When are $((C_2 \times C_2) \rtimes C_3) \rtimes C_2$ and $((C_2 \times C_2) \rtimes C_2) \rtimes C_3$ isomorphic?
Let's consider $\mathfrak{G}:=((C_2 \times C_2) \rtimes_{\phi} C_3) \rtimes_{\nu} C_2$ (which I do believe is $\mathcal{S}_4$, please confirm or argue against) and $G:=((C_2 \times C_2) \rtimes_{\mu} C_2) \rtimes_{\xi} C_3$.
Under which hypothesis does there exist an isomorphism $\chi: \mathfrak{G} \rightarrow G$?
Solution 1:
First, let's take a look at $\mathfrak{G}$ and determine under which $\phi$ and $\nu$ we get $\mathfrak{G}\cong S_4$.
The automorphism group of the Klein $V$ group is $S_3$, since $(1,0)$, $(0,1)$, and $(1,1)$ are interchangable. If we assume that $\phi$ is nontrivial, then $C_3$ embeds into $\text{Aut}(V)$ by acting as a $3$-cycle on these elements. The resulting group is $A_4$.
The automorphism group of $A_4$ has nine elements of order $2$. Three of them will yield $A_4\rtimes C_2\cong A_4 \times C_2$; these are the inner automorphisms induced from the $V$ group. Every other nontrivial automorphism of order $2$ will produce $A_4\rtimes C_2\cong S_4$.
So you see that if we assume that
- $\phi$ is nontrivial, and
- $\nu$ embeds $C_2$ into $\text{Out}((C_2\times C_2)\rtimes_\phi C_3 )$,
then $\mathfrak{G}=((C_2\times C_2) \rtimes_\phi C_3 )\rtimes C_2\cong S_4$.
Now let's look at $G$. Every automorphism of $V$ of order $2$ produces $D_4$ when we take $(C_2\times C_2)\rtimes C_2$, which is clear from the geometric interpretation of $D_4$ (consider elements of $C_2\times C_2$ as coordinates). However, $\text{Aut}(D_4)$ is isomorphic to $D_4$, and thus has no elements of order $3$. So the only possibility for $\xi$ is the trivial homomorphism. Thus $G$ can never be isomorphic to $S_4$.
So let's go back and think. How could we have chosen $\phi$ and $\nu$ so that $\mathfrak{G}\cong G$? Aside from choosing $\phi,\nu,$ and $\mu$ to be trivial, the only way for this to happen would be to choose $\phi$ to be trivial and $\nu$ so that $C_2$ centralizes $C_3$ and acts faithfully on $V$, or to choose $\mu,\nu$ trivial and $\phi,\xi$ nontrivial.
So $\mathfrak{G}\cong G$ if and only if $\mathfrak{G}\cong G \cong (C_2)^3\times C_3$, $\mathfrak{G}\cong G \cong D_4\times C_3$, or $\mathfrak{G}\cong G \cong A_4\times C_2$.