Retract of a product

Let $G$ be a retract of a product $\prod_I\mathbb{Z}$ of copies of $\mathbb Z$. This means there are group homomorphisms $\pi:\prod_I\mathbb{Z}\to G$ and $\sigma:G\to\prod_I\mathbb Z$ such that $\pi\...
2 votes
0 answers
193 views

Decomposition of finite abelian groups of even order if there is an involution

Let $G$ be a finite abelian group and $\sigma :G\rightarrow G$ an automorphism of order two ($\sigma\circ \sigma =id_G$). Denote by $F$ and $A$ the subgroups of fixed and anti-fixed points of $\sigma$ ...
1 vote
1 answer
198 views

A map in group cohomology from $H^n(G,G^{\vee})$ to $H^{n+1}(G,U(1))$

Let $G$ be a finite abelian group and denote by $G^{\vee}=\mathrm{Hom}(G,U(1))$ its Pontryagin dual. For any positive integer $n$ one can define a homomorphism of abelian groups $$ f:H^{n}(G,G^{\vee})\...
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 ...
15 votes
1 answer
753 views

Finite abelian groups with fewer automorphisms than a subgroup

It is not too hard to find examples of finite groups which have fewer automorphisms than one of their subgroups. For example $\mathcal D_4 \times \mathbb Z/2\mathbb Z$ (where $\mathcal D_4$ is the ...
2 votes
0 answers
408 views

Conceptual proof of fundamental theorem of finite abelian groups

I'm looking for a conceptual proof of the following statement: Lemma: Let $G$ be a finite abelian $p$-group. Let $a$ be an element of maximal order. Then $G=\langle a \rangle \times H$ for some ...
4 votes
1 answer
277 views

Is there a good notion of kernels of quadratic forms on abelian groups?

Let $G$ be an abelian group and let $q:G \to \mathbb{Q/Z}$ be a quadratic form, i.e. $q(a)=q(-a)$ and $b(x,y)=q(x+y)-q(x)-q(y)$ is a bihomomorphism. On vector spaces, when people speak about the ...
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 ...
1 vote
0 answers
125 views

Is the commutator of the holomorph of generalized quaternion group abelian?

Let $Q_{2^{n}} = \langle x, y \mathrel\vert x^{2^{n-1}}=y^4 = 1, x^{2^{n-2}}=y^2, y^{-1}xy = x^{-1} \rangle$ be the generalized quaternion group of order $2^{n}$. Let $\operatorname{Hol}(Q_{2^{n+1}})$ ...
4 votes
0 answers
113 views

Duality for finite quotient groups of finitely generated free abelian groups

$\newcommand{\Z}{{\Bbb Z}} \newcommand{\Q}{{\Bbb Q}} \newcommand{\Hom}{{\rm Hom}} $ The following lemma is certainly known. Lemma (well-known). Let $B$ be a lattice (that is, a finitely generated ...
3 votes
0 answers
251 views

Commuting real elements in finite groups

Let $p$, $q$, $r$ be three distinct odd primes, and $G$ a finite group with $|G|$ divisible by $p$, $q$, $r$ to the first power only. Let $x,y,z \in G$ be of order $p,q,r$ respectively. Assume (a.) $[...
1 vote
0 answers
97 views

A duality of finite groups coming from a surjective homomorphism with finite kernel of algebraic tori

$\newcommand{\Hom}{{\rm Hom}} \newcommand{\Gm}{{{\mathbb G}_{m,{\Bbb C}}}} \newcommand{\X}{{\sf X}} $ I am looking for a reference for the following lemma (for which I know a proof): Lemma. Let $\...
5 votes
1 answer
204 views

Characteristic subgroups of a finite abelian $2$-group

I have recently stumbled across the problem of describing the characteristic subgroups of a finite abelian group. With some discussions with some mathematicians in my lab, I managed to obtain a "...
2 votes
0 answers
177 views

Existence of fully supported element in a finite-dimensional vector space over $\mathbb{F}_p$ (and in finite abelian groups)

