Questions tagged [abelian-groups]
For questions about groups whose elements commute.
253 questions
22
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1
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Alternating forms on abelian groups
Let $G$ and $H$ be abelian groups. By an alternating form, I mean a bilinear function $A\colon G\times G\to H$ such that $A(x,x)=0$ for all $x\in G$.
Question. If $A\colon G\times G\to H$ is an ...
1
vote
1
answer
102
views
Cohomology of "symplectically self-dual" chain complex
Let $G,H$ be abelian groups (denoted additively) with their Pontryagin duals denoted as $G^*$ and $H^*$. (The cases I'm interested in are products of $\mathbb Z_n$, $\mathbb Z$, $\mathbb R$, and $\...
4
votes
0
answers
212
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When does a short exact sequence of abelian groups with $B\cong A\oplus C$ split?
$\hspace{20pt}$Duplicate on stackexchange.
This question, in a way, extends this one. The question is what are some sufficient conditions on the abelian group $B$ so that if $B\cong A\oplus C$ and a ...
11
votes
0
answers
430
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Is $(\mathbb{R}, +)$ still injective as long as $(\mathbb{Q},+)$ is?
It is known that the existence of nontrivial injective abelian groups is independent of choice in ZF (or, rather, ZFA). In particular, $\mathbb{Q}$ is not provably injective, much less $\mathbb{R}$, ...
3
votes
1
answer
169
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Maximal zero-sum free sequences of $C_3^n$
I am working on the Davenport constant for groups, $D(G)$, which is the minimal number $d$ such that every sequence or multiset of $d$ elements of the group $G$ always contains some non-empty zero-sum ...
0
votes
1
answer
187
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Quotient of a ring by a left ideal
This is a simple algebra question I'm struggling with.
Let $A$ be a ring (with unity) and $I\subset A$ a left ideal and $B\subset A$ a two sided Ideal.
$A/I=B$ and $A/B=I$ (in the category of left $A$...
3
votes
1
answer
202
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Intermediate lattices $C\mathbb{Z}^n \subseteq \Lambda \subseteq \mathbb{Z}^n$
Let $C \in \mathfrak{gl}(\mathbb{Z},n)$ be a symmetric full rank integer valued matrix (in my case it is the symmetric part of a Cartan matrix). Let $\Lambda \subseteq \mathbb{Z}^n$ be a full rank ...
3
votes
2
answers
305
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Are $H^3(A,U(1))$ and $\operatorname{Ext}^1(A,A^\vee)$ isomorphic for $A$ finite Abelian?
Motivated by three-dimensional Dijkgraaf-Witten TQFTs for finite Abelian groups $A$, that are classified by $H^3(A,\mathbb{R}/\mathbb{Z})$, it seems natural that this group is (naturally) isomorphic ...
1
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1
answer
209
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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
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1
answer
426
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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 ...
6
votes
1
answer
200
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Sums of quadratic forms over finite abelian groups
Let $A$ be a finite abelian group. Let $q:A\times A\to \mathbb{C}^{\times}$ be a non-degenerate bicharacter (that is: for every $a\in A$ $q(a,-)$ and $q(-,a)$ are characters of $A$, which are trivial ...
72
votes
9
answers
18k
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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 $...
2
votes
0
answers
63
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Adjoint to "strict twocategory of strict twofunctors"
Let C be the category of strict twofunctors, featuring the addition of a Grothendieck universe. Strict twocategories are categories enriched over the category of categories.
C has an internal hom ...
8
votes
1
answer
217
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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
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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 ...
5
votes
1
answer
791
views
Can we test if an abelian group is finitely generated by taking tensor product?
If $A$ is a finitely generated abelian group, then we know that for all fields $k$, the tensor product $A\otimes_{\mathbb{Z}}k$ is finite dimensional as a $k$-vector space.
The converse is not true, ...
4
votes
1
answer
216
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"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, ...
20
votes
5
answers
2k
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Constructively, is the unit of the “free abelian group” monad on sets injective?
Classically, we can explicitly construct the free Abelian group $\newcommand{\Z}{\mathbb{Z}}\Z[X]$ on a set $X$ as the set of finitely-supported functions $X \to \Z$, and so easily see that the unit ...
18
votes
2
answers
876
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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 ...
-1
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1
answer
209
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Every abelian group can be embedded into a ring [closed]
Let $(G,0,+)$ be an abelian group. Does there always exist a ring with unity $(R,0,1,+,\cdot)$ and an injective homomorphism of groups $ \psi:(G,0,+)\rightarrow (R,0,+)$?
Is this hard to prove, or are ...
4
votes
2
answers
227
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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 $S$ ...
