Even Order Group has Order 2 Element
From ProofWiki
Theorem
Let $G$ be a group whose identity is $e$.
Let $G$ be of even order.
Then $\exists x \in G: \left|{x}\right| = 2$.
That is, $\exists x \in G: x \ne e_G: x^2 = e$.
Proof
In any group $G$, the identity element $e$ is self-inverse with order 1, and is the only such.
That leaves an odd number of elements.
Each element in $x \in G: \left|{x}\right| > 2$ can be paired off with its inverse, as $\left|{x^{-1}}\right| = \left|{x}\right| > 2$ from Order of Element Equals Order of Inverse.
The final element which has not been paired off with any of the others must be self-inverse.
The result follows from Self-Inverse Order 2.
$\blacksquare$
Sources
- Seth Warner: Modern Algebra (1965)... (previous)... (next): Exercise $25.12 \ \text{(a)}$
- Richard A. Dean: Elements of Abstract Algebra (1966): $\S 1.9$: Exercise $5.7$
- Allan Clark: Elements of Abstract Algebra (1971)... (previous)... (next): $\S 38 \delta$
- Thomas A. Whitelaw: An Introduction to Abstract Algebra (1978)... (previous)... (next): Exercise $6.10$