Let $V$ be an $n$-dimensional vector space over $\mathbb{F} = \mathbb{Z} / (p)$, the field of $p$ elements, $p$ a prime, with $\{v_1, \dotsc, v_n \}$ a basis for $V$. An element $x \in V$ is called &...
2 votes
1 answer
105 views

Cotorsion-freeness in uncountable products of abelian groups

An abelian group $A$ is cotorsion provided that whenever $A \leq G$ with $G$ abelian and $G/A$ is torsion-free, we have $G \cong A \oplus B$ for some $B \leq G$. An abelian group $A$ is cotorsion-...
4 votes
1 answer
182 views

How far is a countably infinite reduced abelian $p$-group from being an infinite direct sum?

Question Let $G$ be a countably infinite reduced abelian $p$-group. Is it always possible to write it has an infinite direct sums of non-trivial groups? If it is not true, how far is $G$ from being an ...
1 vote
1 answer
89 views

Element of order $p$ and finite height $\geq1$ in a reduced abelian group $p$-group with an element of order $p^2$

This is a reference request for the following statement: Fact: Let $G$ be a reduced abelian $p$-group with an element of order $p^2$. Then $G$ contains an element of order $p$ and of finite height at ...
12 votes
4 answers
1k views

How many non-isomorphic abelian subgroups of the permutation group $S_n$?

I am interested in how many (pairwise non-isomorphic) subgroups of the permutation group $S_n$ are abelian. ($n \in \mathbb{N}$ arbitrary and possibly big) Are you aware of any references which treat ...
2 votes
2 answers
4k views

Any factor group of a finite abelian group is isomorphic to some subgroup

If you visit this link, you'll see at the top of the PDF view. Basic properties of finite abelian groups: Every quotient group of a finite abelian group is isomorphic to a subgroup. If the above ...
7 votes
1 answer
464 views

Existence of abelian group extension relative to group homomorphism

Let $f: A \to B\ $ be an abelian group homomorphism. Are there abelian groups $G,\ H,\ K$ such that $K \subseteq H \subseteq G$ and the map $$\pi \circ i: H \to G/K$$ which is the composition of ...
6 votes
4 answers
2k views

Is a torsion-free abelian group finitely generated, if all of its localizations at primes $p$ are finitely generated over $\mathbb{Z}_p$?

Background: When proving that the group of $k$-isogenies $\mathrm{Hom}_k(A,B)$ between two abelian varieties is finitely generated, one first shows that the Tate map $$\mathbb{Z}_\ell\otimes_{\mathbb{...
0 votes
1 answer
207 views

Fourier transform on lattice strip

I am working with a triangular lattice $L=\{n_1 a_2 + n_2 a_2 : n\in\mathbb{Z}^2 \}$ and $a_1 = \pmatrix{1 \\ 0}$ and $a_2 = \frac{1}{2} \pmatrix{-1 \\ \sqrt{3}}$, and I want to compute the Pontryagin ...
8 votes
0 answers
1k views

Examples of uncountable abelian $p$-groups

Does anyone know of any interesting examples of an infinite abelian $p$-group which is uncountable? By non-interesting here I mean the direct sums of cylic and quasi-cylic groups, and totally ...
5 votes
2 answers
387 views

Size of distinct sums in A

Let $G$ be an abelian group. Let $A\subset G$ be a finite set. $\sum_A$ is defined as: $$\left\{\sum_{b\in B}b \mid B\subset A\right\}$$ Is there any result similar to Freiman's Theorem for $\sum_A$? ...
3 votes
1 answer
474 views

Structures of subgroups of a finite abelian p-group

$\newcommand\la{\langle}\newcommand\ra{\rangle}$Let $G=\mathbb{Z}/p^{i_1}\times\cdots\times\mathbb{Z}/p^{i_r}$ with $i_1\leq\ldots\leq i_r$ be a finite abelian $p$-group. Then there can be many ...