Cube map is endomorphism iff abelian (if order is not a multiple of 3)
This article describes an easy-to-prove fact about basic notions in group theory, that is not very well-known or important in itself
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Statement
Verbal statement
Consider a finite group whose order is not a multiple of 3. Then, the Cube map (?) (viz the map sending each element of the group to its cube) is an endomorphism if and only if the group is abelian.
Statement with symbols
Let be a finite group whose order is not a multiple of 3. Then, the map
defined as
is an endomorphism if and only if
is abelian.
Related facts
We say that a group is a n-abelian group if the power map is an endomorphism. Here are some related facts about
-abelian groups.
- n-abelian iff (1-n)-abelian
- The set of
for which
is
-abelian is termed the exponent semigroup of
. It is a submonoid of the multiplicative monoid of integers.
- abelian implies n-abelian for all n
- n-abelian implies every nth power and (n-1)th power commute
- n-abelian implies n(n-1)-central
- n-abelian iff abelian (if order is relatively prime to n(n-1))
- nth power map is surjective endomorphism implies (n-1)th power map is endomorphism taking values in the center
- (n-1)th power map is endomorphism taking values in the center implies nth power map is endomorphism
- Frattini-in-center odd-order p-group implies p-power map is endomorphism
- Frattini-in-center odd-order p-group implies (mp plus 1)-power map is automorphism
- Characterization of exponent semigroup of a finite p-group
- Alperin's structure theorem for n-abelian groups
Value of ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Characterization of ![]() |
Proof | Other related facts |
---|---|---|---|
0 | all groups | obvious | |
1 | all groups | obvious | |
2 | abelian groups only | 2-abelian iff abelian | endomorphism sends more than three-fourths of elements to squares implies abelian |
-1 | abelian groups only | -1-abelian iff abelian | |
3 | 3-abelian group means: 2-Engel group and derived subgroup has exponent dividing three | Levi's characterization of 3-abelian groups | cube map is surjective endomorphism implies abelian, cube map is endomorphism iff abelian (if order is not a multiple of 3), cube map is endomorphism implies class three |
-2 | same as for 3-abelian | (based on n-abelian iff (1-n)-abelian) |
Facts used
- Abelian implies universal power map is endomorphism: In an abelian group, the
power map is an endomorphism for all
.
- Cube map is surjective endomorphism implies abelian
- kth power map is bijective iff k is relatively prime to the order
Proof
Abelian implies cube map is endomorphism
This is a direct consequence of fact (1).
Cube map is endomorphism implies abelian
Given: A finite group whose order is relatively prime to
, and such that
is an endomorphism of
.
To prove: is abelian.
Proof:
Step no. | Assertion | Given data used | Facts used | Previous steps used | Explanation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | The cube map is an automorphism, and in particular, a surjective endomorphism, of ![]() |
The order is not a multiple of 3, and the cube map is an endomorphism. | Fact (3) | -- | Since the order is not a multiple of ![]() ![]() ![]() |
2 | ![]() |
-- | Fact (2) | Step (1) | Since the cube map is an automorphism, ![]() |
Difference from the corresponding statement for the square map
In the case of the square map, we prove something much stronger:
In the case of the cube map, this is no longer true. That is, it may so happen that although
. Thus, to show that
we need to not only use that
but also use that this identity is valid for other elements picked from
(specifically, that it is valid for their cuberoots).
References
Textbook references
- Topics in Algebra by I. N. Herstein, More info, Page 48, Exercise 24