Simplicity of A5
The alternating group is simple.
Theorem 8.29
Proof
A normal subgroup of is a union of conjugacy classes containing the identity. The conjugacy-class sizes are , , , , and . Of the sums containing , only and divide . By Lagrange’s theorem, a normal subgroup therefore has order or , so it is either or .
Related
Stated in
- Theorem 8.29§8.3 Conjugacy in and
