Cayley's Theorem on symmetric groups

https://arbital.com/p/cayley_theorem_symmetric_groups

by Patrick Stevens Jun 14 2016 updated Jun 15 2016

The "fundamental theorem of symmetry", forging the connection between symmetry and group theory.


Cayley's Theorem states that every group $~$G$~$ appears as a certain subgroup of the Symmetric group $~$\mathrm{Sym}(G)$~$ on the Underlying set of $~$G$~$.

Formal statement

Let $~$G$~$ be a group. Then $~$G$~$ is isomorphic to a subgroup of $~$\mathrm{Sym}(G)$~$.

Proof

Consider the left regular action of $~$G$~$ on $~$G$~$: that is, the function $~$G \times G \to G$~$ given by $~$(g, h) \mapsto gh$~$. This induces a homomorphism $~$\Phi: G \to \mathrm{Sym}(G)$~$ given by Currying: $~$g \mapsto (h \mapsto gh)$~$.

Now the following are equivalent:

Therefore the kernel of the homomorphism is trivial, so it is injective. It is therefore bijective onto its image, and hence an isomorphism onto its image.

Since the image of a group under a homomorphism is a subgroup of the codomain of the homomorphism, we have shown that $~$G$~$ is isomorphic to a subgroup of $~$\mathrm{Sym}(G)$~$.


Comments

Patrick Stevens

I feel like symmetricgroup should be a requisite for this page. However, this page is linked in the body of symmetricgroup, so it seems a bit circular to link it as a requisite. I think this situation probably comes up for most child pages; what's good practice in such cases?

Eric Bruylant

I think having it as a requisite is best? I see the issue, but some people may arrive from other pages or search.