4
$\begingroup$

Show that the the group with presentation $$\langle x, y\ \mid\ x^2=y^2x^2y,\ (xy^2)^2=yx^2, \ yx^{-1}y^2=x^7\rangle $$ is cyclic of order 24.

This presentation was obtained using the Todd-Coxeter process for a subgroup of index 2 in the group presented in problem 476854.

$\endgroup$
22
  • $\begingroup$ Hint: try drawing the Cayley graph with $x,y$ as generators. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 21, 2014 at 19:12
  • $\begingroup$ I think it might be easier to let $z=x*y^{-1}$ and eliminate $x$. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 21, 2014 at 20:27
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ @naslundx: Can you explain why this question is closed please? $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 22, 2014 at 12:24
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ @Hayden: Can you explain why this question is closed again please? ! $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 22, 2014 at 16:43
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @mesel If the question was interesting enough to attract the efforts of several people, it seems a likely candidate to remain open. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 22, 2014 at 21:30

2 Answers 2

2
$\begingroup$

$$x^2=y^2x^2y$$

$$x=x^{-1}y^2x^2y=y^{-1}(yx^{-1}y^2)x^2y$$ $$x=y^{-1}x^9y$$

then we can say that;

$$y^2x^2y=x^2=y^{-1}x^{18}y$$ $$y^2x^2=y^{-1}x^{18}$$ $$y^3=x^{16}$$

Now, $$(xy^2)^2=yx^2$$ $$xy^2xy^2=yx^2$$ $$xy^2x(y^3)=yx^2y=y^3x^2y^2=x^{18}y^2$$ $$y^2x^{17}=x^{17}y^2$$ $$y^5x=xy^{5}$$

As a last step;

$$x^2=y^2x^2y$$ $$x^{18}=x^2y^3=y^3x^2=(y^5x^2)y=x^2y^6$$ $$x^2y^3=x^2y^6$$ $$e=y^3$$

Thus, we can say that $x,y^2$ will commute with each other so will $x,y^4=y$. And $x=y^{-1}x^9y=x^9\implies x^8=e$. From that point you can easily conclude that $G$ is an cyclic group of order $24$.


N.Q.E.D

$\endgroup$
4
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ In the antepenultimate equality, I think you mean $x^{18}$ instead of $x^{14}$? Also, how to you get that $x$ and $y^2$ commute? The 1st identity says that $y$ and $x^2$ commute... $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 22, 2014 at 3:14
  • $\begingroup$ "N.Q.E.D."?${}$ $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 22, 2014 at 8:26
  • $\begingroup$ @Nishant: yeah it is $x^{18}$ before last step we have found that $x,y^5$ commute with each other and in last step we found that $y^3=e$ that is why $y^2,x$ commute each other. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 22, 2014 at 10:04
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ @NajibIdrissi: 'Not quite easily done' $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 22, 2014 at 10:10
2
$\begingroup$

First we manipulate the relations to show that the group $G$ defined by the presentation is the direct product $\langle x\rangle\times\langle y\rangle$, with $x$ of order a divisor of $8$ and $y$ of order a divisor of $3$. Then, to show that $x$ and $y$ have orders $8$ and $3$ exactly, we exhibit a homomorphism from $G$ onto a group in which the images of $x$ and $y$ have those respective orders.

Let's label the relations for easier reference, thus: $$x^2 = y^2x^2y;\tag{e1}\label{e1}$$ $$yx^{-1}y^2 = x^7;\tag{e2}\label{e2}$$ $$(xy^2)^2 = yx^2.\tag{e3}\label{e3}$$ From \eqref{e2} we get $$y^2 = xy^{-1}x^7.\tag{e4}\label{e4}$$ Using \eqref{e1} and \eqref{e4} we can derive the following. $$\begin{align} x^2 &\stackrel{\eqref{e1}}= y^2x^2y \\ &\stackrel{\eqref{e4}}= xy^{-1}x^7x^2y \\ &= xy^{-1}x^9y, \end{align}$$ which implies $$x = y^{-1}x^9y \;\;\text{and}\;\; x^{-1} = y^{-1}x^{-9}y.\tag{e5}\label{e5}$$ Using \eqref{e5} in \eqref{e2}, we obtain $$x^7 \stackrel{\eqref{e2}}= yx^{-1}y^2 \stackrel{\eqref{e5}}= y(y^{-1}x^{-9}y)y^2 = x^{-9}y^3.\tag{e6}\label{e6}$$ From this follows the crucial relation $$x^{16} = y^3.\tag{e7}\label{e7}$$ In particular, $y^3$ commutes with $x$ (and hence, with its powers).

