# Zassenhaus lemma

(Redirected from Butterfly lemma)
Hasse diagram of the Zassenhaus "butterfly" lemma – smaller subgroups are towards the top of the diagram

In mathematics, the butterfly lemma or Zassenhaus lemma, named after Hans Zassenhaus, is a technical result on the lattice of subgroups of a group or the lattice of submodules of a module, or more generally for any modular lattice.[1]

Lemma: Suppose ${\displaystyle (G,\Omega )}$ is a group with operators and ${\displaystyle A}$ and ${\displaystyle C}$ are subgroups. Suppose

${\displaystyle B\triangleleft A}$ and ${\displaystyle D\triangleleft C}$

are stable subgroups. Then,

${\displaystyle (A\cap C)B/(A\cap D)B}$ is isomorphic to ${\displaystyle (A\cap C)D/(B\cap C)D.}$

Zassenhaus proved this lemma specifically to give the smoothest proof of the Schreier refinement theorem. The 'butterfly' becomes apparent when trying to draw the Hasse diagram of the various groups involved.

Zassenhaus' lemma for groups can be derived from a more general result known as Goursat's theorem stated in a Goursat variety (of which groups are an instance); however the group-specific modular law also needs to be used in the derivation.[2]

## Notes

1. ^ See Pierce, p. 27, exercise 1.
2. ^ J. Lambek (1996). "The Butterfly and the Serpent". In Aldo Ursini, Paulo Agliano. Logic and Algebra. CRC Press. pp. 161–180. ISBN 978-0-8247-9606-8.