7
$\begingroup$

Question: An infinite cyclic group has exactly two generators.

Answer: Suppose $G=\langle a\rangle$ is an infinite cyclic group. If $b=a^{n}\in G$ is a generator of $G$ then as $a\in G,\ a=b^{m}={(a^{n})}^{m}=a^{nm}$ for some $m\in Z$.

$\therefore$ We have $a^{nm-1}=e.$

(We know that the cyclic group $G=\langle a\rangle$ is infinite if and only if $0$ is the only integer for which $a^{0}=e$.) So, we have, $nm-1=0\Rightarrow nm=1.$ As $n$ and $m$ are integers, we have $n=1,n=-1.$

Now, $n=1$ gives $b=a$ which is already a generator and $n=-1$ gives $$H=\langle a^{-1}\rangle =\{(a^{-1})^{j}\mid j\in Z\} =\{a^{k}\mid k\in Z\}=G$$ That is $a^{-1}$ is also generator of $g$

My question is that am I approaching this question correctly?

  • 0
    In your conclusion, I assume you mean to say $a^{nm-1} = e$? Other than that, you are absolutely right, not much to say here.2012-04-20
  • 1
    Just a tiny formatting thing: in the fourth line you mean $a^{nm - 1}$ rather than $a^{nm} - 1$. I couldn't edit it because it was too small an edit.2012-04-20
  • 0
    snap =] $\hspace{1cm}$2012-04-20
  • 3
    You are writing your conclusions wrong. You don't want to conclude that $a^{-1}$ is also a generator (this is *easy*). You want to conclude that the **only** generators are $a$ and $a^{-1}$. So you want to show that **if** $a^n$ is a generator, **then** $n=1$ or $n=-1$. You are done once you get there. The rest is confused given what you are trying to show. Otherwise, the approach is fine.2012-04-20
  • 0
    @Arturo: Your comment answers the question, so shouldn't it be an answer rather than a comment?2012-04-21
  • 0
    @TaraB: Fair point.2012-04-21

1 Answers 1

10

I think you are getting confused along the way.

You want to show that if $G$ is an infinite cyclic group, then it has exactly two generators. This can be done by showing two things: that there are at most two generators, and then exhibiting two generators.

Exhibiting two generators is easy: if $G=\langle a\rangle$, then $a$ and $a^{-1}$ both generate; and $a\neq a^{-1}$, since $a$ has infinite order.

The bulk of your argument is an attempt at showing the other direction, namely you are trying to show:

If $a^n$ generates $G$, then $n=1$ or $n=-1$.

You analyse this correctly until the end of the paragraph that begins with a parenthetical remark. You successfully conclude $n=1$ or $n=-1$. So you are done.

But then you seem to be getting confused, and continue to argue; you are already done showing that there are at most two generators, so that's where the proof should end.

If the second part of the proof was meant to be what my first part was, then you are not clear in the first part. There should be an explicit statement where you say that your argument shows there are at most two generators. Finally, there is also the issue of noting that $a\neq a^{-1}$ (which is easy, but needs to be said).