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    Fundamental theorem of cosets: $xH=yH\iff x^{-1}y\in H\iff y^{-1}x\in H$

    P-SNEIS

    Area
    Algebra
    Topics
    Cosets and Lagrange, Subgroups
    Status
    draft

    Let \(H\le G\). Prove that \[ xH=yH\iff x^{-1}y\in H\iff y^{-1}x\in H. \]

    Solution

    Suppose first that \(xH=yH\). Since \(y\in yH=xH\), there is some \(h\in H\) with \[ y=xh. \] Hence \[ x^{-1}y=h\in H. \] Conversely, if \(x^{-1}y=h\in H\), then \(y=xh\), and therefore \[ yH=xhH=xH. \] Thus \[ xH=yH\iff x^{-1}y\in H. \]

    Finally, \[ x^{-1}y\in H\iff (x^{-1}y)^{-1}=y^{-1}x\in H, \] because subgroups are closed under inverses. Hence all three conditions are equivalent.