What are Cyclic Subgroup Generators and How Do We Determine Them?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on cyclic subgroup generators within the group 𝕀10 under addition modulo 10. It establishes that the distinct cyclic subgroups of 𝕀10 are 𝕀10 itself, generated by 1, 3, 7, and 9, and the subgroup generated by 2, 4, 6, and 8, along with the subgroup generated by 5 and the trivial subgroup generated by 0. The formula for determining the size of a cyclic subgroup generated by an element k in 𝕀10 is given by |<k>| = 10/gcd(k,10).

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of group theory concepts, specifically cyclic groups
  • Familiarity with modular arithmetic
  • Knowledge of greatest common divisor (gcd) calculations
  • Basic experience with mathematical notation and proofs
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the properties of cyclic groups in abstract algebra
  • Learn about the Chinese Remainder Theorem and its applications
  • Explore the structure of 𝕀n for various values of n
  • Investigate the relationship between generators and subgroup orders in finite groups
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for students and educators in mathematics, particularly those studying abstract algebra, group theory, and modular arithmetic. It is also useful for mathematicians interested in the properties of cyclic groups and subgroup generation.

onie mti
Messages
42
Reaction score
0
i am having a difficulity understanding the concept of cyclic subgroup generators. may I be given an explanation with examples if possible of how you determine whether a function is a subgroup and when they say list all cyclic subgroups eg <Z_10,+>. show that Z_10 is generated by 2 and 5
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Let's list ALL cyclic subgroups of $\Bbb Z_{10}$ (remember we will work mod 10). It starts out pretty easy:

$\langle 0\rangle = \{0\}$
$\langle 1\rangle = \{0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9\} = \Bbb Z_{10}$
$\langle 2 \rangle = \{0,2,4,6,8\}$

With 3, it gets a little tricky: we start out

$\langle 3\rangle = \{0,3,6,9,\dots\}$

and then something unusual happens:

9+3 = 12 = 2 (mod 10).

so if we continue adding 3's, we get:

$\langle 3\rangle = \{0,3,6,9,2,5,8,1,4,7\}$

so this is ALSO all of $\Bbb Z_{10}$, just "in a different order".

So $\langle 3\rangle = \Bbb Z_{10}$ (3 is a generator just like 1 is).

OK, let's move on to 4. We have:

$\langle 4\rangle = \{0,4,8,2,6\}$. Note that this is the same subgroup as $\langle 2\rangle$.

5 is pretty-straightforward, we have:

$\langle 5\rangle = \{0,5\}$ (5 is of order 2 in $\Bbb Z_{10}$ since 5+5 = 0, the identity).

Ok, now 6:

$\langle 6\rangle = \{0,6,2,8,4\} = \langle 2\rangle = \langle 4\rangle$.

And 7:

$\langle 7\rangle = \{0,7,4,1,8,5,2,9,6,3\}$ (I have listed the sums in order:

7+7 = 14 = 4 (mod 10)
7+7+7 = 14+7 = 4+7 = 11 = 1 (mod 10), etc.

just so you understand what is going on).

Just two more possible subgroups to go:

$\langle 8\rangle = \{0,8,6,4,2\}$
$\langle 9\rangle = \{0,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1\}$

As you can see we only get 4 DISTINCT subgroups:

$\Bbb Z_{10} = \langle 1\rangle = \langle 3\rangle = \langle 7\rangle = \langle 9\rangle$ of order 10,
$\langle 2\rangle = \langle 4\rangle = \langle 6\rangle = \langle 8\rangle$ of order 5,
$\langle 5\rangle$, of order 2,
$\langle 0\rangle$ of order 1.

In fact, there is a nifty formula for determining the size of $\langle k\rangle$ in $\Bbb Z_{10}$, it is:

$|\langle k\rangle| = \dfrac{10}{\text{gcd}(k,10)}$

which you may want to verify for yourself using the discussion above.

************

Now, what do we MEAN when we say $\Bbb Z_{10} = \langle 2,5\rangle$?

We mean any element of $\Bbb Z_{10}$ can be written as:

$k2 + m5$, for some INTEGERS $k,m$. Note that $k2$ is this context does not mean:

"$k$ times 2" as an integer, but rather:

$2 + 2 +\cdots + 2\ (k\text{ times})$ mod 10.

Furthermore we take:

$02 = 0$ and

$(-k)2 = k8$, if $k > 0$ (since "negative 2" that is, the additive inverse of 2, is 8 mod 10).

It should be obvious that the elements of $\langle 2\rangle = \{0,2,4,6,8\}$ can be written this way (use m = 0). Clearly taking k = 0, m= 1, we also get 5, so we just need to produce the elements 1,3,7 and 9 in such a fashion. The proof is in the pudding:

(3)2 + 5 = (2 + 2 + 2) + 5 = 6 + 5 = 1 (mod 10)
(9)2 + (3)5 = 8 + 5 = 3 (mod 10) (we could also use k = 4, and m = 1).
(21)2 + (7)5 = 2 + 5 = 7 (mod 10) (we could also use k = 1, and m = 1).
(27)2 + (9)5 = 4 + 5 = 9 (mod 10) (we could also use k = 2, and m = 1).

**********

The more interesting fact, is if we define the product in $\Bbb Z_2 \times \Bbb Z_5$ as:

$(a,b) + (a',b') = (a+a'\text{ (mod }2),b+b'\text{ (mod }5))$,

we obtain a group with 10 elements isomorphic to $\Bbb Z_{10}$ with generator $(1,1)$. A similar observation for any co-prime integers $m,n$ underlies what is known as the Chinese Remainder Theorem.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
11K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
5K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
6K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
18K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
5K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K