# Math Help - Discrete Isometries

1. ## Discrete Isometries

Let G be a discrete subgroup of Iso(R2). Show that every subgroup of G is also discrete.

Isn't this true simply because it's a subgroup? So the elements of the subgroup are also in G?

2. ## Re: Discrete Isometries

Originally Posted by monomoco
Let G be a discrete subgroup of Iso(R2). Show that every subgroup of G is also discrete.

Isn't this true simply because it's a subgroup? So the elements of the subgroup are also in G?
I'm confused, if you are talking about the fact that a subgroup of a discrete subgroup is discrete, this really is just the (more general statement) that a subspace of a discrete space is discrete. In particular, you want to show that each element of $H\leqslant G$ is open, but for each $h\in H$ you know (via the fact that $G$ is discrete) that there exists some open set $O\subseteq \mathbb{R}^2$ such that $O\cap G=\{h\}$. Clearly though $O\cap H=\{h\}$ and so $\{h\}$ is open in $H$. Since $h$ was arbitrary the conclusion follows. Make sense?

3. ## Re: Discrete Isometries

We're talking about a subgroup of Iso (R2) so by discrete I have the definition:
G< Iso (R2) is discrete there exists an E such that

for all translation t_a in G, a < E
for all rotations in r_o in G, o<E

so the motions cannot be arbitrarily small. I understand what you mean, but I don't know how to apply it to this example.

4. ## Re: Discrete Isometries

Originally Posted by monomoco
We're talking about a subgroup of Iso (R2) so by discrete I have the definition:
G< Iso (R2) is discrete there exists an E such that

for all translation t_a in G, a < E
for all rotations in r_o in G, o<E

so the motions cannot be arbitrarily small. I understand what you mean, but I don't know how to apply it to this example.
Oh, well then in that case (the two are equivalent concepts though, which I think you noticed) you must merely note that the same $\varepsilon$ that works for $G$ works for $H$. So yes, I think it's as simple as you indicated in the initial post.

5. ## Re: Discrete Isometries

I thought I must be missing something. Thanks for your help!