Subgroup of Cyclic Group whose Order Divisor
Theorem
Let $G = \left \langle {g} \right \rangle$ be a cyclic group whose order is $n$ and whose identity is $e$.
Let $d \mathop \backslash n$, where $d \mathop \backslash n$ in this context means $d$ is a divisor of $n$.
Then there exists exactly one subgroup $G_d = \left \langle {g^{n / d}} \right \rangle$ of $G$ with $d$ elements.
Proof
Let $G$ be generated by $g$, such that $\left|{g}\right| = n$.
From Number of Powers of Cyclic Group Element, $g^{n/d}$ has $d$ distinct powers.
Thus $\left \langle {g^{n / d}} \right \rangle$ has $d$ elements.
Now suppose $H$ is another subgroup of $G$ of order $d$. Then by Subgroup of Cyclic Group is Cyclic, $H$ is cyclic.
Let $H = \left \langle {y} \right \rangle$ where $y \in G$. Thus $\left|{y}\right| = d$.
Thus $\exists r \in \Z: y = g^r$.
Since $\left|{y}\right| = d$, it follows that $y^d = g^{r d} = e$.
From Equal Powers of Finite Order Element, $n \mathop \backslash r d$.
Thus:
- $\exists k \in \N: k n = r d = k \left({\dfrac n d}\right) d \implies r = k \left({\dfrac n d}\right)$
So $\dfrac n d \mathop \backslash r$.
Thus $y$ is a power of $g^{n / d}$, so $H$ is a subgroup of $\left \langle {g^{n / d}} \right \rangle$.
Since both $H$ and $\left \langle {g^{n / d}} \right \rangle$ have order $d$, they must be equal.
$\blacksquare$
Sources
- Seth Warner: Modern Algebra (1965)... (previous)... (next): $\S 25$: Theorem $25.8$
- Richard A. Dean: Elements of Abstract Algebra (1966): $\S 1.9$: Theorem $16$
- Thomas A. Whitelaw: An Introduction to Abstract Algebra (1978)... (previous)... (next): $\S 39$: Worked Example
- John F. Humphreys: A Course in Group Theory (1996): $\S 4$: Proposition $4.14$