Hölder’s theorem (Group Theory). Proof collection and applications

automorphism-groupfinite-groupsgroup-theorypermutationsreference-request

In (finite) group theory, the number $6$ seems to be special in the sense that we have the result of Hölder that this is the only natural number $n=6$ such that there exists an outer automorphism of $S_n$. My question is twofolds

  1. I would like a collection of possible proofs of this result. For instance, I would like to also know if there is a proof that is purely number theoretic or a non-constructive proof of this result. I don't know if Hölder originally proved this constructively, but most of the proof that I see are constructive (and more or less the same). One starts with a transitive subgroup of $S_6$ of order 120 (this will be isomorphic to $S_5$)

  2. I would like to know of any (easy?) application of this result leading to some result in group theory where the number $6$ stands out just because of this result.

I would appreciate any ideas.

Best Answer

Here is a nice direct application: subgroups of small index in $S_n$. Assume that $n\geq 5$, and let $H\leq S_n$ be a subgroup of index at most $n$. Then either $H$ is $A_n, S_n$, or a stabilizer of some element $1\leq i \leq n$ in $S_n$, except if $n=6$. If $n=6$, then $S_6$ can be viewed as the group of all permutation of the 6 elements of the projective line over $\mathbb{F}_5$. But the group of projective transformations $PGL(2,5)$ form an index 6 subgroup.

The connection is: if $H\leq S_n$ with index $k$, then the action of $S_n$ on the left cosets of $H$ by left multiplication defines a homomorphism $\varphi: S_n\rightarrow S_k$. If $k< n$, then $\varphi$ cannot be injective. But as $n\geq 5$, the only possible kernels are $A_n, S_n$, yielding these subgroups of small indices. If $k=n$, then $\varphi$ can be injective. However, in that case it has to be surjective. So $\varphi\in Aut(S_n)$. Inner automorphims correspond to the stabilizers. Outer automorphisms correspond to different index $n$ subgroups. (Think about it.)

This line of thought can be extended to obtain simple proofs to results such as $PGL(2,5)\cong S_5$ and $PSL(2,5)\cong A_5$.

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