Suppose that $n = dm$ where $d$ and $m$ are positive integers with $m\ge 3$. Consider the dihedral group $D_n = \langle \{\mu, \rho\}\rangle,$ where $|\mu| = 2$, $|\rho| = n$ and $\rho\mu = \mu\rho^{−1}$, and the dihedral group $D_m = \langle \{s, r\}\rangle,$ where $|s| = 2$, $|r| = m$ and $rs = sr^{−1}$.
Define $\psi : D_n \to D_m$ by $ψ(\mu^a\rho^b)=s^ar^b$, for any integers $a,b$.
Show that $\psi$ is well-defined.
Here's the stuff I noticed:
different values of $a,b$ can give the same group element $\mu^a\rho^b$, and I need to show that they also give the same $\psi(\mu^a\rho^b)$.
if $n$ is not a multiple of $m$, then $\psi$ not well-defined.
So here is what I did so far, (tried to make a proof sketch):
from integer division, there exists unique integers $i, j, s, t$ with $0 \le i < 2$ and $0 \le j < n$ and $a = i + 2s$ and $b = j + nt$.
So, the group element $\mu^a\rho^b=\mu^{i+2s}\rho^{j+nt}$ uniquely determined by $i$ and $j$, since changing $s$ and $t$ won't make a difference.
So, I think I need to show that $\psi(\mu^a\rho^b)$ depends only on $i$ and $j$, and not on $s$ or $t$. (this is what I'm having a hard time doing.)
I notice that the symbol you use for the quotient of $a$ when divided by $2$ is the same as the generator $s$ in $D_m$. To avoid confusion, I replace it by $u$.
The main idea is to show that $\psi(\mu^a\rho^b)=\psi(\mu^i\rho^j)$.
By how the function is defined, $\psi(\mu^a\rho^b)=\psi(\mu^{i+2u}\rho^{j+nt})=s^{i+2u}r^{j+nt}$.
Since $|s|=2$, we have $s^{i+2u}=s^i(s^2)^u=s^i$.
Next, $r^{j+nt}=r^{j+dmt}=r^j(r^m)^{dt}=r^j$.
Therefore, $\psi(\mu^a\rho^b)=s^ir^j=\psi(\mu^i\rho^j)$.