Show that nZ intersection mZ= lZ

1. Apr 21, 2006

uob_student

hello

i have two questions and i need answers for them

first one:

show that nZ intersection mZ= lZ

, where l is the least common multiple of m and n.

The second question is :

Given H and K two subgroups of a group G , show the following:

(H union K) subgroup of G if and only if H subset of K or K subset of H

2. Apr 21, 2006

matt grime

What have you done and what do you think you need to do? Remember, the first thing to do (if you can't do the question straight away) is to write down the definitions of everything so you know what you have to do.

Last edited: Apr 21, 2006
3. Apr 21, 2006

HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
You're not going to get answers! Show us what you have done and, as precisely as you can, where you have difficulty and you will get help

4. Apr 22, 2006

uob_student

Is this solution true for question two ??

5. Apr 23, 2006

matt grime

You need to learn to communicate by posting the maths here not posting a link to a zipped file with two jpgs in it.

It has the seed of a correct solutin, but no, I think it is not correct. You say:

let x be in H and Y be in K and then show if xy is in H y is in H and then conclude that K C H, and dually that if xy is in K then x isin K and H C K. But that doesn't follow. If for ALL x and y in H and K respectively then either xy is always in H or xy is always in K and it would follow, but there is no reason to suppose this at all.

Suppose that neither H C K nor K C H, then there are elements x in H but not in K and y in K but not in H. Where is xy? (I.E. apply your argument now to get a contradiction.)

Perhaps better is to do: if H C K we're done, if not then (and apply your argument to well chosen x in H).

You also should take care between using < and C, subgroup and subset.

Last edited: Apr 23, 2006