[Math] True or False: Let $G, H$ be finite groups. Then any subgroup of $G × H$ is equal to $A × B$ for some subgroups $A

abstract-algebrafinite-groupsgroup-theory

Let $G, H$ be finite groups. Then any subgroup of $G × H$ is equal to $A × B$ for some subgroups $A<G$ and $B<H$.

This question was asked in TIFR GS2018 exam.

The answer is FALSE.

I tried to think about such direct product of finite groups and their subgroups but couldn't find any counterexample for this statement.

I was thinking about a direct product of abelian groups(sometimes cyclic), but then every time I concluded that statement is true, then I tried for non-abelian groups but it was so difficult for me to think about a subgroup which will work as the counterexample for this statement.

Please help. Thanks in advance.

Best Answer

For a more general result:

Lemma. Let $G,H$ be finite groups. Then $\gcd(|G|, |H|)=1$ if and only if any subgroup of $G\times H$ is of the form $G'\times H'$ for some subgroups $G'\subseteq G$ and $H'\subseteq H$.

Proof. "$\Rightarrow$" Let $K$ be a subgroup of $G\times H$. Let $e_G, e_H$ be neutral elements of $G, H$ respectively. Now let $(x,y)\in K$. Since $\gcd(|G|, |H|)=1$ then it follows that the order of $y$ and $y^{|G|}$ are the same. Thus $y^{|G|}$ generates $\langle y\rangle$. In particular we have

$$(x,y)\in K\ \Rightarrow$$ $$(x^{|G|}, y^{|G|})=(e_G, y^{|G|})\in K\ \Rightarrow$$ $$(e_G, y)\in K$$

The last implication because $y$ can be generated from $y^{|G|}$. Analogously if $(x,y)\in K$ then $(x, e_Y)\in K$.

Now if you consider projections

$$\pi_G:G\times H\to G$$ $$\pi_H:G\times H\to H$$

then you (obviously) always have

$$K\subseteq \pi_G(K)\times\pi_H(K)$$ What we've shown is the oppositie inclusion which completes the proof.

"$\Leftarrow$". Assume that $d=\gcd(|G|, |H|)\neq 1$. Let $p|d$ be a prime divisor and pick elements $x\in G, y\in H$ such that $|x|=|y|=p$ (they exist by the Cauchy's theorem). Now consider a subgroup $K$ of $G\times H$ generated by $(x, y)$. This subgroup is of prime order $p$. In particular if $K=G'\times H'$ then either $G'$ or $H'$ has to be trivial (because the order of product is equal to product of orders and $p$ is prime). But that is impossible since $(x,y)\in K$ and none of $x,y$ is trivial. Contradiction. $\Box$


So what it means is that if the orders of $G$ and $H$ are not relatively prime then there is a subgroup of $G\times H$ that is not a product of subgroups of $G$ and $H$. This should give you plenty of examples, e.g.

$$G=H=\mathbb{Z}_{n}$$ $$K=\langle(1,1)\rangle$$

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