In mathematics, the isomorphism theorems are three theorems, applied widely in the realm of universal algebra, stating the existence of certain natural isomorphisms.

History

The isomorphism theorems were originally formulated by Emmy Noether in her paper Abstrakter Aufbau der Idealtheorie in algebraischen Zahl- und Funktionenkörpern which was published in 1927 in Mathematische Annalen.

Groups

First we state the isomorphism theorems for groups, where they take a simpler form and state important properties of quotient groups (also called factor groups). All three involve "modding out" by a normal subgroup.

First isomorphism theorem

If G and H are groups and f is a homomorphism from G to H, then the kernel K of f is a normal subgroup of G, and the quotient group G/K is isomorphic to the image of f.

If

$G,\; H\; \backslash mbox\{\; are\; groups\}\backslash ;$

$f:\; G\; \backslash to\; H,\; f\; \backslash mbox\{\; is\; a\; homomorphism\}\backslash ;$

$\backslash operatorname\{Ker\}(f)\; \backslash triangleleft\; G$

$G/\backslash operatorname\{Ker\}(f)\; \backslash cong\; \backslash operatorname\{Im\}(f)$

Second isomorphism theorem (also known as the third isomorphism theorem)

Let H and K be subgroups of the group G, and assume H is a subgroup of the normalizer of K. Then the join HK of H and K is a subgroup of G, K is a normal subgroup of HK, H ∩K is a normal subgroup of H, and HK/K is isomorphic to H/(H ∩K).

If

$H,K\; \backslash mbox\{\; are\; subgroups\; of\; group\; \}\; G\; \backslash ,$

$H\; \backslash mbox\{\; is\; a\; subgroup\; of\; \}\; \backslash operatorname\{N\_G\}(K)$

$HK\; \backslash mbox\{\; is\; a\; subgroup\; of\; \}\; G\; \backslash ,$

$K\; \backslash triangleleft\; HK$

$H\; \backslash cap\; K\; \backslash triangleleft\; H$

$HK/K\; \backslash cong\; H/(H\; \backslash cap\; K)$

Third isomorphism theorem (also known as the second isomorphism theorem)

If M and N are normal subgroups of G such that M is contained in N, then M is a normal subgroup of N, N/M is a normal subgroup of G/M, and (G/M)/(N/M) is isomorphic to G/N.

If

$M,N\; \backslash triangleleft\; G$

$M\; \backslash subseteq\; N$

$M\; \backslash triangleleft\; N$

$N/M\; \backslash triangleleft\; G/M$

$(G/M)/(N/M)\; \backslash cong\; G/N$

Rings and modules

The isomorphism theorems are also valid for modules over a fixed ring R (and therefore also for vector spaces over a fixed field). One has to replace the term "group" by "R-module", "subgroup" and "normal subgroup" by "submodule", and "factor group" by "factor module".

For vector spaces, the first isomorphism theorem goes by the name of rank-nullity theorem.

The isomorphism theorems are also valid for rings, ring homomorphisms and ideals. One has to replace the term "group" by "ring", "subgroup" and "normal subgroup" by "ideal", and "factor group" by "factor ring".

The notation for the join in both these cases is "H + K" instead of "HK".

We also need to mention the isomorphism theorems for topological vector spaces, Banach algebras etc.

General

To generalise this to universal algebra, normal subgroups need to be undermined by congruences.

References

• Emmy Noether, Abstrakter Aufbau der Idealtheorie in algebraischen Zahl- und Funktionenkörpern, Mathematische Annalen 96 (1927) p. 26-61

See also

• Butterfly lemma, sometimes called the fourth isomorphism theorem
• Lattice theorem, sometimes called the fourth isomorphism theorem

External links

Mathematical theorems

Isomorphiesatz | משפטי האיזומורפיזם (אלגברה)