Next, we use \eqref{e2} and \eqref{e7} as follows: $$\begin{align}\tag{e8}\label{e8} x^7y &\stackrel{\eqref{e2}}= yx^{-1}y^3 \\ &\stackrel{\eqref{e7}}= yx^{-1}x^{16} \\ &= yx^{15}. \end{align}$$

Now, because $y^3$ commutes with $x$, we can write $$x^2y^2 \stackrel{\eqref{e1}}= y^2x^2y^3 = y^5x^2,$$ and then, using that $y^3$ commutes with $x^{-1}$ (and \eqref{e2}), we get $$x^7y^{-5} \stackrel{\eqref{e2}}= yx^{-1}y^3 = y^{-2}x^{-1} = (xy^2)^{-1}.$$ Taking inverses, this leads to $$xy^2 = y^5x^{-7}.\tag{e9}\label{e9}$$ But, $$\begin{align} yx^2 &\stackrel{\eqref{e3}}= (xy^2)^2 \\ &\stackrel{\eqref{e9}}= y^5x^{-7}y^5x^{-7} \\ &\stackrel{\eqref{e2}}= y^5(y^{-2}xy^{-1})y^5(y^{-2}xy^{-1}) \\ &=y^3xy^2xy^{-1}; \end{align}$$ whence $$x^2 = y^2xy^2xy^{-1} = (y^2x)^2y^{-1}.\tag{e10}\label{e10}$$ Now, $$\begin{align} yx^2 &\stackrel{\eqref{e3}}= (xy^2)^2 \\ &\stackrel{\eqref{e9}}= y^5x^{-7}y^5x^{-7} \\ &\stackrel{\eqref{e2}}= y^5(y^{-2}xy^{-1})y^5(y^{-2}xy^{-1}) \\ &= y^3xy^2xy^{-1}, \end{align}$$ so that $$x^2 = y^2xy^2xy^{-1} = (y^2x)^2y^{-1}.\tag{e11}\label{e11}$$ Therefore, $$y^2x^2y \stackrel{\eqref{e1}}= x^2 \stackrel{\eqref{e11}}= (y^2x)^2y^{-1},$$ which, upon cancelling $y^2x$ on the left leaves us with $xy = y^2xy^{-1}$ or, equivalently, $$xy^2 = y^2x.$$

Recall, however, that also $y^3$ commutes with $x$ so, in fact, $y$ itself commutes with $x$.

We're almost done. Using the knowledge that $x$ and $y$ commute, the first relation \eqref{e1} gives us that $x^2 = x^2y^3$, or $y^3=1$. Then, from $y^3 = 1$ and \eqref{e2} we get $$x^7 = yx^{-1}y^2 = x^{-1}y^3 = x^{-1},$$ so that $x^8 = 1$.

This shows that the group $G$ defined by your presentation is abelian, generated by $x$ of order dividing $8$ and $y$ of order dividing $3$. Since the orders of $x$ and $y$ are coprime, we have $$\langle x\rangle\cap\langle y\rangle = 1$$ in $G$, and so $G = \langle x\rangle\times\langle y\rangle = \langle xy\rangle$ is cyclic. We also know that the order of $G$, which is equal to $\mid\langle x\rangle\mid\cdot\mid\langle y\rangle\mid$, is a divisor of $24 = 8\cdot 3$.

Finally, to show that the orders of $x$ and $y$ are indeed $8$ and $3$, respectively, I'll leave it as an exercise to show that the map $$G\to\langle (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8)(9,10,11)\rangle$$ defined on the generators by $$x\mapsto (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8)\;\;\text{and}\;\; y\mapsto (9,10,11)$$ does indeed define a homomorphism. (Just check that the permutation images of $x$ and $y$ satisfy the relations.)

$\endgroup$
5
  • $\begingroup$ +100k Very good James. As I commented above, I did these tedious manipulations on 7 sheet of papers but couldn't find the right way. Awful relations. (-: $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 22, 2014 at 12:17
  • $\begingroup$ @B.S.: do you know why this question is closed? $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 22, 2014 at 12:29
  • $\begingroup$ @mesel: No :-( Not really know the possible reasons. It is a good one at least for me. I vote for reopen. :-) $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 22, 2014 at 12:39
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @B.S. It only took me two sheets of paper. (But I used an eraser. :-) $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 22, 2014 at 21:17
  • 3
    $\begingroup$ I would guess that the question was closed because it lacks context. There is no information about where it came from, why it is interesting, etc. I will vote to reopen. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 23, 2014 at 7:40

You must log in to answer this question.

Start asking to get answers

Find the answer to your question by asking.

Ask question

Explore related questions

See similar questions with these tags.