What groups have exactly 4 subgroups?

[Mystic998]

I was wondering about the classification of groups with a certain number of subgroups. I (sort of mostly I think maybe) get the ideas behind classification of groups of a certain (hopefully small) order, but I came across a question about classifying all groups with exactly 4 subgroups, and I have no clue whatsoever how to even begin.

 

[morphism]

Well, any (nontrivial) group has at least two subgroups: itself and the subgroup consisting of only the identity. Moreover, a subgroup of a subgroup is a subgroup of the original group. Another thing you might find helpful is Cauchy's theorem.

 

[mathwonk]

sylow's theorem says there is a subgroup of order p^k whenever p is prime and p^k divides the order of the group. so groups of order pq seem to satisfy the condition. where p and q are prime. but there canniot be more than two factors of the order of the group, and there cannot be a factor occurring to a power higher than 2? or could a group of order p^3 possibly work? seems unlikely...

 

[Mystic998]

Yeah, I think groups of order pq work. Also, I think a cyclic group of order p^3 works...