Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2009 / ii / Paper 4 / 19F / b / Solution

The induced character construction extends any class function $\psi$ on $H$ byFrobenius reciprocity for class functions is $⟨{\mathrm{Ind}}_H^G\psi ,\chi {⟩}_G=⟨\psi ,{\mathrm{Res}}_H^G\chi {⟩}_H$. It follows directly by substituting this sum into the left inner product, writing $g=xh{x}^{-1}$, and using the conjugacy invariance of $\chi$. If $\psi$ is a character, its inner product with every restricted irreducible character is a nonnegative integer, a multiplicity in its complete reducible decomposition. Expanding in the orthonormal irreducible-character basis therefore makes $\mathrm{Ind}\psi$ a nonnegative integer sum of irreducible characters: it is a character of $G$.

If $U$ affords $\psi$, a concrete induced representation is $\mathbb{C}[G]{\otimes }_{\mathbb{C}[H]}U$, with $G$ acting by left multiplication on the first factor. Choosing coset representatives decomposes it into $[G:H]$ copies of $U$. An element $g$ permutes these copies; only fixed cosets contribute trace, and the contribution from $xH$ is $\psi (x^{-1}gx)$. Summing fixed cosets gives exactly the displayed induced class function.