CM121A, Abstract Algebra

Solution Sheet 4

Solutions to problems 5-7 from exercise sheet 3, and problems 1-4 from exercise sheet 4

Sheet 3: 5. Find all a Z such that a2 1 mod 15. Solution: We know from Prop. 3.3.4 (or the preceding exercise) that if a b mod 15, then a2 b2 mod 15. So we just need to nd the solutions with 0 a 14, and then the set of all solutions in Z is given by those congruence classes modulo 15. Running through the possibilities, we nd that a = 1, 4, 11 and 14 work, so the solutions are: a 1, 4, 11 or 14 mod 15. 6. Express each of the following elements of Z101 in the form [r]101 for some integer r with 0 r 100: (a) [36]101 ; Solution: [65]101 (b) [91]101 + [36]101 ; Solution: [26]101 (c) [91]101 [36]101 ; Solution: [44]101 (Note that since 91 10 mod 101, 91 36 10 36 360 44 mod 101.) (d) [9136 ]101 . Solution: [1]101 (Note that 912 (10)2 1 mod 101, so part (c) of the preceding problem shows that 9136 = (912 )18 (1)18 1 mod 101.) 7. Let n be a positive integer. (a) Prove that multiplication on Zn is associative. Solution: Suppose that [a]n , [b]n , [c]n Zn . By denition of multiplication on Zn , we have ([a]n [b]n )[c]n = [ab]n [c]n = [(ab)c]n = [a(bc)]n = [a]n [bc]n = [a]n ([b]n [c]n ) (where we used the associative law for multiplication on Z to replace (ab)c by a(bc)). (b) Prove the distributive law on Zn : [a]n ([b]n + [c]n ) = [a]n [b]n + [a]n [c]n for all [a]n , [b]n , [c]n Zn . Solution: Suppose that [a]n , [b]n , [c]n Zn . Then [a]n ([b]n + [c]n ) = [a]n [b + c]n = [a(b + c)]n = [ab + ac]n = [ab]n + [ac]n = [a]n [b]n + [a]n [c]n

(where we applied the distributive law on Z to replace a(b + c) by ab + ac).

Sheet 4: 1. Which of the following are groups? If it is not, give a reason. (a) The set of even integers under addition. Solution: A group. (b) The set of odd integers under multiplication. Solution: Not a group (3, for example, has no inverse). (c) The set of complex numbers under multiplication. Solution: Not a group (0 has no inverse). (d) The set of rational numbers of the form 2n (for n Z) under multiplication. Solution: A group. (e) The set of real numbers with the operation dened by xy = xy+1. Solution: Not a group (not associative, from previous exercise sheet). (f) The set of real numbers with the operation dened by x y = x + y 1. Solution: A group (associative from previous exercise sheet; identity is 1; inverse of x is 2 x). (g) The set of vectors (x1 , x2 , . . . , xn ) in Rn under vector addition. Solution: A group. (h) The set of vectors (x1 , x2 , . . . , xn ) in Rn under the dot product. Solution: Not a group (not even a binary operation). (i) The set of functions f : R R with the operation + (dened by (f + g)(x) = f (x) + g(x)). Solution: A group. 2. List the 12 symmetries of a regular hexagon (give a description and notation for each). This set forms a group under composition. Construct its multiplication table. Solution: Assume the vertices are labeled A, B, C, D, E and F running clockwise, with a horizontal edge AB on top. The identity, denoted e. Rotations clockwise by: 60 , denoted 1 ; 120 , denoted 2 ; 180 , denoted 3 ; 240 , denoted 4 ; 300 , denoted 5 . Reections in the following axes: through midpoints of AB and DE (vertical), denoted 1 ; through vertices B and E, denoted 2 ; through midpoints of BC and EF , denoted 3 ; through vertices C and F (horizontal), denoted 4 ; through midpoints of CD and F A, denoted 5 ; through vertices D and A, denoted 6 .

The multiplication table is then: e 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 e e 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 1 2 3 4 5 e 6 1 2 3 4 5 2 2 3 4 5 e 1 5 6 1 2 3 4 3 3 4 5 e 1 2 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 4 5 e 1 2 3 3 4 5 6 1 2 5 5 e 1 2 3 4 2 3 4 5 6 1 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 e 1 2 3 4 5 2 2 3 4 5 6 1 5 e 1 2 3 4 3 3 4 5 6 1 2 4 5 e 1 2 3 4 4 5 6 1 2 3 3 4 5 e 1 2 5 5 6 1 2 3 4 2 3 4 5 e 1 6 6 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 e

3. Recall that M2 (R) denotes the set of 2 2 real matrices, and that if a b A= , then det A = ad bc. c d (a) Prove that matrix multiplication on M2 (R) is associative. a b a b Solution: Suppose that A = ,B= and C = c d c d a b are elements of M2 (R). Then c d (AB)C = aa + bc ca + dc ab + bd cb + dd a c b d

aa a + bc a + ab c + bd c ca a + dc a + cb c + dd c = = a c b d aa +bc ca +dc

aa b + bc b + ab d + bd d ca b + dc b + cb d + dd d ab +bd cb +dd

A(BC)

Therefore matrix multiplication is associative. (b) Prove that if A, B M2 (R), then det(AB) = det(A) det(B). a b a b Solution: If A = ,B= , then c d c d AB = so det(AB) = (aa + bc )(cb + dd ) (ab + bd )(ca + dc ) = aa dd + bc cb ab dc bd ca (other terms cancel) = (ad bc)(a d b c ) = (det A)(det B). aa + bc ca + dc ab + bd cb + dd ,

4. Recall that if n is a positive integer, then Z = { [a]n Zn | a Z, gcd(a, n) = 1} n is a group under multiplication mod n. (a) List the elements of Z and nd the inverse of each. 15 Solution: Z = {[1], [2], [4], [7], [8], [11], [13], [14]}. 15 Element Inverse [1] [2] [4] [7] [8] [11] [13] [1] [8] [4] [13] [2] [11] [7] 3 [14] [14]

(b) Let n = 2009. Find the inverse of [1829]n in Z . n Solution: Applying the Euclidean Algorithm to 2009 and 1829 gives: 2009 1829 180 29 6 = = = = = 1 1829 10 180 6 29 46 15 + + + + + 180 29 6 5 1.

So in fact gcd(1829, n) = 1, and [1829]n is in Z . To nd its inverse, n we unwind the above equations: 1 = 6 5 = 6 (29 4 6) = 5 6 29 = 5(180 6 29) 29 = 5 180 31 29 = 5 180 31 (1829 10 180) = 315 180 31 1829 = 315(2009 1829) 31 1829 = 315 2009 346 1829.

So 346 1829 1 mod n, and the inverse of [1829]n is [346]n = [1663]n .