Over , putThese determinant-one matrices satisfy , , and . Conjugation by cycles . Thus is a quaternion group of order eight, normalized by an element of order three. Their generated subgroup has order in , hence order after quotienting by . Its index-five coset action, together with simplicity and perfectness, identifies with the alternating group .
Quaternion group modulo its centre 2026-10-18
In the quaternion group, commutes with each generator because any element commutes with its powers. Hence is central and is a normal subgroup. The reverse products satisfy , , , so none of is central. Therefore .
The four cosets are . Each nonidentity coset squares to , and . Thus the quotient group is the Klein four-group. Explicitly, mapping to its identity and mapping to its three different nonidentity elements is a surjective group homomorphism with group kernel . The first isomorphism theorem gives the title result.
Realification of a complex representation 2026-10-20
A complex group representation defines a real representation on by viewing each complex coordinate as its real and imaginary parts. In grouped coordinates its matrices are the realification of a complex matrix shown in the title. Direct block multiplication gives and , proving the representation property and preservation of invertibility.
Taking the trace gives its character . After complexification of a real vector space, this realification splits as the original representation and its conjugate. Realification need not preserve irreducibility: the answer depends on whether the irreducible complex representation has real, complex or quaternionic representation type. The standard two-dimensional complex representation of the quaternion group gives a four-dimensional real example with character four at the identity, minus four at its central negative identity, and zero at the other six elements.