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Let $H,K$ be proper subgroups of a group $G$ having a complete set $S$ of representatives of left cosets in common, that is, $ G = \bigsqcup_{s \in S} sH = \bigsqcup_{s \in S} sK $ It seems in general one cannot expect any serious relation on $H,K.$ But I am afraid of overlooking some general result here. Any information on the subject will be warmly accepted. Regards, Olod

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    I never said "normal subgroup" I said quotient, and cosets are related to the quotient of a set by a group action. At any rate, with the editing I understand the question now.2010-08-12

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|S| = [G:H] = [G:K], so at least their indexes are equal. I don't think much else is true, because of the following example:

If G = 2 × 2 is the Klein four group, then H = 2 × 1 and K = 1 × 2 are two subgroups with a common set of coset representatives: S = { (0,0), (1,1) }. H and K are not conjugate.

In general if G is a semi-direct product H⋉N, then H has S=N as a set of coset representatives. It is very possible for N to have more than one "complement" H, that is, another subgroup K such that G=K⋉N. In nice situations like G nonabelian of order 6, all complements are conjugate, but in general they need not be as the dihedral 2-groups (including the Klein four group) show.

It would be nice to have an example where H and K are not even isomorphic, but semi-direct products won't do that. I don't believe H, K need to be complemented to have a common transversal, but I guess that is another reasonable guess to rule out.

Edit: Well, the dihedral group G of order 8 has a cyclic normal subgroup H and Klein four normal subgroup K, the union of which is not all of G. Since a set of coset representatives S has only 2 elements, we just need to take the identity and an element neither in H nor K. In particular, H need not be isomorphic to K.

Also the dihedral group of order 16 has a similar pair (H cyclic order 4, K a four-group), and so neither H nor K need be complemented.

One can also use Abelian examples as Arturo points out, and one can extend the D8 example to S4 as Steve points out. A fun problem.

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    I sincerely hope that the group I am working with is in the second category. :) "My" H is kind of "stabilizer" of some "small" set.2010-08-12
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If $S$ is a complete set of (left) coset representatives for $H$, then for every $x\in G$ there exists $s\in S$ such that $xH=sH$, and moreover, if $s_1,s_2\in S$ are such that $s_1H=s_2H$, then $s_1=s_2$. That is: there is one and exactly one representative from each coset of $H$ in $G$ in the set $S$. As such, your condition is trivially satisfied under the assumption that $S$ is a complete set of coset representatives for both $H$ and $K$, since for $s_1,s_2\in S$, you have $s_1H=s_2H \Longleftrightarrow s_1=s_2\Longleftrightarrow s_1K=s_2K.$

So either you meant something else, or you are just asking for condition under which two subgroups $H$ and $K$ can have the same complete set of coset representatives.

Jack Schmidt already gave an example with $H$ and $K$ not conjugate, and asked if there is an example in which $H$ and $K$ are not isomorphic. I think this does it: take $G=\mathbb{Z}_2\times \mathbb{Z}_2\times \mathbb{Z}_4$, the product of two cyclic groups of order two and one of order four. Take $H={0}\times{0}\times\mathbb{Z}_4$, and $K={0}\times\mathbb{Z}_2\times\langle 2\rangle$ (so $H$ is cyclic of order $4$, and $K$ is the Klein $4$-group). Let $S={(0,0,1), (1,0,1), (1,1,0), (0,1,0)}$. If I did not make some silly mistake, then this is a complete set of coset representatives for both $H$ and $K$.

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    Don't forget to vote up answers you approve of.2010-08-12