Group Theory – Proving Set of Matrices is Not a Subgroup of GL2(R)

group-theory

I'm doing the exercise in Algebra (2nd Edition)
Let $G=\text{GL}_2(\mathbb R)$, $H$ is the set of matrices $\begin{bmatrix}a & 0\\0 & 0\end{bmatrix}$, with $a \neq 0$.
The answer says NO because H does not contain the identity matrix, but I think H contains its own identity = $\begin{bmatrix}1 & 0\\0 & 0\end{bmatrix}$, and H also fits the property of closure and having inverse $\begin{bmatrix} a^{-1} & 0\\0 & 0\end{bmatrix}$ .
This seems to violate the rule that the identity of a subgroup is the same as the group.
But I don't know which part is wrong.
Thank you very much in advance for any help you can provide.

Best Answer

The determinant of each matrix in $H$ is zero. Thus $H$ is not a subset of $G$. Therefore, it cannot be a subgroup of $G$.


Alternatively, $I\notin H$. Thus it cannot be the subgroup of $G$.


Even if $H$ were in $G$, we have the following theorem.

Theorem: Let $G$ be a group. Let $S\subseteq G$. If $f\in S$ is an identity in $S$, then $f=e$.

Proof: Let $s\in S$. Then $s\in G$ and

$$\begin{align} sf=s&\implies (s^{-1}s)f=s^{-1}s\\ &\implies ef=e\\ &\implies f=e. \square \end{align}$$