Finding the size of the smallest subgroup of $\mathrm{GL}(2,\mathbb{R})$ containing two matrices.

abstract-algebragroup-theorylinear algebramatrices

I've only been exposed to basic abstract algebra (Like Definition of a group + Subgroup lemma etc) and some first year linear algebra. (We have not seen lagranges theorem, incase that is required for this question).

I was hoping if someone could show an elementary way of doing this question:

Let $H$ be the smallest subgroup of $GL(2,\mathbb{R})$ containing both $$A = \pmatrix{0 & 1 \\ -1 & 0} \text{ and } B =\pmatrix{0 & 1 \\ 1 & 0}.$$
Show that $H$ has eight elements.
(Recall $GL(2,\mathbb{R})$ is the group of $2\times 2$ invertible matrices with real entries under matrix multiplication)

Is there a way of doing the question without making a long 8 by 8 multiplication table? (That was my initial attempt, but it was far too tedious).

Thanks!

Best Answer

First, verify that $|A|=4$ and $|B|=2$.
Next compute $AB,A^2B,A^3B,BA,$ and so on.
But from here you will get that $$BA=A^3B$$ By using this relation, we obtain that $$BA^2=A^2B, BA^3=AB$$ By using these relation, every element in $H$ can be written as $A^iB^j$ where $0\le i\le3$ and $0\le j \le1$.
So we get $$H=\{1,A,A^2,A^3,B,AB,A^2B,A^3B\}$$ and this is actually isomorphic to $D_8$.

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