(2 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
Here's a hint (that I found helpful):
+
=[[HW2_MA453Fall2008walther|HW2]], Chapter 5 problem 6, Discussion, [[MA453]], [[user:walther|Prof. Walther]]=
  
Consider an element of A_{10} as a permutation written in disjoint
+
Problem Statement:
cycle notation.  The lengths of the cycles must add up to no more than
+
10, since the permutations are of degree 10.  Odd cycles have lengths
+
2, 4, 6, 8.  Even cycles have lengths 3, 5, 7, 9.  Since we're dealing with the
+
alternating group, odd cycles must occur in pairs, otherwise you would
+
have an odd permutation (not an even one).  Determine the combination
+
of cycle lengths that add up to no more than 10, form an even
+
permutation, and have the largest LCM.
+
  
Enjoy!
+
Show that <math>A_8</math> contains an element of order 15
  
~A. Bishel
+
----
 +
The problem asks us to show that <math>A_8</math> contains an element of order 15.
 +
 
 +
Now bear with me, because I feel like I'm only on the cusp of understanding this stuff, but I think we can show it this way:
 +
 
 +
We have 8 elements:
 +
 
 +
'''1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8'''
 +
 
 +
that we can arrange into cycles 3 and 5:
 +
 
 +
'''(123)(45678)'''.
 +
 
 +
Now since the lcm of 3 and 5 is 15, the order of this element is 15, from pg 101 in the book.
 +
We can verify that this element is, in fact, in <math>A_8</math> by examining the transpositions:
 +
 
 +
'''(123)''' --> '''(12)(13)''' = 2
 +
 
 +
'''(45678)''' --> '''(45)(46)(47)(48)''' = 4
 +
 
 +
Since 4 + 2 = 6 is even, this element belongs to <math>A_8</math>.
 +
 
 +
QED?  Please correct me if I'm doing this wrong.
 +
 
 +
-Tim
 +
----
 +
 
 +
This also works if you follow Anna's suggestion for problem #8:  5 and 3 are the logical primes which add to 8 and whose lcm is 15.
 +
----
 +
[[HW2_MA453Fall2008walther|Back to HW2]]
 +
 
 +
[[Main_Page_MA453Fall2008walther|Back to MA453 Fall 2008 Prof. Walther]]

Latest revision as of 15:33, 22 October 2010

HW2, Chapter 5 problem 6, Discussion, MA453, Prof. Walther

Problem Statement:

Show that $ A_8 $ contains an element of order 15


The problem asks us to show that $ A_8 $ contains an element of order 15.

Now bear with me, because I feel like I'm only on the cusp of understanding this stuff, but I think we can show it this way:

We have 8 elements:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

that we can arrange into cycles 3 and 5:

(123)(45678).

Now since the lcm of 3 and 5 is 15, the order of this element is 15, from pg 101 in the book. We can verify that this element is, in fact, in $ A_8 $ by examining the transpositions:

(123) --> (12)(13) = 2

(45678) --> (45)(46)(47)(48) = 4

Since 4 + 2 = 6 is even, this element belongs to $ A_8 $.

QED? Please correct me if I'm doing this wrong.

-Tim


This also works if you follow Anna's suggestion for problem #8: 5 and 3 are the logical primes which add to 8 and whose lcm is 15.


Back to HW2

Back to MA453 Fall 2008 Prof. Walther

Alumni Liaison

Ph.D. 2007, working on developing cool imaging technologies for digital cameras, camera phones, and video surveillance cameras.

Buyue Zhang