injection can be extended to isomorphism


Theorem.  If f is an injection from a set S into a group G, then there exist a group H containing S and a group isomorphism  φ:H→G  such that  φ|S=f.

Proof.  Let M be a set such that  card⁡(M)≧card⁡(G).  Because  card⁡(f⁢(S))=card⁡(S), we have  card⁡(M∖S)≧card⁡(G∖f⁢(S)),  and therefore there exists an injection

ψ:G∖f⁢(S)→M∖S

(provided that  G∖f⁢(S)≠∅;  otherwise the mapping  f:S→G would be a bijection).  Define

H:=S∪ψ⁢(G∖f⁢(S)),
φ⁢(h):={f⁢(h)  for⁢h∈S,ψ-1⁢(h) for⁢h∈H∖S.

Then apparently,  φ:H→G  is a bijection and  φ|S=f.  Moreover, define the binary operationMathworldPlanetmath “*” of the set H by

h1∗h2:=φ-1⁢(φ⁢(h1)⋅φ⁢(h2)). (1)

We see first that

(h1∗h2)∗h3  =φ-1⁢(φ⁢(φ-1⁢(φ⁢(h1)⋅φ⁢(h2)))⋅φ⁢(h3))
 =φ-1⁢((φ⁢(h1)⋅φ⁢(h2))⋅φ⁢(h3))
 =φ-1⁢(φ⁢(h1)⋅(φ⁢(h2)⋅φ⁢(h3)))
 =φ-1⁢(φ⁢(h1)⋅φ⁢(φ-1⁢(φ⁢(h2)⋅φ⁢(h3))))
 =h1∗(h2∗h3).

Secondly,

h∗φ-1⁢(e)=φ-1⁢(φ⁢(h)⋅φ⁢(φ-1⁢(e)))=φ-1⁢(φ⁢(h))=h,

whence φ-1⁢(e) is the right identityPlanetmathPlanetmath element of H.  Then,

h∗φ-1⁢((φ⁢(h))-1)=φ-1⁢(φ⁢(h)⋅φ⁢(φ-1⁢(φ⁢(h)-1)))=φ-1⁢(e),

and accordingly φ-1⁢((φ⁢(h))-1) is the right inverse of h in H.  Consequently, (H,∗) is a group.  The equation (1) implies that

φ⁢(h1∗h2)=φ⁢(h1)⋅φ⁢(h2),

whence φ is an isomorphismPlanetmathPlanetmathPlanetmathPlanetmathPlanetmath from H onto G.  Q.E.D.

Title injection can be extended to isomorphism
Canonical name InjectionCanBeExtendedToIsomorphism
Date of creation 2013-03-22 18:56:50
Last modified on 2013-03-22 18:56:50
Owner pahio (2872)
Last modified by pahio (2872)
Numerical id 10
Author pahio (2872)
Entry type Theorem
Classification msc 20A05
Classification msc 03E20
Related topic RestrictionPlanetmathPlanetmathPlanetmathPlanetmath
Related topic Cardinality