Abstract Algebra – Inner Automorphisms as a Subgroup

abstract-algebragroup-theory

Show that the set of all inner automorphisms of $G$, we will denote as $\mathrm{Inn}(G)$, is a subgroup of the set of all automorphisms of $G$, we will denote $\mathrm{Aut}(G)$, where we take $\mathrm{Aut}(G)$ to have the operation of function composition.

I have shown that $\mathrm{Inn}(G)$ is non-empty and that it is closed under composition of functions. I am now trying to show that the inverses of inner automorphisms are also inner automorphisms.

This is what I have so far in this regard:

$f:G \rightarrow G$ is an inner automorphism with $f(x)=c^{-1}xc$ for some fixed $c \in G$. If $a \in G$ then since $f$ is an isomorphism, it is also a bijection and so there is some $x,y \in G$ where $f(x)=a$ and $f(y)=c$. It follows $x=f^{-1}(a)$ and $y=f^{-1}(c).$ Hence
$$f^{-1}(a)=f^{-1}(f(x))=f^{-1}(c^{-1}xc)=\left[ f^{-1}(c)\right]^{-1}f^{-1}(x)f^{-1}(c)=y^{-1}f^{-1}(x)y.$$

At this point I want $f^{-1}(x)=a$ but then $x=f(a)$ which seems suspicious as then $x=c^{-1}ac$ so then $f(x)=f(c^{-1}ac)=(c^{2})^{-1}ac^2=a$ so $(c^{2})^{-1}a=a(c^{2})^{-1}$ but we aren't assuming $G$ is abelian. Any tips?

Best Answer

You can do that via this fact that $Inn(G)$ is non empty (You have shown this) and the fact that for all $g,h\in G$ $$f_gf_h=f_{gh}$$ so $$f_gf_g^{-1}=f_e$$ where $e$ is the identity of the group (You can see that $f_e$ is the identity of $Aut(G)$). so $$(f_g)^{-1}=f_{g^{-1}}$$ and from this we have $$(f_g)^{-1}f_h=f_{g^{-1}}f_h=f_{hg^{-1}}\in Inn(G)$$ Here we satisfy the condition in which any subset of a group should have to be a subgroup.