# $S_6$ contains two subgroups that are isomorphic to $S_5$ but are not conjugate to each other

This is a problem from Ph.D. Qualifying Exams.

Show that the symmetric group $S_6$ contains two subgroups that are isomorphic to $S_5$ but are not conjugate to each other.

Here is my method. $S_5$ contains 6 Sylow 5-subgroup, and $S_5$ act by conjugation on the 6 groups transitively by Sylow's 2nd Theorem, therefore induces a homomorphism $\phi: S_5 \to S_6$. Now, if $ker\phi$ is trvial, then $Im\phi$ is a subgroup of $S_6$ isomorphic to $S_5$. Since $Im\phi$ is a transitive subgroup, it is not conjugate to the subgroup which permutes 5 letters fixing 1 letter, i.e., the subgroup $Sym\{1,2,3,4,5\}\cong S_5$.

So what we need to do is to show $ker\phi$ is trvial. Taken one of 6 Sylow 5-subgroups $H$, there are 6 conjugation orbits, so $N_G(H)$, the normalizer of $H$ has order $20=\frac{120}{6}$ by counting formula. Here I stopped. I know if I can show the intersection of the 6 normalizers contains only identity element, it will be done, but how can I proceed?

• The 5-Sylow subgroups are all conjugate to each other, hence $Im\varphi$ has order at least $6$. That means that $Ker\varphi$ has order no greater than $20$, which means it is trivial. – lulu Aug 4 '15 at 2:32
• @lulu Why do you say $Ker\phi$ has order no greater than 20, then it is trivial? – Yilong Zhang Aug 4 '15 at 2:41
• Because $Ker\varphi$ is normal. $S_5$ hasn't got any non-trivial normal subgroups further down than index $2$. – lulu Aug 4 '15 at 2:43
• @lulu Got it, thanks! – Yilong Zhang Aug 4 '15 at 2:44
• Side note: I was asked this question at my Phd orals, some while back. – lulu Aug 4 '15 at 2:45

As is true for any homomorphism, $Ker(\phi)$ is a normal subgroup. Of course, $S_5$ really hasn't got any normal subgroups. There is $S_5$ itself, the trivial group, and $A_5$. Now, as was sorted out in the question itself, the fact that all the $5$-Sylow subgroups are conjugate implies that $Im(\phi)$ is non-trivial, it has to have at least $6$ elements! It follows that $Ker(\phi)≤20$. That rules out both the complete group $S_5$ and the alternating group $A_5$, so $Ker(\phi)$ must be trivial. As was pointed out (correctly) in the question this is all that was needed to complete the argument.
$S_6$ has two conjugacy classes of subgroups isomorphic to $S_5$. First of all the "trivial" one: stabilizers of a point. That gives you 6 subgroups. The second is the conjugacy class of $\langle(1234),(3456)\rangle$. Again $6$ subgroups. The subgroups in these two classes are not conjugate in $S_6$, because the members of the first fix a point, while the members of the second one act transitively.