1
vote
1
answer
129
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Small total variation distance between sums of random variables in finite Abelian group implies close to uniform?
Let $\mathbb{G} = \mathbb{Z}/p\mathbb{Z}$ (where $p$ is a prime). Let $X,Y,Z$ be independent random variables in $\mathbb G$.
For a small $\epsilon$ we have $\operatorname{dist}_{TV}(X+Y,Z+Y)<\...
5
votes
2
answers
331
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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
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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 ...
1
vote
0
answers
64
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Groups with prescribed Ulm invariants
In Kaplansky's book infinite abelian groups he provides (through some exercises) a complete classification of $p^{\infty}$-torsion countable abelian groups in terms of Ulm invariants. In other words ...
3
votes
1
answer
182
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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
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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
1
answer
153
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A question about freeness of a certain class of abelian groups
Lets call an abelian group $G$, to be semi-free (or SF) if every nonzero subgroup of $G$ is isomorphic to $\mathbb{Z}\times H$ for some abelian group $H$.
Is every semi-free group, a free group? If ...
3
votes
0
answers
70
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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
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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 ...
3
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0
answers
173
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Abelian characters and odd perfect numbers?
This question is about applications of abelian characters to odd perfect numbers:
Context and Definitions:
Let $n$ be a natural number and $D_n$ be the set of divisors.
We can make this set to a ring ...
4
votes
1
answer
211
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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
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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 ...
1
vote
0
answers
79
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A general theory of pairings
Bilinear forms and bilinear maps for vector spaces over a field are standard material for an introductory course in linear algebra.
There are also text books for bilinear forms and related quadratic ...
3
votes
0
answers
107
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(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 $p^0A=A,$
$$p^{\alpha+1}A=p(p^\alpha A) \hspace{5mm} \text{and} \...
37
votes
5
answers
11k
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When is Aut(G) abelian?
Let $G$ be a group such that $\operatorname{Aut}(G)$ is abelian. Is then $G$ abelian?
This is a sort of generalization of the well-known exercise, that $G$ is abelian when $\operatorname{Aut}(G)$ is ...
4
votes
0
answers
63
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Possible questions about the Tate-Shafarevich subgroup of a Galois hypercohomology group?
$\newcommand{\wt}{\widetilde}$
Let $n=1,2$. There are infinite torsion abelian groups $H^1$, $H^2$ killed by some natural number $m$.
There are finite subgroups
$$ {\rm Sha}^1 \subset H^1,\quad ...
28
votes
2
answers
863
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$A^2$ 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
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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
$$
G\cong ...
9
votes
2
answers
1k
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On the existence of a direct summand containing a fixed subgroup
Let $G$ be a finite abelian group, and $g_1, \ldots, g_n \in G$ such that the cyclic groups that they generate are in direct sum $\langle g_1 \rangle \oplus \cdots \oplus \langle g_n \rangle$. Is it ...
8
votes
1
answer
523
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Trivial group cohomology induces trivial cohomology of subgroups
From the answer to another question I asked (Projective representations of a finite abelian group) and from the structure theorem of finite abelian groups it follows that if $A$ is a finite abelian ...
4
votes
1
answer
242
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Quadratic refinements of a bilinear form on finite abelian groups
$\DeclareMathOperator\Hom{Hom}$Let $A$ be a finite abelian group and $\text{Sym}(A)$ the (abelian) group of symmetric bilinear forms over $A$ valued in $\mathbb{R}/\mathbb{Z}$.
A quadratic function on ...
6
votes
1
answer
408
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Is there a clear pattern for the degree $2n$ cohomology group of the $n$'th Eilenberg-MacLane space?
Let $G$ be a finite abelian group, and its higher classifying space is $B^nG=K(G,n)$. For $n=1$ it is well known that $H^2(B G, \mathbb{R}/\mathbb{Z}) \cong H^2(G,\mathbb{R}/\mathbb{Z})$ is isomorphic ...
8
votes
1
answer
393
views
Pontryagin dual of a group-cohomology class
Let $A, B, C$ be finite Abelian groups fitting in a short exact sequence
$$
1 \rightarrow A\overset{\iota}{\rightarrow} B\overset{\pi}{\rightarrow} C\rightarrow 1
$$
This determines a class $[\...
3
votes
1
answer
203
views
normalizer quotient is $\operatorname{GL}_2(p)$
Let $p$ be a prime and let $w$ be a primitive $p$-th root of unity in $\mathbb{C}$. There is an element $e$ of order $p$ in $G=\operatorname{PGL}_n(\mathbb{C})$ where $n=pk$ and
$$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
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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})\...