[Math] Dihedral group $D_{8}$ as a semidirect product $V\rtimes C_2$

abstract-algebrafinite-groupsgroup-theory

How do I show that the dihedral group $D_{8}$ (order $8$) is a semidirect product $V\rtimes \left\langle \alpha \right\rangle $, where $V$ is Klein group and $%
\alpha $ is an automorphism of order two?

Best Answer

Depends on what you're using as your definition of $D_8$.

One way would be to show that if you take $V=C_2\times C_2$, $\langle \alpha \rangle$ injects into the automorphism group of $V$, which is isomorphic to $GL_2(\mathbb{F}_2)$, by mapping $\alpha$ to $$\left(\begin{array}{cc}1&1\\0&1\end{array}\right).$$ Then show that the semidirect product defined by this automorphism is isomorphic to $D_8$ by whatever presentation you're using.

You could try the same idea using permutation group notation, taking $V=\langle(1,2),(3,4)\rangle$ and mapping $\alpha$ to the automorphism $$\varphi_\alpha:\left\{\begin{array}{l}(1,2)\mapsto (1,2)(3,4) \\ (3,4)\mapsto (3,4)\end{array}\right. .$$

Or yet another variation would be the presentation $$\langle r,s,t|r^2=s^2=t^2=[r,s]=[s,t]=1,r^t=rs\rangle.$$

It all depends how you want to do it, but this automorphism is the key.

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