# Math Help - Order of a Group, Order of an Element

1. ## Order of a Group, Order of an Element

Hello,

I am trying to prove that a group of order 12 must have an element of order 2.

I have a feeling this is a consequence of Lagrange's theorem.... although I am not sure how so.

Thanks

2. Originally Posted by matt.qmar
Hello,

I am trying to prove that a group of order 12 must have an element of order 2.

I have a feeling this is a consequence of Lagrange's theorem.... although I am not sure how so.

Thanks

The order of an element in a group of order 12 can be 1,2,3,4,6,or 12: the only element of order 1 is the unit, if $a\in G$ has

order 12 then $a^6$ has order 2, and similarly if it has order 6 or 4 we get an element of order 2.

The only possibility left thus is that all the non-unit elements of G have order 3, but if we try to pair each element with its

unique inverse then we've a problem....take it from here.

Tonio

Ps. Of course, if you already know Cauchy's Theorem or the Sylow theorems the problem is trivial, so I assume you don't.