
Originally Posted by
TheEmptySet
This is from Dummit and Foote Abstract Algebra.
Prove that the additive and multiplicative groups of a field are never isomorphic.
Hint from the book:
Consider three cases: when $\displaystyle |\mathbb{F}|$ is finite, when $\displaystyle -1 \ne 1$ and when $\displaystyle -1=-1$ in $\displaystyle \mathbb{F}$.
The finite part is not bad.
let $\displaystyle |\mathbb{F}|=n$
then $\displaystyle |(\mathbb{F},+)|=n$ but $\displaystyle |(\mathbb{F}, \cdot )|=n-1$
because 0 does not have an inverse in the multiplicative group.
For the next case I think contradiction is the way to go so I supposed that there exists an isomorphism $\displaystyle \phi : (\mathbb{F},\cdot) \to (\mathbb{F},+)$ and that $\displaystyle -1 \ne 1$
I know that $\displaystyle \phi(1)=0$ becuase the identity must map to the identity. Also that
$\displaystyle \phi(1)=\phi[(-1)(-1)]=\phi(-1)+\phi(-1)=0$
and for any $\displaystyle a \in \mathbb{F}$
$\displaystyle \phi[(-1)(a)]=\phi(-1)+\phi(a)$
$\displaystyle \phi(1(-a))=\phi(1)+\phi(-a)$
I know that inverses must get mapped to inverses by an isomorphism.
So I don't see how to get a contradiction So I know I am missing something.
Thanks
TES