3
$\begingroup$

If G is a group of order n, does Lagrange's theorem also imply that there are subgroups of orders dividing n? That is if I have a group of order 15, are there always subgroups of order 1, 3, and 5?

  • 0
    For cyclic $g$roups the converse does hold. In general however, it does not.2012-03-16

2 Answers 2

7

The simplest counterexample is that $A_4$, the group of even permutations on 4 items, has 12 elements, but contains no subgroups of order 6.

I believe the general question of when an $mn$-group contains a subgroup of order $n$ is still an open research area. Cauchy's theorem guarantees that if $p$ is prime, then a group of order $pn$ contains an element of order $p$, and therefore a cyclic subgroup of order $p$. So for your example, every group of order 15 does contain subgroups of orders 3 and 5. (And, obviously, 1.) As N.S. noted, the Sylow theorems are important here.

This page discusses the issue in more detail, including some other circumstances when the converse of Lagrange's theorem holds. I think the Wikipedia article on Lagrange's theorem also discusses the converse.

0

No. It follows from Lagrange Theorem that $G$ has subgroups of order either 3 or 5, but you can't say which....

But in your case, Cauchy Theorem is what you need (or Sylow's theorems).

  • 0
    @QiaochuYuan If $|G|=p_1^{\alpha_1}\cdot...\cdot p_k^{\alpha_k}$, it is an immediate consequence of Lagrange that $G$ has an element of order $p_1$ or $p_2$ or ... or $p_k$. Since this result is a simple Corollary to LT, I would say it follows from LT...2012-03-22