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Questions tagged [abelian-groups]

For questions about groups whose elements commute.

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11 votes
1 answer
498 views

Example of an uncountable sequence of abelian groups with nonvanishing $\varprojlim^2$?

$\DeclareMathOperator{\op}{\mathrm{op}}\DeclareMathOperator{\Ab}{\mathsf{Ab}}\DeclareMathOperator{\Vect}{\mathsf{Vect}}$Question 1: What is an example of a sequence $(X_\alpha)_{\alpha<\kappa}$ of ...
5 votes
0 answers
190 views

Can an infinite abelian $p$-group be tall and thin?

Does there exist an abelian $p$-group $A$ with countable Ulm invariants and uncountable height? Here by height, I mean the minimal ordinal $\rho$ such that $p^\rho A$ is divisible [1]. For an ordinal ...
4 votes
1 answer
405 views

A question on bi-character of finite abelian group

Setting: $G$ is a finite abelian group and any bicharacter on $G$, where a bi-character on $G$ is a map $b:G \times G \to \mathbb{Q}/\mathbb{Z}$ such that $$b(x+y,z)=b(x,z)+b(y,z),b(x,z+y)=b(x,z)+b(x,...
10 votes
2 answers
865 views

Is there a non-degenerate quadratic form on every finite abelian group?

Let $G$ be a finite abelian group. A quadratic form on $G$ is a map $q: G \to \mathbb{C}^*$ such that $q(g) = q(g^{-1})$ and the symmetric function $b(g,h):= \frac{q(gh)}{q(g)q(h)}$ is a bicharacter, ...
6 votes
1 answer
454 views

Which abelian groups are $\varprojlim^1$ groups?

Question 1: Let $\mathcal A$ be an abelian group. Does there exist an inverse system $(A^n)_{n \in \mathbb N} = (\cdots \to A^n \to A^{n-1} \to \cdots \to A^0)$ such that $\varprojlim^1 A^\bullet \...
4 votes
1 answer
406 views

The action of the unitary divisors group on the set of divisors and odd perfect numbers

Let $n$ be a natural number. Let $U_n = \{d \in \mathbb{N}\mid d\mid n \text{ and } \gcd(d,n/d)=1 \}$ be the set of unitary divisors, $D_n$ be the set of divisors and $S_n=\{d \in \mathbb{N}\mid d^2 \...
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?
4 votes
1 answer
221 views

Sum of divisors and unitary divisors as the eigenvalue and the spectral norm of some addition matrix?

Let $n$ be a natural number and $D_n$ be the set of divisors. We can make this set to a ring by observing that each divisor $d$ has $$0 \le v_p(d) \le v_p(n)$$ Hence we can add two divisors $d,e$ by ...
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,...
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 $...
7 votes
0 answers
116 views

A conjecture on circular permutations of n elements in an abelian group of odd order

In 2013 I formulated the following conjecture in additive combinatorics. Conjecture. Let $G$ be an additive abelian group of odd order, and let $A$ be a subset of $G$ with $|A|=n>2$. Then, there is ...
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 $M \in \text{GL}_n(\mathbb{Z})$ ...
3 votes
1 answer
182 views

Can one turn finite-dimensional vector subspaces into a cancellative semigroup?

Let $V$ be a vector space over some field and let ${\rm Fin}\,V$ be the family of all finite-dimensional subspaces of $V$. Is it possible to turn ${\rm Fin}\,V$ into an commutative cancellative ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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.
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 \...
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 ...
26 votes
3 answers
7k views

Subgroups of a finite abelian group

Let $$G=\mathbb{Z}/p_1^{e_1}\times\cdots\times\mathbb{Z}/p_n^{e_n}$$ be any finite abelian group. What are $G$'s subgroups? I can get many subgroups by grouping the factors and multiplying them by ...
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 $A \not\cong A \oplus \mathbb{Z}$?
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 ...
2 votes
2 answers
474 views

Non-archimedean group over the reals

I have a totally ordered group $(\mathbb{R};\leq,\oplus,0,-)$ with the reals as base set satisfying monotonicity, i.e. for all $x,y,z$ we have that if $y\leq z$ then $x\oplus y \leq x\oplus z$, and I ...
2 votes
1 answer
236 views

Example involving partially ordered Abelian groups

Definition 1: Let $(G,\leq)$ be a nonzero partially ordered Abelian group with order unit $u$. (Recall that $u\in G$ is a order unit if, for every $g\in G$, there exists $N\in\mathbb N$ such that $-Nu\...
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 $n$-...
2 votes
1 answer
327 views

Is $\mathbb{Z}^2$ endowed with the square of the strict order, a lattice-ordered group?

I was looking some lattice-ordered group structure. I have kind of difficulty to figure out about the group $\mathbb{Z}^{2}$ with positive cone is $\mathbb{N}_{>0} \times \mathbb{N}_{>0} \cup \{(...
2 votes
1 answer
314 views

When do infinitesimals split in dimension groups?

