Automorphism Group is Subgroup of Symmetric Group
Theorem
Let $\struct {S, *}$ be an algebraic structure.
Let $\Aut S$ be the automorphism group of $\struct {S, *}$.
Then $\Aut S$ is a subgroup of the symmetric group $\struct {\Gamma \paren S, \circ}$ on $S$.
Proof
An automorphism is an isomorphism $\phi: S \to S$ from an algebraic structure $S$ to itself.
The Identity Mapping is Automorphism, so $\Aut S$ is not empty.
The composite of isomorphisms is itself an isomorphism, as demonstrated on Isomorphism is Equivalence Relation.
So:
- $\phi_1, \phi_2 \in \Aut S \implies \phi_1 \circ \phi_2 \in \Aut S$
demonstrating closure.
If $\phi \in \Aut S$, then $\phi$ is bijective and an isomorphism.
Hence from Inverse of Algebraic Structure Isomorphism is Isomorphism, $\phi^{-1}$ is also bijective and an isomorphism.
So $\phi^{-1} \in \Aut S$.
The result follows by the Two-Step Subgroup Test.
$\blacksquare$
Sources
- 1965: J.A. Green: Sets and Groups ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 7.2$. Some lemmas on homomorphisms: Example $134$
- 1965: Seth Warner: Modern Algebra ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text {II}$: New Structures from Old: $\S 8$: Compositions Induced on Subsets: Theorem $8.6$
- 1967: George McCarty: Topology: An Introduction with Application to Topological Groups ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text{II}$: Groups: Problem $\text{AA}$
- 1971: Allan Clark: Elements of Abstract Algebra ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $2$: Group Homomorphism and Isomorphism: $\S 64 \alpha$
- 1974: Thomas W. Hungerford: Algebra ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 1.2$
- 1978: Thomas A. Whitelaw: An Introduction to Abstract Algebra ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $8$: Homomorphisms, Normal Subgroups and Quotient Groups: Exercise $24$
- 1996: John F. Humphreys: A Course in Group Theory ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $8$: The Homomorphism Theorem: Proposition $8.11$