If $G$ has a nontrivial centre, must every subgroup of index $3$ be normal?












3












$begingroup$



If a group $G$ has a nontrivial centre, must every subgroup of index $3$ be normal?




$S_3$ yields an example of a group with a non-normal subgroup of index $3$, although it has a trivial centre. Moreover, for finite $G$, it's well-known that if $p$ is the smallest prime dividing $|G|$, then any subgroup of index $p$ is normal. Hence the answer to this question is "yes" if $G$ is a finite group of odd order divisible by $3$.



I'm considering dihedral groups as possible counterexamples, but haven't come up with anything.










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$endgroup$








  • 3




    $begingroup$
    Can’t you fancy up your permutation example into a counterexample by direct products?
    $endgroup$
    – Randall
    Dec 31 '18 at 0:25










  • $begingroup$
    Randall's correct; you can just take $S_3 times C_2$.
    $endgroup$
    – Qiaochu Yuan
    Dec 31 '18 at 0:40










  • $begingroup$
    @Randall Thanks. Feel free to post an answer so I can accept it.
    $endgroup$
    – MathematicsStudent1122
    Dec 31 '18 at 0:45










  • $begingroup$
    @MathematicsStudent1122 nah you go for it. It’s good for you.
    $endgroup$
    – Randall
    Dec 31 '18 at 1:10










  • $begingroup$
    The statement is true however, for every non-trivial 3-group ...
    $endgroup$
    – Nicky Hekster
    Dec 31 '18 at 10:34
















3












$begingroup$



If a group $G$ has a nontrivial centre, must every subgroup of index $3$ be normal?




$S_3$ yields an example of a group with a non-normal subgroup of index $3$, although it has a trivial centre. Moreover, for finite $G$, it's well-known that if $p$ is the smallest prime dividing $|G|$, then any subgroup of index $p$ is normal. Hence the answer to this question is "yes" if $G$ is a finite group of odd order divisible by $3$.



I'm considering dihedral groups as possible counterexamples, but haven't come up with anything.










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$








  • 3




    $begingroup$
    Can’t you fancy up your permutation example into a counterexample by direct products?
    $endgroup$
    – Randall
    Dec 31 '18 at 0:25










  • $begingroup$
    Randall's correct; you can just take $S_3 times C_2$.
    $endgroup$
    – Qiaochu Yuan
    Dec 31 '18 at 0:40










  • $begingroup$
    @Randall Thanks. Feel free to post an answer so I can accept it.
    $endgroup$
    – MathematicsStudent1122
    Dec 31 '18 at 0:45










  • $begingroup$
    @MathematicsStudent1122 nah you go for it. It’s good for you.
    $endgroup$
    – Randall
    Dec 31 '18 at 1:10










  • $begingroup$
    The statement is true however, for every non-trivial 3-group ...
    $endgroup$
    – Nicky Hekster
    Dec 31 '18 at 10:34














3












3








3





$begingroup$



If a group $G$ has a nontrivial centre, must every subgroup of index $3$ be normal?




$S_3$ yields an example of a group with a non-normal subgroup of index $3$, although it has a trivial centre. Moreover, for finite $G$, it's well-known that if $p$ is the smallest prime dividing $|G|$, then any subgroup of index $p$ is normal. Hence the answer to this question is "yes" if $G$ is a finite group of odd order divisible by $3$.



I'm considering dihedral groups as possible counterexamples, but haven't come up with anything.










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$





If a group $G$ has a nontrivial centre, must every subgroup of index $3$ be normal?




$S_3$ yields an example of a group with a non-normal subgroup of index $3$, although it has a trivial centre. Moreover, for finite $G$, it's well-known that if $p$ is the smallest prime dividing $|G|$, then any subgroup of index $p$ is normal. Hence the answer to this question is "yes" if $G$ is a finite group of odd order divisible by $3$.



I'm considering dihedral groups as possible counterexamples, but haven't come up with anything.







group-theory normal-subgroups dihedral-groups






share|cite|improve this question















share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question








edited Dec 30 '18 at 23:51









Shaun

9,789113684




9,789113684










asked Dec 30 '18 at 23:47









MathematicsStudent1122MathematicsStudent1122

8,98332668




8,98332668








  • 3




    $begingroup$
    Can’t you fancy up your permutation example into a counterexample by direct products?
    $endgroup$
    – Randall
    Dec 31 '18 at 0:25










  • $begingroup$
    Randall's correct; you can just take $S_3 times C_2$.
    $endgroup$
    – Qiaochu Yuan
    Dec 31 '18 at 0:40










  • $begingroup$
    @Randall Thanks. Feel free to post an answer so I can accept it.
    $endgroup$
    – MathematicsStudent1122
    Dec 31 '18 at 0:45










  • $begingroup$
    @MathematicsStudent1122 nah you go for it. It’s good for you.
    $endgroup$
    – Randall
    Dec 31 '18 at 1:10










  • $begingroup$
    The statement is true however, for every non-trivial 3-group ...
    $endgroup$
    – Nicky Hekster
    Dec 31 '18 at 10:34














  • 3




    $begingroup$
    Can’t you fancy up your permutation example into a counterexample by direct products?
    $endgroup$
    – Randall
    Dec 31 '18 at 0:25










  • $begingroup$
    Randall's correct; you can just take $S_3 times C_2$.
    $endgroup$
    – Qiaochu Yuan
    Dec 31 '18 at 0:40










  • $begingroup$
    @Randall Thanks. Feel free to post an answer so I can accept it.
    $endgroup$
    – MathematicsStudent1122
    Dec 31 '18 at 0:45










  • $begingroup$
    @MathematicsStudent1122 nah you go for it. It’s good for you.
    $endgroup$
    – Randall
    Dec 31 '18 at 1:10










  • $begingroup$
    The statement is true however, for every non-trivial 3-group ...
    $endgroup$
    – Nicky Hekster
    Dec 31 '18 at 10:34








3




3




$begingroup$
Can’t you fancy up your permutation example into a counterexample by direct products?
$endgroup$
– Randall
Dec 31 '18 at 0:25




$begingroup$
Can’t you fancy up your permutation example into a counterexample by direct products?
$endgroup$
– Randall
Dec 31 '18 at 0:25












$begingroup$
Randall's correct; you can just take $S_3 times C_2$.
$endgroup$
– Qiaochu Yuan
Dec 31 '18 at 0:40




$begingroup$
Randall's correct; you can just take $S_3 times C_2$.
$endgroup$
– Qiaochu Yuan
Dec 31 '18 at 0:40












$begingroup$
@Randall Thanks. Feel free to post an answer so I can accept it.
$endgroup$
– MathematicsStudent1122
Dec 31 '18 at 0:45




$begingroup$
@Randall Thanks. Feel free to post an answer so I can accept it.
$endgroup$
– MathematicsStudent1122
Dec 31 '18 at 0:45












$begingroup$
@MathematicsStudent1122 nah you go for it. It’s good for you.
$endgroup$
– Randall
Dec 31 '18 at 1:10




$begingroup$
@MathematicsStudent1122 nah you go for it. It’s good for you.
$endgroup$
– Randall
Dec 31 '18 at 1:10












$begingroup$
The statement is true however, for every non-trivial 3-group ...
$endgroup$
– Nicky Hekster
Dec 31 '18 at 10:34




$begingroup$
The statement is true however, for every non-trivial 3-group ...
$endgroup$
– Nicky Hekster
Dec 31 '18 at 10:34










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