Let $G$ be a dimension group (i.e. a directed, unperforated abelian group satisfying the Riesz interpolation property) with order unit $u\in G^{+}$. There is a canonical positive group homomorphism $\...
7 votes
1 answer
266 views

Positive cone of a subgroup of $\mathbb{Z}^n$

This question sounds like it should be very well known, but for some reason I failed to find a decent answer anywhere. Let $G\subset\mathbb{Z}^n$ be a subgroup, and $G_+=G\cap\mathbb{Z}_{\ge0}^n$ be a ...
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 ...
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 ...
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{...
6 votes
0 answers
147 views

When is $\{s_2-s_1,s_3-s_2,s_1-s_3\}\cap S$ non-empty for any $s_1,s_2,s_3\in S$?

A subset $S$ of an abelian group is a subgroup if and only if it is closed under taking differences; that is, the difference of any two elements of $S$ is in $S$. Suppose, however, that we only know ...
3 votes
2 answers
831 views

Divisible torsion $\mathbb{Z}$-modules

I am trying to prove that for any divisible torsion $\mathbb{Z}$-module $V$, this map $$f:\mathbb{Q}/\mathbb{Z}\otimes_E\text{Hom}(\mathbb{Q}/\mathbb{Z},V)\longrightarrow V\mbox{ defined by } f((q+\...
12 votes
2 answers
2k views

Do all exact sequences $0 \rightarrow A \rightarrow A \oplus B \rightarrow B \rightarrow 0$ split for finitely generated abelian groups?

Suppose $A$ and $B$ are finitely generated Abelian groups. Are all exact sequences of the form $0 \rightarrow A \rightarrow A \oplus B \rightarrow B \rightarrow 0$ split? If not, is there an example?
5 votes
0 answers
202 views

Invariant measure on coset space and integrable functions

Let $G$ be a locally compact abelian group, and $H$ a closed subgroup. Let $C_c(G)$ be the space of continuous, compactly supported complex valued functions on $G$. General theory of Haar measure ...
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}...
7 votes
1 answer
268 views

Additive group of local rings

Is there a theory or characterization for those finite $p$-groups that can be considered as the additive group of a finite local commutative ring with identity?
4 votes
0 answers
153 views

Image of $\rm{lim}^1$ functor

In category of abelian groups, we know that — values of $\rm{lim}^1$ on countable systems are precisely cotorsion groups — values of $\rm{lim}^1$ on systems of finitely generated groups are of the ...
0 votes
0 answers
94 views

Name for a pair of lattices one of which having theta series with coefficients a subsequence of another lattice's theta series coefficients

Is there a name for a pair of lattices which have the property given in the title (up to a change of variable)? The following example of a pair captures the property mentioned above: $$(i)\ 1 + 80q^3 ...
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 ...
3 votes
1 answer
336 views

What are the almost periodic functions on the complex plane?

The almost periodic functions on the real line can be characterized as uniform limits of trigonometric functions. I was wondering whether a similar definition exists on the complex plane (a locally ...
4 votes
2 answers
553 views

Non-torsion part of the abelianisation of congruence subgroups

I've posted this question on math.stackexchange, but haven't gotten any responses so I'm trying here instead. Let $A = F_q[T]$ be the ring of polynomials in one variable with coefficients in a finite ...
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 ...
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 $...
6 votes
1 answer
276 views

Reference request: an elementary result on characters of finite abelian groups

The referee of a paper I submitted to a journal asked me to include a reference of the following elementary result on characters of finite abelian groups: Let $A$ be a finite abelian group of order $...
2 votes
1 answer
331 views

On the laplacian of connected, undirected, multigraphs without loops

Let $G$ be a connected, undirected multigraph, without loops. Let $L_G = D_G - A_G$, where $D_G= diag (val (v_1), \ldots , val (v_n) )$ where $n$ is the no. of vertices of $G$ and $val (v_i)$ ...
10 votes
1 answer
514 views

Positivity of power of positive PSD matrices

Background: Let $M$ be an $n\times n$ matrix with nonnegative entries. It is immediate that for any integer $k$, $M^k$ has nonnegative entries. Suppose now that, on top of having nonnegative entries, ...
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 ...
1 vote
1 answer
289 views

Inverse limit of $p^n$-torsion abelian groups

Let $p$ be a prime and let $\{A_n\}_{n > 0}$ be an inverse limit of abelian groups such that $A_n$ is $p^n$-torsion with $A_n/p^{n - 1} \cong A_{n - 1}$ (these isomorphisms are part of the data). ...
8 votes
1 answer
3k views

On order of subgroups in abelian groups

I wonder whether any of you guys has already read the homonymous note by R. Beals in the December 2009 issue of the Monthly. If so, would you be so kind as to let me know about the main ideas in Beal'...