Cyclic Subgroups of Abelian Groups

Question

In Fraleigh, there is a true/false problem in the chapter on "Direct Products" that states the following three assertions:

Every abelian group of order divisible by 5 contains a cyclic subgroup of order 5.
Every abelian group of order divisible by 4 contains a cyclic subgroup of order 4.
Every abelian group of order divisible by 6 contains a cyclic subgroup of order 6.

I know the second statement is false because, for example, the Klein-4 group does not contain a subgroup of order 4. The solutions key says that 1 and 3 are true, but I'm not sure why (there is no explanation). Is this somehow a consequence of the Fundamental Theorem of Finitely Generated Abelian Groups?

Yes, but it's order divisible by 5 and 6, not necessarily order 5 and 6. — ponchan, Jun 29 '17 at 03:18
So since 5 is prime, the only abelian group of order 5 is Z5. Since 6=2*3, the only abelian group of order 6 is Z2 X Z3, which is isomorphic to Z6. But how do I extend that to knowledge about a group that 5 or 6 divides? — ponchan, Jun 29 '17 at 03:22
Does this answer your question? Let $G$ be abelian, $H$ and $K$ subgroups of orders $n$, $m$. Then G has subgroup of order $\operatorname{lcm}(n,m)$. — tryst with freedom, Mar 10 '22 at 22:41

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Jun 29 '17 at 03:20

1

Every Abelian group can be decomposed into into the direct sum of cyclic groups of prime power order.

A group of order divisible by $5$ has some cyclic subgroup of order $5^n$ take the generator of that subgroup call it $a$ and $a^n$ is the generator of a group of order $5$

A group of order divisible by $6$ has some subgroup of order $2$ and a subgroup of order $3$.

Take the generator of both and multiply them together. Since $gcd(2,3) = 1$ this will generate a group of order $6.$

answered Jun 29 '17 at 03:20

Doug M

57,877

So for an Abelian group decomposed into, say, Zp1 X Zp2, both Zp1 and Zp2 would be subgroups? – ponchan Jun 29 '17 at 03:28
yes ............ – Doug M Jun 29 '17 at 03:31

Rocket Man · Answer 2 · 2017-06-29T03:30:36.747

0

By Cauchy's theorem, since $5$ divides the order of your group, there exists an element of the group denoted $g$ with order $5$. So $\langle g\rangle$ is a subgroup of your group and thus cyclic.

For $(3)$, Cauchy's theorem furnishes elements of order $2$ and $3$ denoted $a,b$ respectively. The subgroup $\langle ab\rangle$ is cyclic of order $6$.

edited Jun 29 '17 at 03:30

answered Jun 29 '17 at 03:23

Rocket Man

2,433

Cyclic Subgroups of Abelian Groups

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