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The problem asks us to show that <math>A_8</math> contains an element of order 15.
  
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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:
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We have 8 elements:
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'''1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8'''
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that we can arrange into cycles 3 and 5:
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'''(123)(45678)'''.
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Now since the lcm of 3 and 5 is 15, the order of this element is 15, from pg 101 in the book.
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We can verify that this element is, in fact, in <math>A_8</math> by examining the transpositions:
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'''(123)''' --> '''(12)(13)''' = 2
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'''(45678)''' --> '''(45)(46)(47)(48)''' = 4
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Since 4 + 2 = 6 is even, this element belongs to <math>A_8</math>.
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QED?  Please correct me if I'm doing this wrong.
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-Tim
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----
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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.

Revision as of 17:26, 10 September 2008

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.

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Prof. Math. Ohio State and Associate Dean
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Jeff McNeal