Math 2.0

Group theory and generalizations Proof

Proof of the second isomorphism theorem

Builds on Product of a subgroup and a normal subgroup is a subgroupNormal subgroupSubgroupIntersection of subgroups is a subgroupQuotient groupLeft cosetGroup homomorphismKernel of a homomorphismFirst isomorphism theorem

Proof

We apply the first isomorphism theorem to the map S→SN/NS \to SN/N, s↦sNs \mapsto sN.

  1. Let GG be a group with identity ee, let SS be a subgroup of GG, and let NN be a normal subgroup of GG.
  2. By the product of a subgroup and a normal subgroup is a subgroup, SNSN is a subgroup of GG.
  3. Each n∈Nn \in N equals enen with e∈Se \in S, so N⊆SNN \subseteq SN. Thus NN is a subgroup of SNSN.
  4. For x∈SNx \in SN and n∈Nn \in N, xnx−1∈Nxnx^{-1} \in N because NN is normal in GG. So NN is normal in SNSN, and the quotient group SN/NSN/N exists.
  5. By the intersection of subgroups is a subgroup, S∩NS \cap N is a subgroup of GG. It lies in SS, so it is a subgroup of SS.
  6. Let s∈Ss \in S and x∈S∩Nx \in S \cap N. Then sxs−1∈Ssxs^{-1} \in S, since SS is a subgroup, and sxs−1∈Nsxs^{-1} \in N, since NN is normal. So S∩NS \cap N is normal in SS.
  7. We record a fact on left cosets: for a∈SNa \in SN, aN=NaN = N holds exactly when a∈Na \in N.
  8. Proof of step 7. If aN=NaN = N, then a=ae∈aN=Na = ae \in aN = N. If a∈Na \in N, then aN⊆NaN \subseteq N by closure, and each m∈Nm \in N equals a(a−1m)∈aNa(a^{-1}m) \in aN.
  9. Define f ⁣:S→SN/Nf \colon S \to SN/N by f(s)=sNf(s) = sN. This makes sense because s=se∈SNs = se \in SN.
  10. For s,t∈Ss, t \in S, f(st)=(st)N=(sN)(tN)=f(s)f(t)f(st) = (st)N = (sN)(tN) = f(s) f(t) by the operation of SN/NSN/N. So ff is a group homomorphism.
  11. Let xN∈SN/NxN \in SN/N, with x=snx = sn, s∈Ss \in S and n∈Nn \in N. By step 8, nN=NnN = N, the identity of SN/NSN/N. So xN=(sN)(nN)=sN=f(s)xN = (sN)(nN) = sN = f(s), and ff is surjective.
  12. For s∈Ss \in S, f(s)f(s) is the identity NN exactly when sN=NsN = N, that is, when s∈Ns \in N by step 7. So the kernel of ff is S∩NS \cap N.
  13. By the first isomorphism theorem and steps 11 and 12, the map s(S∩N)↦f(s)=sNs(S \cap N) \mapsto f(s) = sN is an isomorphism from S/(S∩N)S/(S \cap N) onto im⁡f=SN/N\operatorname{im} f = SN/N.
  14. Steps 2, 4, 6 and 13 give all the claims of the statement.

Idea

Every coset of NN inside SNSN already has a representative in SS, because the factor from NN can be absorbed into the coset. So s↦sNs \mapsto sN maps SS onto SN/NSN/N. It forgets exactly the elements of SS that lie in NN, and the first isomorphism theorem turns this into the isomorphism.

Reading path

To understand this page from the ground up, read these 39 pages in order. The foundations come first. The path takes the proofs Proof that the kernel is a normal subgroup, Proof of the universal property of the quotient group, Proof that a homomorphism is injective iff its kernel is trivial, Proof that a subgroup is normal iff its left and right cosets agree, Proof of the first isomorphism theorem, Proof that an intersection of subgroups is a subgroup, Proof of the uniqueness of inverses, Proof that homomorphisms preserve identity and inverses, Proof of the subgroup criterion, Proof that the product of a subgroup and a normal subgroup is a subgroup, Proof of the cancellation laws.

