Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2021/ib/paper-3/1g/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2021 ib Paper 3 1G Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Let act by left multiplication on the set of left cosets. This gives a group action homomorphismIts kernelis a normal subgroup of , and the first isomorphism theorem gives . By Lagrange's theorem, divides . The image acts transitively on the cosets, so the orbit-stabilizer theorem shows that divides ; in particular,
Now suppose is nonabelian and simple. Since is proper, the coset action is nontrivial, so . Simplicity gives , and embeds into . Composing with the sign homomorphism givesIts kernel is normal. A nontrivial map would embed the simple group into the abelian group of order two, which is impossible because is nonabelian. The sign is therefore always , so
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