# Subgroup structure of dihedral group:D8

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The dihedral group $D_8$, sometimes called $D_4$, also called the dihedral group of order eight or the dihedral group acting on four elements, is defined by the following presentation:

$\langle x,a| a^4 = x^2 = 1, xax^{-1} = a^{-1}\rangle$

The dihedral group has ten subgroups:

1. The trivial subgroup (1)
2. The center, which is the unique minimal normal subgroup, and is a two-element subgroup generated by $a^2$. (1)
3. The two-element subgroups generated by $x$, $ax$, $a^2x$ and $a^3x$. (4)
4. The four-element subgroup generated by $a^2$ and $x$. This comprises elements $e,a^2,x,a^2x$. It is isomorphic to the Klein-four group. A similar four-element subgroup is obtained as that generated by $a^2$ and $ax$. (2)
5. The four-element subgroup generated by $a$. (1)
6. The whole group. (1)

We study here the properties of each of these subgroups (except the trivial subgroup and the whole group). We denote the whole group by $G$.

First, a quick summary:

• Except the subgroups in (3), all subgroups are normal. Of the subgroups listed in (3), there are two conjugacy classes of subgroups, each comprising two subgroups. Both conjugacy classes are related by an outer automorphism.
• The subgroups listed in (1), (2), (5) and (6) are characteristic. The two subgroups listed in (4) are normal, but are automorphs of each other.

## The center (type (2))

This is a two-element subgroup $\{ a^2, e\}$. It is a characteristic subgroup.

### Subgroup-defining functions yielding this subgroup

There are many subgroup-defining functions that yield this subgroup, for instance:

• The center: $Z(G) = \{ a^2, e \}$. These are the only two elements that commute with every element. It is also equal to $\Omega^1(Z(G))$, the subgroup generated by elements of order two in the center.
• The commutator subgroup: $[G,G] = \{ a^2, e \}$. The quotient group is isomorphic to the Klein-four group.
• The Frattini subgroup: It is the intersection of three maximal subgroups, each of order four. (these are covered in points (4) and (5) in the list).
• The socle: In fact, $\{ a^2, e\}$ is the unique minimal normal subgroup.
• The first agemo subgroup: $\{ a^2, e \}$ is the subgroup generated by all squares, and is hence $\operatorname{Agemo}^1(G)$.

### Subgroup properties satisfied by this subgroup

On account of being an agemo subgroup as well as on account of being the commutator subgroup, the center is a verbal subgroup -- it is a subgroup generated by words of a certain form (in the agemo description, these words are squares; in the commutator subgroup description, these words are commutators). Thus, it satisfies the following properties:

## The four-element characteristic subgroup (type (5))

### Subgroup-defining functions yielding this subgroup

None of the standard choices of subgroup-defining functions yields this subgroup. It can be described using the following:

### Subgroup properties satisfied by this subgroup

The subgroup is a cyclic maximal subgroup. On account of this, it satisfies the following: