1. Introduction: How to Use This Article
This article provides a single-page panoramic view of undergraduate group theory—roughly one textbook's worth of algebra. For each topic, we present the key definitions, major theorems, and proof sketches in concise form.
How to use this page:
Newcomers: read the sections in order to build a coherent picture of the subject.
Review or exam preparation: jump to any section from the table of contents.
Quick theorem lookup: Section 13, “ Theorem Directory,”{} collects all the major results in one list.
The dependency diagram below shows how the main topics are interrelated.
graph TD
A["Group Axioms and Basic Properties"] --> B["Subgroups and Generation"]
B --> C["Cosets and Lagrange's Theorem"]
C --> D["Normal Subgroups and Quotient Groups"]
A --> E["Homomorphisms"]
D --> E
E --> F["The Isomorphism Theorems"]
D --> F
A --> G["Group Actions"]
C --> G
G --> H["Conjugacy and the Class Equation"]
H --> I["The Sylow Theorems"]
C --> I
G --> I
B --> J["Direct Products and the Structure of Finite Abelian Groups"]
I --> J
D --> K["Simple Groups and the Jordan-Hölder Theorem"]
F --> K
style A fill:#f5f5f5,stroke:#333,color:#000
style I fill:#f5f5f5,stroke:#333,color:#000
style J fill:#f5f5f5,stroke:#333,color:#000
style K fill:#f5f5f5,stroke:#333,color:#000
2. Group Axioms and Basic Properties
A group is a pair (G,⋅) consisting of a set G and a binary operation ⋅:G×G→G satisfying three axioms:
Associativity: (a⋅b)⋅c=a⋅(b⋅c) for all a,b,c∈G.
Identity element: there exists e∈G such that e⋅a=a⋅e=a for all a∈G.
Inverses: for every a∈G there exists b∈G with a⋅b=b⋅a=e.
In any group G the identity element is unique, and each element a has a unique inverse.
Uniqueness of the identity: if e and e′ are both identity elements then e=e⋅e′=e′. Uniqueness of inverses: if b and b′ are both inverses of a then b=b(ab′)=(ba)b′=b′. □
In a group G, ab=ac⇒b=c (left cancellation) and ba=ca⇒b=c (right cancellation).
Fundamental examples:
(Z,+): the additive group of integers. Identity is 0; the inverse of a is −a.
(Sn,∘): the symmetric group on n letters (all permutations of {1,…,n}). ∣Sn∣=n!.
(GLn(R),⋅): the general linear group (all invertible n×n real matrices).
(Dn,∘): the dihedral group of the regular n-gon. ∣Dn∣=2n.
(Z/nZ,+): the additive group of integers modulo n. A cyclic group of order n.
(V4,⋅): the Klein four-group {e,a,b,ab} with a2=b2=(ab)2=e.
A group G is called abelian (or commutative) if ab=ba for all a,b∈G.
For more details:
https://interconnectd.app/articles/iHZny7PRhPgi0urg8COk
3. Subgroups and Generation
A nonempty subset H of a group G is a subgroup of G if H is itself a group under the operation of G. We write H≤G.
For a nonempty subset H⊆G, the following are equivalent:
H≤G.
For all a,b∈H, ab−1∈H (one-step test).
e∈H, and for all a,b∈H, ab∈H and a−1∈H (two-step test).
For S⊆G, the smallest subgroup of G containing S is denoted ⟨S⟩ and called the subgroup generated byS. If G=⟨g⟩ for some element g, then G is called a cyclic group.
Every cyclic group is isomorphic to Z (infinite cyclic) or to Z/nZ (cyclic of order n).
For a∈G, the order of a is the smallest positive integer n such that an=e; we write ord(a)=n. If no such n exists, we set ord(a)=∞.
If ord(a)=n, then ak=e if and only if n∣k.
4. Cosets and Lagrange's Theorem
Let H≤G and a∈G. The sets aH={ah∣h∈H}(left coset),Ha={ha∣h∈H}(right coset)
are called cosets of H. The number of distinct left cosets [G:H]=∣G/H∣ is called the index of H in G.
If G is a finite group and H≤G, then ∣G∣=[G:H]⋅∣H∣.
In particular, ∣H∣ divides ∣G∣.
Each left coset aH has exactly ∣H∣ elements (the map h↦ah is a bijection H→aH). Since the left cosets partition G, we have ∣G∣=[G:H]⋅∣H∣. □
Key corollaries:
The order of every element a of a finite group G divides ∣G∣. In particular, a∣G∣=e.
Every group of prime order p is cyclic (G≅Z/pZ).
If p is prime and gcd(a,p)=1, then ap−1≡1(modp).
The group (Z/pZ)× has order p−1, and amodp is an element of this group. By the corollary above, ap−1≡1. □
For more details:
https://interconnectd.app/articles/BN3fsSxdENo8Fr5b6xvu
5. Normal Subgroups and Quotient Groups
A subgroup N≤G is called normal if gN=Ng for every g∈G. We write N⊴G.
For N≤G, the following are equivalent:
N⊴G (i.e., gN=Ng for all g∈G).
gNg−1=N for all g∈G.
gng−1∈N for all g∈G and n∈N.
N is the kernel of some homomorphism.
If N⊴G, the set of cosets G/N={gN∣g∈G} becomes a group under the multiplication (aN)(bN)=(ab)N.
This group is called the quotient group (or factor group) of G by N.
The canonical projection π:G→G/N defined by g↦gN is a surjective homomorphism with kerπ=N:
For more details:
https://interconnectd.app/articles/jmREBCJRSgX5rW5Eq2Xq
6. Homomorphisms
A map φ:G→H between groups is a group homomorphism if φ(ab)=φ(a)φ(b)for all a,b∈G.
If φ:G→H is a group homomorphism, then:
φ(eG)=eH (the identity is preserved).
φ(a−1)=φ(a)−1 (inverses are preserved).
(1) From φ(eG)=φ(eG⋅eG)=φ(eG)φ(eG), multiply both sides by φ(eG)−1 to get eH=φ(eG). (2) φ(a)φ(a−1)=φ(aa−1)=φ(eG)=eH, so φ(a−1)=φ(a)−1. □
For a homomorphism φ:G→H: kerφImφ={g∈G∣φ(g)=eH}(kernel)={φ(g)∣g∈G}(image)
kerφ⊴G (the kernel is a normal subgroup) and Imφ≤H (the image is a subgroup).
φ is injective if and only if kerφ={eG}.
Standard examples of homomorphisms:
The canonical projection π:Z→Z/nZ; kerπ=nZ.
The sign homomorphism sgn:Sn→{+1,−1}; ker(sgn)=An (the alternating group).
The determinant det:GLn(R)→R∗; ker(det)=SLn(R) (the special linear group).
For more details:
https://interconnectd.app/articles/IZaIuMjtorMoeOSmpMqO
7. The Isomorphism Theorems
graph LR
A["First Isomorphism Theorem<br/>G/ker φ ≅ Im φ"] --> B["Second Isomorphism Theorem<br/>HN/N ≅ H/(H∩N)"]
A --> C["Third Isomorphism Theorem<br/>(G/N)/(H/N) ≅ G/H"]
D["Kernel and Image of a Homomorphism"] --> A
E["Normal Subgroups and Quotient Groups"] --> A
style A fill:#f5f5f5,stroke:#333,color:#000
If φ:G→H is a group homomorphism, then G/kerφ≅Imφ.
Define φˉ(gkerφ)=φ(g). If gkerφ=g′kerφ, then g−1g′∈kerφ, so φ(g)=φ(g′) (well-defined). That φˉ is a homomorphism, injective (φˉ(gkerφ)=eH⇒g∈kerφ), and surjective onto Imφ is verified directly. □
If H≤G and N⊴G, then HN/N≅H/(H∩N).
The map φ:H→HN/N given by h↦hN is a surjective homomorphism with kerφ=H∩N. Apply the first isomorphism theorem. □
If N⊴G, H⊴G, and N⊆H, then (G/N)/(H/N)≅G/H.
The map φ:G/N→G/H defined by gN↦gH is a surjective homomorphism with kerφ=H/N. Apply the first isomorphism theorem. □
For more details:
https://interconnectd.app/articles/IZaIuMjtorMoeOSmpMqO
8. Group Actions
A group Gacts (on the left) on a set X if there is a map G×X→X, written (g,x)↦g⋅x, satisfying:
e⋅x=x for all x∈X.
(gh)⋅x=g⋅(h⋅x) for all g,h∈G and x∈X.
When G acts on X: Orb(x)Stab(x)={g⋅x∣g∈G}(the orbit of x)={g∈G∣g⋅x=x}(the stabilizer of x)
The stabilizer Stab(x) is a subgroup of G.
∣Orb(x)∣=[G:Stab(x)]=∣Stab(x)∣∣G∣
Show that the map G/Stab(x)→Orb(x) given by gStab(x)↦g⋅x is a well-defined bijection. □
Every group G is isomorphic to a subgroup of some symmetric group SX. If G is finite, then G is isomorphic to a subgroup of S∣G∣.
G acts on itself by left multiplication (g⋅x=gx). The resulting homomorphism ρ:G→SG is injective: ρ(g)=id implies gx=x for all x, so g=e. □
If a finite group G acts on a finite set X, the number of orbits is ∣X/G∣=∣G∣1g∈G∑∣Xg∣,
where Xg={x∈X∣g⋅x=x} is the fixed-point set of g.
For more details:
https://interconnectd.app/articles/KSG2as2QqNvSXA5AfN88
9. Conjugacy and the Class Equation
Two elements a,b∈G are conjugate if b=gag−1 for some g∈G. Conjugacy is an equivalence relation; its equivalence classes are called conjugacy classes.
G acts on itself by conjugation (g⋅x=gxg−1). Under this action:
The center of G is Z(G)={z∈G∣zg=gz for all g∈G}=a∈G⋂CG(a).
Z(G)⊴G.
For a finite group G, ∣G∣=∣Z(G)∣+i∑[G:CG(ai)],
where the sum runs over one representative ai from each conjugacy class of size ≥2.
By the orbit–stabilizer theorem, ∣Cl(a)∣=[G:CG(a)]. Since G is partitioned into conjugacy classes, separate the singleton classes (which form Z(G)) from the rest to obtain the class equation. □
If p is prime and ∣G∣=pn with n≥1 (i.e., G is a p-group), then Z(G)={e}.
In the class equation, ∣G∣=pn and each term [G:CG(ai)] is a divisor of ∣G∣ greater than 1, hence divisible by p. Therefore ∣Z(G)∣=∣G∣−∑i[G:CG(ai)]≡0(modp). Since e∈Z(G), we have ∣Z(G)∣≥p. □
Every group of order p2 is abelian.
We have ∣Z(G)∣∈{p,p2}. If ∣Z(G)∣=p2, then G=Z(G) and G is abelian. If ∣Z(G)∣=p, then G/Z(G) has order p and is therefore cyclic: G/Z(G)=⟨gZ(G)⟩. Every element of G can be written giz with z∈Z(G), and a direct computation shows ab=ba for all a,b∈G—contradicting ∣Z(G)∣=p. Hence ∣Z(G)∣=p2. □
For more details:
https://interconnectd.app/articles/KSG2as2QqNvSXA5AfN88
10. The Sylow Theorems
graph TD
A["Lagrange's Theorem"] --> B["Cauchy's Theorem"]
B --> C["Sylow's First Theorem"]
D["Class Equation"] --> B
E["Group Actions<br/>(Orbit--Stabilizer Theorem)"] --> C
C --> F["Sylow's Second Theorem"]
C --> G["Sylow's Third Theorem"]
E --> F
E --> G
style C fill:#f5f5f5,stroke:#333,color:#000
style F fill:#f5f5f5,stroke:#333,color:#000
style G fill:#f5f5f5,stroke:#333,color:#000
If G is a finite group and a prime p divides ∣G∣, then G contains an element of order p.
Let S={(a1,…,ap)∈Gp∣a1a2⋯ap=e}. The cyclic group Z/pZ acts on S by cyclic permutation of coordinates. Since ∣S∣=∣G∣p−1, we have p∣∣S∣. The fixed points are tuples (a,a,…,a) with ap=e. The identity e gives one fixed point, but p∣∣S∣ forces the existence of others, yielding an element of order p. □
In what follows, write ∣G∣=pnm with p∤m. A subgroup of order pn is called a Sylowp-subgroup of G. Denote the set of all Sylow p-subgroups by Sylp(G) and their number by np=∣Sylp(G)∣.
Sylow p-subgroups exist: Sylp(G)=∅.
Any two Sylow p-subgroups of G are conjugate. That is, if P,Q∈Sylp(G), there exists g∈G with Q=gPg−1.
np≡1(modp) and np∣m (where m=∣G∣/pn).
Worked example:
Classify all groups of order 15=3×5.By Sylow's third theorem, n3∣5 and n3≡1(mod3), so n3∈{1,5}. But 5≡1(mod3), so n3=1. Similarly, n5∣3 and n5≡1(mod5), giving n5=1.Let P≅Z/3Z and Q≅Z/5Z be the unique Sylow 3- and 5-subgroups. Both are normal, and P∩Q={e}. Therefore G≅P×Q≅Z/3Z×Z/5Z≅Z/15Z. Every group of order 15 is cyclic.
For more details:
https://interconnectd.app/articles/ohndrkJdtEME1LzAlbdj
11. Direct Products and the Structure of Finite Abelian Groups
The direct product of groups G1 and G2 is the group G1×G2 whose underlying set is the Cartesian product with componentwise multiplication: (a1,a2)(b1,b2)=(a1b1,a2b2).
If N1,N2⊴G with N1∩N2={e} and G=N1N2, then G≅N1×N2.
Every finite abelian group G is isomorphic to a direct product of cyclic groups of prime-power order: G≅Z/p1e1Z×Z/p2e2Z×⋯×Z/pkekZ,
where the pi are primes (not necessarily distinct) and ei≥1. This decomposition is unique up to reordering of the factors.
The abelian groups of order 12 are, up to isomorphism, exactly:
Since 12=22×3, the two types correspond to the two partitions of 22: (4) and (2,2).
For more details:
https://interconnectd.app/articles/Q2ElstdoUzpMeaoYYwqk
https://interconnectd.app/articles/VacUK2RxF4r7Jkm2tcFR
12. Simple Groups and the Jordan–Hölder Theorem
A group G is simple if G={e} and the only normal subgroups of G are {e} and G itself.
A cyclic group Z/pZ of prime order is simple (by Lagrange's theorem, its only subgroups are {e} and the whole group).
For n≥5, the alternating group An is simple.
A composition series for a group G is a chain of subgroups {e}=G0⊴G1⊴⋯⊴Gk=G
such that each quotient Gi+1/Gi is a simple group. The quotients Gi+1/Gi are called the composition factors.
Every finite group G={e} possesses a composition series. Moreover, any two composition series of G have the same composition factors (up to reordering and isomorphism).
For more details:
https://interconnectd.app/articles/9YYJQuMjp9eetuSk2HnO
https://interconnectd.app/articles/nK6BAcdKJrfKdxOy2LIc
13. Theorem Directory
A one-line summary of the fifteen major theorems of undergraduate group theory.
Cancellation laws: ab=ac⇒b=c.
Lagrange's theorem: ∣H∣ divides ∣G∣.
Fermat's little theorem: if p is prime and gcd(a,p)=1, then ap−1≡1(modp).
Classification of cyclic groups: every cyclic group is isomorphic to Z or Z/nZ.
First isomorphism theorem: G/kerφ≅Imφ.
Second isomorphism theorem: HN/N≅H/(H∩N).
Third isomorphism theorem: (G/N)/(H/N)≅G/H.
Cayley's theorem: every group is isomorphic to a subgroup of a symmetric group.
Orbit–stabilizer theorem: ∣Orb(x)∣=[G:Stab(x)].
Burnside's lemma: ∣X/G∣=∣G∣1∑g∣Xg∣.
Class equation: ∣G∣=∣Z(G)∣+∑i[G:CG(ai)].
Cauchy's theorem: if p∣∣G∣, then G has an element of order p.
Sylow's first theorem: Sylow p-subgroups exist.
Sylow's second theorem: any two Sylow p-subgroups are conjugate.
Sylow's third theorem: np≡1(modp) and np∣[G:P].
Additionally, the following structural results:
14. Appendix: Notation and Terminology
| Symbol |
Name |
Meaning |
| ∣G∣ |
Order of G |
Number of elements in the group G |
| ord(a) |
Order of a |
Smallest positive n with an=e |
| H≤G |
Subgroup |
H is a subgroup of G |
| N⊴G |
Normal subgroup |
gNg−1=N for all g∈G |
| [G:H] |
Index |
Number of cosets of H in G |
| G/N |
Quotient group |
Group of cosets of N in G |
| kerφ |
Kernel |
{g∣φ(g)=eH} |
| Imφ |
Image |
{φ(g)∣g∈G} |
| G≅H |
Isomorphism |
There exists an isomorphism G→H |
| ⟨S⟩ |
Subgroup generated by S |
Smallest subgroup containing S |
| Z(G) |
Center |
{z∈G∣zg=gz for all g} |
| CG(a) |
Centralizer |
{g∈G∣ga=ag} |
| Orb(x) |
Orbit |
{g⋅x∣g∈G} |
| Stab(x) |
Stabilizer |
{g∈G∣g⋅x=x} |
| Sn |
Symmetric group |
All permutations of n elements |
| An |
Alternating group |
Even permutations in Sn |
| Dn |
Dihedral group |
Symmetries of the regular n-gon |
| GLn(R) |
General linear group |
Invertible n×n real matrices |
| SLn(R) |
Special linear group |
Matrices with determinant 1 |
| Sylp(G) |
Sylow p-subgroups |
Set of all subgroups of order pn |
| np |
Number of Sylow p-subgroups |
∣Sylp(G)∣ |