Subsubgroups are subgroups of subgroups / Multiplicative Property of the Index

Question

Algebra by Michael Artin Prop 2.8.14 Multiplicative Property of the Index

Statement of Prop 2.8.14

Let $G \supseteq H \supseteq K$ be subgroups of a group G. Then $[G:K] = [G:H][H:K]$.

Proof of Prop 2.8.14

Here's the original Counting Formula (Formula 2.8.8)

Question: Could we perhaps prove Prop 2.8.14 by using Counting Formula 2.8.8? I think we could do so (Tower Law for Subgroups) if we show that $K$ is a subgroup of $H$ which I guess hasn't been proven yet, if it's even true.

Answer 1

The folklore is true: $K$, a subset of a subgroup $H$ of group $G$ and a subgroup of $G$, is a subgroup of $H$!

One hint we know it's true is that the above linked Tower Law for Subgroups (the difference there is that $K$ is a subgroup of $H$ is assumed and that the folklore there is that $K$ is a subgroup of $G$) has similar proof to Artin for Prop 2.8.14 (and these: 1, 2, 3).

Proof that $K$, a subset of a subgroup $H$ of group $G$ and a subgroup of $G$, is a subgroup of $H$:

1. Subset: $K \subseteq H$ by assumption.

2. Closure: Let $k_1,k_2 \in K$. Because $K \subseteq G$ is a subgroup of $G$, $k_1k_2 \in K$, which is the same requirement of closure for $K \subseteq H$ to be a subgroup of $H$.

3. Existence of Identity: Because $K \subseteq G$ is a subgroup of $G$, $K$ has an identity $1_K$, and, by Exer 2.2.5, $1_K$ is the identity of $1_G$, i.e. $1_K=1_G$. Because $H \subseteq G$ is a subgroup of $G$, $H$ has an identity $1_H$, and, by Exer 2.2.5, $1_H$ is the identity of $1_G$, i.e. $1_H=1_G$. Therefore, $1_K=1_H$, i.e. $K$ has an identity, and it is the identity in $H$.

4. Existence of Inverse: Let $k_1 \in K$. Because $K \subseteq G$ is a subgroup of $G$, there exists a $k_3 \in K$ s.t. $k_3k_1=k_1k_3=1$, which is the same requirement of existence of inverses for $K \subseteq H$ to be a subgroup of $H$.

QED

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Note: Unlike in the analogues below, we used that $H$ is a subgroup of $G$.

• Are connected subspaces of connected subspaces are connected subsubspaces?

• Are compact subspaces of compact subspaces are compact subsubspaces?

• Are subsubspaces are subspaces of subspaces?

I'm open other proofs that do not use that $H$ is a subgroup of $G$.

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Proof of Prop 2.8.14:

By twice application of Counting Formula (Formula 2.8.8) with what we just proved, we have that for finite orders

$$[G:K] = \frac{|G|}{|K|}, [H:K] = \frac{|H|}{|K|}, [G:H] = \frac{|G|}{|H|}$$

Therefore, the result follows.

For infinite orders, it looks like we'll have to use the kind of proof with listing the cosets.

QED