Residual finiteness is subgroup-closed

From Groupprops

This article gives the statement, and possibly proof, of a group property (i.e., residually finite group) satisfying a group metaproperty (i.e., subgroup-closed group property)
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Statement

Verbal statement

Any subgroup of a residually finite group is itself a residually finite group.

Statement with symbols

Suppose is a residually finite group and is a subgroup of . Then, is also a residually finite group.

Facts used

  1. Finiteness is subgroup-closed: Any subgroup of a finite group is finite.
  2. Residually operator preserves subgroup-closedness: If is a subgroup-closed group property, so is the property obtained by applying the residually operator to .
  3. Normality satisfies transfer condition
  4. Index satisfies transfer inequality

Proof

Proof from given facts

The proof follows directly by combining facts (1) and (2).

Hands-on proof

Given: A residually finite group , a subgroup of .

To prove: For any non-identity element , there exists a normal subgroup of of finite index not containing .

Proof:

  1. There exists a normal subgroup of finite index in not containing : [SHOW MORE]
  2. Let . Then, is normal in , has finite index in , and does not contain : [SHOW MORE]

This completes the proof.