Math Help - Finding subgroups of index 2 of the free group.

1. Finding subgroups of index 2 of the free group.

I want to show the free group of two generators has exactly three subgroups of index 2. I was told to consider homomorphisms from $F_{2} \rightarrow \mathbb{Z}$

I know $F_{2}$ is the same as going round a wedge union of two circles - I take the paths around the circles to be a and b. I was considering a map a to 0, b to 1, then we have a homomorphism from $F_{2} \rightarrow \mathbb{Z}$ (right?), and from the first isomorphism theorem, the kernel of this homomorphism should give a normal subgroup of $F_{2}$ - so we get a subgroup with generators $a, b^{2}$.

But the idea of this question is to find double coverings of the wedge union, which $ab^{2}$ clearly isn't.

Even if I could find subgroups index 2, I don't see how I would know when I've found all of them.

My group theory is so bad, I would appreciate any help on this.

2. Re: Finding subgroups of index 2 of the free group.

Originally Posted by ILikeDaisies
I want to show the free group of two generators has exactly three subgroups of index 2. I was told to consider homomorphisms from $F_{2} \rightarrow \mathbb{Z}$

I know $F_{2}$ is the same as going round a wedge union of two circles - I take the paths around the circles to be a and b. I was considering a map a to 0, b to 1, then we have a homomorphism from $F_{2} \rightarrow \mathbb{Z}$ (right?), and from the first isomorphism theorem, the kernel of this homomorphism should give a normal subgroup of $F_{2}$ - so we get a subgroup with generators $a, b^{2}$.

But the idea of this question is to find double coverings of the wedge union, which $ab^{2}$ clearly isn't.

Even if I could find subgroups index 2, I don't see how I would know when I've found all of them.

My group theory is so bad, I would appreciate any help on this.
Eh?

3. Re: Finding subgroups of index 2 of the free group.

here, we have a happy accident: any subgroup of index 2 is automatically normal. so it's the kernel of a surjection $F_2 \to \mathbb{Z}_2$.

well, that makes it easy: what are our choices for possible images of the generators a and b?

EDIT: your first instincts weren't that bad: look at the pictures on page 3 here:

http://www.math.oregonstate.edu/~mat...ngs2006/NS.pdf