- #1
the_fox
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This is a problem I encountered in Martin Isaacs' 'Finite Group Theory'. It's located at the end of Chapter II which deals with subnormality, and the particular paragraph is concerned with a couple of not so well-known results which I quote for reference:
(In what follows F is the Fitting subgroup)
Theorem (Zenkov)
Let A and B be abelian subgroups of the finite group G, and let M be a minimal (in the sense of containment) member of the set {A \cap B^g | g in G}. Then M is a subgroup of F(G).
An easy corollary follows which establishes the existence of a subnormal subgroup:
Corollary
If A is an abelian subgroup of the finite group G and |A|>=|G:A|, then A intersects F(G) non-trivially.
In fact, if A is cyclic then a normal subgroup is guaranteed:
Theorem (Lucchini)
Let A be a cyclic proper subgroup of a finite group G, and let K=core_G(A). Then |A:K|<|G:A|, and in particular, if |A|>=|G:A|, then K>1.
Problem
Let G be a finite group such that G=AN, where A is abelian, N is normal in G, the centralizer of N in A is trivial as is the Fitting subgroup of N. Show that |A|<|N|.
Note that, since N is normal in G, the Fitting subgroup of N is the intersection of N with the Fitting subgroup of G. So, if |A|>=|N| in the problem, then |A|>=|N:N \cap A|=|NA:A|=|G:A| and the corollary applies to give a non-trivial intersection of A with F(G). How does one proceed from here to obtain a contradiction? In particular, how can the condition on the centralizer be utilized effectively?
(In what follows F is the Fitting subgroup)
Theorem (Zenkov)
Let A and B be abelian subgroups of the finite group G, and let M be a minimal (in the sense of containment) member of the set {A \cap B^g | g in G}. Then M is a subgroup of F(G).
An easy corollary follows which establishes the existence of a subnormal subgroup:
Corollary
If A is an abelian subgroup of the finite group G and |A|>=|G:A|, then A intersects F(G) non-trivially.
In fact, if A is cyclic then a normal subgroup is guaranteed:
Theorem (Lucchini)
Let A be a cyclic proper subgroup of a finite group G, and let K=core_G(A). Then |A:K|<|G:A|, and in particular, if |A|>=|G:A|, then K>1.
Problem
Let G be a finite group such that G=AN, where A is abelian, N is normal in G, the centralizer of N in A is trivial as is the Fitting subgroup of N. Show that |A|<|N|.
Note that, since N is normal in G, the Fitting subgroup of N is the intersection of N with the Fitting subgroup of G. So, if |A|>=|N| in the problem, then |A|>=|N:N \cap A|=|NA:A|=|G:A| and the corollary applies to give a non-trivial intersection of A with F(G). How does one proceed from here to obtain a contradiction? In particular, how can the condition on the centralizer be utilized effectively?