Editing Kernel (algebra) (section)

=== Group homomorphisms ===
Let ''G'' be the [[cyclic group]] on 6 elements {{nowrap|{{mset|0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5}}}} with [[modular arithmetic|modular addition]], ''H'' be the cyclic on 2 elements {{nowrap|{{mset|0, 1}}}} with modular addition, and ''f'' the homomorphism that maps each element ''g'' in ''G'' to the element ''g'' modulo 2 in ''H''. Then {{nowrap|ker ''f'' {{=}} {0, 2, 4} }}, since all these elements are mapped to 0<sub>''H''</sub>. The quotient group {{nowrap|''G'' / (ker ''f'')}} has two elements: {{nowrap|{{mset|0, 2, 4}}}} and {{nowrap|{{mset|1, 3, 5}}}}. It is indeed isomorphic to ''H''.

Given a [[isomorphism]] <math>\varphi: G \to H</math>, one has <math>\ker \varphi = 1</math>.<ref name=":0" /> On the other hand, if this mapping is merely a homomorphism where ''H'' is the trivial group, then <math>\varphi(g)=1</math> for all <math>g \in G</math>, so thus <math>\ker \varphi = G</math>.<ref name=":0" /> 

Let <math>\varphi: \mathbb{R}^2 \to \mathbb{R}</math> be the map defined as <math>\varphi((x,y)) = x</math>. Then this is a homomorphism with the kernel consisting precisely the points of the form <math>(0,y)</math>. This mapping is considered the "projection onto the x-axis." <ref name=":0" /> A similar phenomenon occurs with the mapping <math>f: (\mathbb{R}^\times)^2 \to \mathbb{R}^\times </math> defined as <math>f(a,b)=b</math>, where the kernel is the points of the form <math>(a,1)</math><ref name=":2" />

For a non-abelian example, let <math>Q_8</math> denote the [[Quaternion group]], and <math>V_4</math> the [[Klein four-group|Klein 4-group]]. Define a mapping <math>\varphi: Q_8 \to V_4</math> to be:
: <math>\varphi(\pm1)=1</math>
: <math>\varphi(\pm i)=a</math>
: <math>\varphi(\pm j)=b</math>
: <math>\varphi(\pm k)=c</math>
Then this mapping is a homomorphism where <math>\ker \varphi = \{ \pm 1 \} </math>.<ref name=":0" />