Question about Lagranges theorem in Group Theory

In summary, the conversation discusses using the proof of Lagrange's theorem to show that gm! is an element of H for all g in a subgroup of a finite group G. The conversation suggests dividing G into m pieces and considering the cosets of g in H, which leads to the conclusion that g^{m} must be equal to something and that g^{m!} must be an element of H.
  • #1
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Homework Statement


If H is a subgroup of a finite group G, and if the order of G is m times the order of H, |G|=m|H|, adapt the proof of Lagrange's theorem to show that gm! is an element of H for all g in G.

The Attempt at a Solution


My thoughts so far were to think that we can divide G into m pieces: H, g1H, g2H, ..., gm-1H. If we now take an arbitrary gk, it is certainly in gkH, since H contains the identity. The question now is: what happens if we look at gk2, (gk2)3... where do they end up? I need a hint...
 
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  • #2
If g is in H, there's nothing to prove; if not, consider the m (left) cosets:

[tex]
H,gH,g^{2}H,...,g^{m-1}H
[/tex]

Now, if you apply the translation by g again, you get:

[tex]
gH,g^{2}H,...,g^{m}H
[/tex]

But this translation is bijective, and that implies that [tex]g^{m}H[/tex] must be equal to what? And from this, what may be inferred about [tex]g^{m}[/tex] (and also [tex]g^{m!}[/tex])?
 

What is Lagrange's theorem in Group Theory?

Lagrange's theorem in Group Theory states that the order of a subgroup must always divide the order of the parent group. In other words, the number of elements in a subgroup must be a factor of the number of elements in the entire group.

Why is Lagrange's theorem important?

Lagrange's theorem is important because it is a fundamental result in Group Theory and has many applications in mathematics, physics, and computer science. It allows us to better understand the structure and properties of groups and helps us solve many problems related to group operations.

How is Lagrange's theorem proved?

Lagrange's theorem can be proved using mathematical induction and the concept of cosets. It can also be proved using other group theory theorems such as the First Isomorphism Theorem and the Sylow Theorems.

What is the significance of Lagrange's theorem in cryptography?

In cryptography, Lagrange's theorem is used in the construction of secret sharing schemes, which allow a secret to be divided among multiple parties in such a way that only certain combinations of parties can reconstruct the secret. This is important in ensuring secure communication and data storage.

What are some real-world applications of Lagrange's theorem?

Aside from its applications in cryptography, Lagrange's theorem is also used in the study of symmetry and group actions, in the analysis of algorithms and computational complexity, and in the study of crystallography and molecular symmetry.

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