Show the path as a graph
Binary operation, definition, no evidence levelBinary operationdefinitionGroup, concept, no evidence levelGroupconceptIdentity element, definition, no evidence levelIdentity elementdefinitionConjugate elements, definition, no evidence levelConjugate elementsdefinitionGroup homomorphism, definition, no evidence levelGroup homomorphismdefinitionSubgroup, definition, no evidence levelSubgroupdefinitionInverse element, definition, no evidence levelInverse elementdefinitionConjugate subgroup, definition, no evidence levelConjugate subgroupdefinitionGroup isomorphism, definition, no evidence levelGroup isomorphismdefinitionKernel of a homomorphism, definition, no evidence levelKernel of a homomorph…definitionProof that an intersection of subgroups is a subgroup, proof, no evidence levelProof that an interse…proofImage of a homomorphism, definition, no evidence levelImage of a homomorphi…definitionLeft coset, definition, no evidence levelLeft cosetdefinitionProduct of two subgroups, definition, no evidence levelProduct of two subgro…definitionRight coset, definition, no evidence levelRight cosetdefinitionProof of the cancellation laws, proof, no evidence levelProof of the cancella…proofProof of the uniqueness of inverses, proof, no evidence levelProof of the uniquene…proofNormal subgroup, definition, no evidence levelNormal subgroupdefinitionCancellation laws, statement, no evidence levelCancellation lawsstatementUniqueness of inverses, statement, no evidence levelUniqueness of inversesstatementProof that a subgroup is normal iff its left and right cosets agree, proof, no evidence levelProof that a subgroup…proofProof that homomorphisms preserve identity and inverses, proof, no evidence levelProof that homomorphi…proofProof of the subgroup criterion, proof, no evidence levelProof of the subgroup…proofNormality via left and right cosets, statement, no evidence levelNormality via left an…statementHomomorphisms preserve identity and inverses, statement, no evidence levelHomomorphisms preserv…statementSubgroup criterion, statement, no evidence levelSubgroup criterionstatementQuotient group, definition, no evidence levelQuotient groupdefinitionProof that a homomorphism is injective iff its kernel is trivial, proof, no evidence levelProof that a homomorp…proofProof that the kernel is a normal subgroup, proof, no evidence levelProof that the kernel…proofIntersection of subgroups is a subgroup, statement, no evidence levelIntersection of subgr…statementProof that the product of a subgroup and a normal subgroup is a subgroup, proof, no evidence levelProof that the produc…proofProof of the universal property of the quotient group, proof, no evidence levelProof of the universa…proofA homomorphism is injective iff its kernel is trivial, statement, no evidence levelA homomorphism is inj…statementThe kernel is a normal subgroup, statement, no evidence levelThe kernel is a norma…statementUniversal property of the quotient group, statement, no evidence levelUniversal property of…statementProduct of a subgroup and a normal subgroup is a subgroup, statement, no evidence levelProduct of a subgroup…statementProof of the first isomorphism theorem, proof, no evidence levelProof of the first is…proofFirst isomorphism theorem, statement, no evidence levelFirst isomorphism the…statementProof of the second isomorphism theorem, proof, no evidence levelProof of the second i…proof
Each page uses the pages above it. The colour of the bar on a box shows how strong the evidence is, and the box also gives it as text. The list has the same pages.
  • no evidence level
  1. Binary operation definition
  2. Group concept
  3. Identity element definition
  4. Conjugate elements definition
  5. Group homomorphism definition
  6. Subgroup definition
  7. Inverse element definition
  8. Conjugate subgroup definition
  9. Group isomorphism definition
  10. Kernel of a homomorphism definition
  11. Proof that an intersection of subgroups is a subgroup proof
  12. Image of a homomorphism definition
  13. Left coset definition
  14. Product of two subgroups definition
  15. Right coset definition
  16. Proof of the cancellation laws proof
  17. Proof of the uniqueness of inverses proof
  18. Normal subgroup definition
  19. Cancellation laws statement
  20. Uniqueness of inverses statement
  21. Proof that a subgroup is normal iff its left and right cosets agree proof
  22. Proof that homomorphisms preserve identity and inverses proof
  23. Proof of the subgroup criterion proof
  24. Normality via left and right cosets statement
  25. Homomorphisms preserve identity and inverses statement
  26. Subgroup criterion statement
  27. Quotient group definition
  28. Proof that a homomorphism is injective iff its kernel is trivial proof
  29. Proof that the kernel is a normal subgroup proof
  30. Intersection of subgroups is a subgroup statement
  31. Proof that the product of a subgroup and a normal subgroup is a subgroup proof
  32. Proof of the universal property of the quotient group proof
  33. A homomorphism is injective iff its kernel is trivial statement
  34. The kernel is a normal subgroup statement
  35. Universal property of the quotient group statement
  36. Product of a subgroup and a normal subgroup is a subgroup statement
  37. Proof of the first isomorphism theorem proof
  38. First isomorphism theorem statement
  39. Proof of the second isomorphism theorem proof

Where this leads

7 pages build on this one.

Further reading

  1. Web https://proofwiki.org/wiki/Second_Isomorphism_Theorem/Groups
About this page
Tag3WFXXX5Y2Z
URIm2://3WFXXX5Y2Z
Kindproof
WritingW0 stub
MSC20A05
ProvesSecond isomorphism theorem
UsesProduct of a subgroup and a normal subgroup is a subgroup, Normal subgroup, Subgroup, Intersection of subgroups is a subgroup, Quotient group, Left coset, Group homomorphism, Kernel of a homomorphism, First isomorphism theorem
Changed4 November 2026

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