Very confusing problem on cylinder, torque with friction? help

[nchin]

In Figure, a constant horizontal force Fapp of magnitude 12 N is applied to a uniform solid cylinder by fishing line wrapped around the cylinder. The mass of the cylinder is 10 kg, its radius is 0.10 m, and the cylinder rolls smoothly on the horizontal surface.

(a) What is the magnitude of the acceleration of the center of mass of the cylinder?
(b) What is the magnitude of the angular acceleration of the cylinder about the center of mass?
(c) In unit-vector notation, what is the frictional force acting on the cylinder?

solution from my teacher:
forces: Fapp + f = ma (eq'n 1)
torque: (F-f)R = 1/2MR^(2)(a/R)--->Fapp - f = 1/2ma (eq'n 2)

To solve for (a) he simply added eq'n 1 + eq'n 2.

3 things i don't understand:

When I was doing (a), I had no idea that frictional force was involved because the questions says rolls smoothly on the horizontal surface. It doesn't mention friction until part (c). So why is friction used to solve part (a)?

Also, Why is friction force at the same direction as the Fapp? I thought friction force was always opposite the Fapp??

Since, friction and Fapp are moving in the same direction, why is it then, for the torque, Fapp - f? friction and Fapp are moving in the same so shouldn't torque be Fapp + f?

 

[CWatters]

Also, Why is friction force at the same direction as the Fapp? I thought friction force was always opposite the Fapp??

Fapp tends to make the cylinder rotate about it's center of mass. Imagine there was an axle at the center of mass that lifted it off the ground slightly, which way would the cylinder rotate? Lower it onto the ground, which way would friction act?