2
$\begingroup$

Classify groups generated by two elements $x$, $y$ of order 2.

First, please help clarify: Is it necessary for $x$ and $y$ to be distinct elements? (above is the whole question as seen in the book).

Here's what I have so far:

Let $xy=z$, and let $|z|=n$. Then G would be isomorphic to dihedral group $D_n$

If $x=y$ then $G$ is just $\langle x\rangle$

Would $\langle xy \rangle$ be such a group?

Thanks for any help.

  • 0
    It is not necessary for $x$ and $y$ to be distinct elements, but if they are equal then the group has order 2 (or possibly 1 if you are allowing $x=y=1$).2012-11-20

2 Answers 2

4

The group $\langle x,y\mid x^2,y^2\rangle$ is the infinite dihedral group $D_\infty$.

In this group, $x$ and $y$ are distinct elements. One way to see this is to notice that there is a group homomorphism $\phi:D_\infty\to E$ where $E$ is the group of euclidean motions of the line, such that $\phi(x):t\in\mathbb R\mapsto -t\in\mathbb R$ and $\phi(y):t\in\mathbb R\mapsto 1-t\in\mathbb R.$ Indeed, once you show that $\phi$ exists, then obviously $\phi(x)\neq\phi(y)$, so $x\neq y$.

If $G$ is a group generated by two elements of order two, then there exists a surjection $D_\infty\to G$, so what you want to do is to classify all normal subgroups of $D_\infty$. To do this, it is useful to observe that the element $z=xy$ has infinite order in $D_\infty$ (this is obvious if you see what $\phi(z)$ is) and then show that a non-trivial normal subgroup must contain a power of $z$.

  • 1
    It's possible that the questio$n$ is being asked at a point where "normal subgroups" are in the future.2012-11-20
5

Every element of the group must be a finite word in $x$ and $y$, but we don't need words with $xx$ or $yy$ in them because $xx=yy=1$, so you have a very simple description of what all the elements look like. Then think about finding the order of $xy$.