Free groups generated by the same free set are isomorphic

Source: Geometric Group Theory: An Introduction, Clara Löh, but is a standard exercise.

Problem: Let S be a set. Then, up to isomorphism, there is at most one group freely generated by S.

Proof: Let F and G be groups with free generating set S. Let \phi_F and \phi_G be the inclusion maps from S into F and G respectively. By the universal property of free groups, there are unique homomorphisms \varphi_F : F \to G and \varphi_G : G \to F such that for all s \in S, s\varphi_F = s\varphi_G = s. Hence \varphi_G\varphi_F and \varphi_F\varphi_G are homomorphisms which fix S. Using the universal property again, there is a unique homomorphism from F to itself which fixes S – the identity map. Hence, because of uniqueness, \varphi_F\varphi_G is the identity map. An analogous argument shows that \varphi_G\varphi_F is the identity map, and therefore \varphi_F\varphi_G is an isomorphism.

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Commutative diagram showing the above, with curly arrows
denoting inclusion in the usual places in universal property diagrams


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