A group monomorphism is a φ ⁣:G→H\varphi\colon G\to H that is injective as an .

Equivalent characterizations

Equivalently, φ\varphi is a monomorphism if and only if its is trivial: ker⁡(φ)={eG}\ker(\varphi)=\{e_G\}. In that case φ\varphi identifies GG with the φ(G)\varphi(G), which is a of HH.

Examples
  • If H≤GH\le G, the inclusion H↪GH\hookrightarrow G is a group monomorphism.
  • The map Z→Z\mathbb{Z}\to\mathbb{Z} given by n↦2nn\mapsto 2n (additive groups) is a group monomorphism.
  • The determinant map det⁡ ⁣:GLm(R)→R×\det\colon GL_m(\mathbb{R})\to\mathbb{R}^\times is not a monomorphism for m≥2m\ge 2 because it has nontrivial kernel SLm(R)SL_m(\mathbb{R}).