1. ## Cyclic Groups

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2. Nevermind, I misread the question.

3. Originally Posted by dabien
Prove that if p is a prime then $(Z/p^2)^x \cong C_p$ $x$ $C_{p-1} \cong C_{p(p-1)}$ where $C_n$ denotes the cyclic group of order n.

My idea was to consider a homomorphism $Z/p^2 \rightarrow Z/p$ and observe that $(Z/p)^x$ is a cyclic group of order p-1. Then maybe use proof by induction that if p is an odd prime then $(Z/p^n)^x$ is cyclic for all n.

Next part is to describe the Galois structure of the field of $p^2$ roots of unity, p is prime for the cases of a. p=5, b. p=7. How many intermediate fields are there in these cases?
I'm a bit confused as to what the question is asking here - is it saying " $(Z/p^2)^x \cong C_p \times C_{p-1} \cong C_{p(p-1)}$"? That is, $\underbrace{(Z/p^2) \times (Z/p^2) \times \ldots \times (Z/p^2)}_\textrm{x times} \cong C_{p(p-1)}$?

If so, I don't think I believe this. $C_{p(p-1)}$ is finite, but if this is isomorphic to the direct product of $Z/p^2$ with itself an arbitrary number of times we get that $C_{p(p-1)} \cong C_{p(p-1)} \times C_{p(p-1)}$, a contradiction...

I am willing to be proved wrong though.

4. Originally Posted by Swlabr
I'm a bit confused as to what the question is asking here - is it saying " $(Z/p^2)^x \cong C_p \times C_{p-1} \cong C_{p(p-1)}$"? That is, $\underbrace{(Z/p^2) \times (Z/p^2) \times \ldots \times (Z/p^2)}_\textrm{x times} \cong C_{p(p-1)}$?

If so, I don't think I believe this. $C_{p(p-1)}$ is finite, but if this is isomorphic to the direct product of $Z/p^2$ with itself an arbitrary number of times we get that $C_{p(p-1)} \cong C_{p(p-1)} \times C_{p(p-1)}$, a contradiction...

I am willing to be proved wrong though.

$\left({\mathbb{Z}}\slash{p^2\mathbb{Z}}\right)^{*} =$ the group of units of the ring of residues modulo $p^2$

Tonio

5. Originally Posted by dabien
Prove that if p is a prime then $(Z/p^2)^x \cong C_p$ $x$ $C_{p-1} \cong C_{p(p-1)}$ where $C_n$ denotes the cyclic group of order n.

My idea was to consider a homomorphism $Z/p^2 \rightarrow Z/p$ and observe that $(Z/p)^x$ is a cyclic group of order p-1. Then maybe use proof by induction that if p is an odd prime then $(Z/p^n)^x$ is cyclic for all n.

Next part is to describe the Galois structure of the field of $p^2$ roots of unity, p is prime for the cases of a. p=5, b. p=7. How many intermediate fields are there in these cases?

We know $\left|\mathbb{Z}/p^2\mathbb{Z}\right|=\phi(p^2)=p(p-1)$ ==> as we're dealing with abelian groups, there're elements a,b of order p, p-1, resp. As $(ord(a), ord(b))=1$ , we get that $ord(ab)=p(p-1)$ and we're done.

Tonio

6. Thanks I will take a look and see if I have more questions.

7. Originally Posted by tonio

... there're elements a,b of order p, p-1, resp.
why does the element $b$ exist? if your arguemnt was true, then every abelian group of order $p(p-1)$ would be cyclic, which is a false result.

[to dabien] here's a hint: let $c$ be a generator of $(\mathbb{Z}/p)^{\times}.$ show that either $c$ or $c+p$ will generate $(\mathbb{Z}/p^2)^{\times}.$

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